Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums

Summary
A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums
A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums
Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1015
Creators:
Van Tassell, A.R.
Jackson, Paul
Dates:
1900-1956.
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.3 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
Photograph album documenting the work and life of A.R. Van Tassell, an engineer who worked on structures in Hawaii as well as the Panama Canal.
Scope and Contents note
Scope and Contents note
The collection consists of two photograph albums documenting A.R. Van Tassell's engineering career and family life. The first album includes photographs that begin in 1900 and include images of buildings, structures, ships, harbors, a sugar factory, the Kilauea Volcano, mills, and the "Rainbow Bridge" near Hilo, which Van Tassell was involved in building. Other images feature Van Tassell's friends and family, as well as his wedding trip to Laredo, Texas. The album also contains photographs from Mexico City, Havana, and various travels in the United States. Van Tassell has included tickets from bull fights and musical programs in Mexico City. The photographs are captioned and dated. Three loose postcards found in this album have been placed in a folder. The second, smaller album consists of photographs taken of the Panama Canal.
Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in one series.
Series 1, Photograph Albums, 1900-1956
Biographical/Historical note
Biographical/Historical note
In 1900, A.R. Van Tassell took his first engineering job in Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of seventeen. In 1902, he went to Mexico City to help build the Central Post Office. He also worked on the Panama Canal and was employed as an engineer during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. He was married at least twice and had one daughter, Janet.
Administration
Author
NMAH Staff
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
This collection was donated to the National Museum of American History's Division of Engineering and Industry by Paul Jackson, 1987.
Ownership and Custodial History
Transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Engineering and Industry in 2007.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Kiley Orchard (intern); supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons (archivist), 2008.
Digital Content
A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums
A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums
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Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Preferred Citation
A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Album, 1900-1956, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center
W. P. Stine Panama Canal Papers (NMAH.AC.1039)
John Frances Little Panama Canal Scrapbook Photograph Albums (NMAH.AC.0708)
Katherine Kingsford Panama Canal Photograph Album (NMAH.AC.1040)
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mexico Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hawaii Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Havana (Cuba) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hawaii -- Oahu -- Honolulu Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hawaii -- Hawaii -- Hilo Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Engineers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuba -- Havana Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Harbors -- Hawaii Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Harbors -- Cuba Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bullfights -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Canals -- Panama Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Castles -- Cuba Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuba Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Honolulu (Hawaii) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hilo (Hawaii) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bridges -- Hawaii Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photograph albums -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama Canal (Panama) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sugar -- Hawaii Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sugar -- Cuba Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pyramids -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Work and Industry Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Engineering and Industry Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu