Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Robert Dearborn Panama Canal Glass Negatives

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1111
Creators:
Dearborn, Robert Ward, 1894-1976
Dates:
circa 1904-1914
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3.5 Cubic feet
21 boxes
Repository:
A collection of glass negatives documenting the building and construction of the Panama Canal.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection consists of glass negatives depicting the building of the Panama Canal and other scenes of Panama and the island of Tobago. The negatives are individually numbered, probably arranged by the Department of Social and Cultural History.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Robert Ward Dearborn was born on August 12, 1894 in New Hampton, New Hampshire to Josiah R. Dearborn and Mary Ethel (Dow) Dearborn. Dearborn's occupation is listed as a lumberman on his World War I draft registration. On May 28, 1921 he married Martina I. Ordway. Later he was employed by the State Highway Department. Dearborn died July 1, 1976, in New Hampton, New Hampshire. These glass plates were sold as part of his estate in 1976.

Administration

Author
Craig A. Orr
Processing Information
Collection processed by Craig A. Orr, archivist, August 17, 2007; Stacey Kniatt (intern) 2010; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist.
Custodial History
The donor, Wilfred Lahey, purchased these negatives at the sale of Mr. Dearborn's estate in 1976. He donated them to the National Museum of American History, Department of Social and Cultural History, Division of Photographic History in 1994. They were transferred to the Archives Center in 2007.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Wilfred Lahey, 1994.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing 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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
Robert Dearborn Panama Canal Glass Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Related Materials
William Currie Photograph Album (NMAH.AC.1043)
A. R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums (NMAH.AC.1015)
Katherine Kingsford Panama Canal Photograph Album (NMAH.AC.1040)
John Frances Little Panama Canal Scrapbook (NMAH.AC.0708)

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