Pierce, C. C. (Charles C.), 1861-1946

Charles C. Pierce migrated to Southern California in 1886 and began his photographic career in Los Angeles. In addition to establishing a studio and selling photographic supplies, Pierce also amassed a vast picture library over the course of three decades. Pierce acquired the negatives and prints of other regional photographers, eradicated their signatures from the prints, stamped his name on the verso of the image, and organized the lot into subject files. Some of the photographers from whom he acquired images include Emil Ellis, Parker & Knight, Ramsey, Herve Friend, L.M. Clendenon, George P. Thresher, George Wharton James, and F.M. Huddleston. He advertised the collection as the "C.C. Pierce Collection of Rare, Historical and Curious Photographs, Illustrating California, the Pacific Coast and the Southwest."

From the description of C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs [graphic] , ca.1840-1930 (bulk 1880-1920). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 228769794

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