Hill, Andrew Putnam, 1853-1922.

Formerly a student of art, Andrew Putnam Hill became a professional photographer in 1889, opening a studio in San Jose, California with his partner, Sydney J. Yard. While his studio produced many individual and group portraits, he also became well known for his views of the Santa Clara Valley region and the Santa Cruz mountains. He became an ardent conservationist and, working with other members of his newly founded Sempervirens Club, lobbied throughout the state against commercial cutting of redwoods and for the formation of a state park in the Felton Big Tree area.

Formerly a student of art, Andrew Putnam Hill became a professional photographer in 1889, opening a studio in San Jose, California with his partner, Sydney J. Yard. While his studio produced many individual and group portraits, he also became well known for his views of the Santa Clara Valley region and the Santa Cruz Mountains. He also frequently photographed Leland Stanford's Palo Alto Stock Farm and Stanford University.

Biographical Note

Andrew Putnam Hill, Jr. was born June 4, 1886 in San José, California, the son of Andrew Putnam Hill and Florence Watkins Hill. Raised at 1350 Sherman Street in San Jose, California, he graduated from San José High School in 1906, received his teaching certificate from the San José State Normal School in 1920, and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University in June 1922. He married Ruth Mary McKenney on August 24, 1910. The couple had two children; however, only one child, Birdella, survived to adulthood.

Dedicating much of his adult life to the educational school system, Andrew Putnam Hill, Jr.’s professional career spanned over fifty years. During this time, he served as Department Head of Manual Arts at San José High School (located on the grounds of the San José State Normal School) from 1911 to 1913; worked as the Director of Schoolhouse Planning for the California State School Department from 1927 to 1933; and was the District Superintendent of Santa Maria High School and Junior College from 1935 to 1942. His last major appointment was in 1943, when he accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Stockton Unified School District, a job he held until his retirement from the profession in 1947.

In addition to his adept leadership in the California educational system, Andrew Putnam Hill, Jr. was also a skilled architect, recognized for his ability to design residential and commercial structures particularly attuned to the needs of their future inhabitants. For example, residential homes were designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional – such as a home offering an abundance of windows and attractive outdoor landscaping, complemented by such features as spacious living quarters, bedroom areas which doubled as sleeping porches for hot summer evenings, an efficient and utilitarian kitchen layout, and detached garage areas.

Throughout his life, Andrew Putnam Hill, Jr. was active in conservationist movements. His commitment to conserving the earth’s natural resources and open space could actually be considered a family trait. His father, Andrew Putnam Hill, Sr. – a noted photographer and artist – was also the co-founder and president of the Sempervirens Club of California, a conservationist organization noted for preserving the Ancient Coast Redwood trees located in what is now known as Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Andrew Putnam Hill, Jr. died August 2, 1973, in Stockton, California.