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“Austin Seen” Photograph Exhibition Collection

Title: “Austin Seen” Photograph Exhibition Collection

Of the 530 submissions to the “Austin Seen” competition, 368 are now part of the permanent collection. There are 324 black and white photographs and 43 color photographs. The size of the photos varies from 4x6” to 11x14”, with most being 8x10”. The 368 photographs now part of the permanent collection as AR 2000.016, range in date from 1939 to 1984. The date range and quantity of photos per decade: 1930’s: 1 photo; 1940’s: 3 photos; 1950’s: 0 photos; 1960’s: 1 photo; 1970’s: 79 photos; 1980’s: 121 photos; undated (most are circa 1980’s): 163 photos. Buildings and businesses were the most photographed subjects submitted. There are 90 identified businesses and buildings. Represented in 15 photographs, the Texas State Capitol building was the most photographed building. Overwhelmingly, 6th Street was the most photographed street, with Congress Avenue a distant second. The most photographed neighborhoods were Dellwood and Clarksville. Other frequently photographed subjects were fishermen, lakes, and parks. There are also images of musicians, bands, and dancers. The changing face of the city is viewed in images of construction and demolition. There are the odd images: a pig’s nose, a field of sinks, and a few assorted animals. Another favorite subject was demonstrations: Ku Klux Klan rallies, Vietnam War Protests, an anti-nuclear protest, a gay rights march, and a Texas Farm Workers Union rally. Festivals such as Pecan Street Festival, the Aqua Festival, and Mardi Gras, are included, with Eeyore’s Birthday Party the most favored. Most of the people in the photos remain unidentified. Of those identified, there is a smattering of politicians, business people, and musicians. A few individuals associated with neighborhoods or events are also identified. All are representative of the face of Austin. Several photographs are artfully beautiful, such as Rick Patrick’s “Town Lake Fisherman 1972,” William O. Kolberg’s depiction of water lilies in “Mayfield Park,” and Grant Fehr’s ethereal “Seaholm Station,” to mention only a few. Indeed the participants of the “Austin Seen” competition have provided beauty along with valuable photographic documentation of their present, now the recent past.

ArchivalResource: 3 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

https://ahc.access.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/2249 View