New York State Conservation Commission Commissioner's Photograph Albums B2198

New York State Conservation Commission Commissioner's Photograph Albums

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

George Dupont Pratt (1869-1935) served as a member of the New York State Conservation Commission during the period 1915-1921. This series consists of two photograph albums containing nearly 400 photographs, most of them of New York State scenes in the Adirondack region.

Creator:

New York (State). Conservation Commission

Title:

Commissioner's photograph albums

Quantity:

1 cubic feet

2 volumes

Inclusive Dates:

1917, 1920

Series Number:

B2198

Arrangement

Chronological.

Administrative History

George Dupont Pratt (1869-1935) was of the Brooklyn family for which Pratt Institute is named. He was a member of the Camera Club of New York (City), and may be presumed to have been the photographer. Mr. Pratt served as Commissioner, New York State Conservation Commission (predecessor to the Department of Conservation and its successor the Department of Environmental Conservation), 1915-1921.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of two photograph albums containing nearly 400 photographs, most of them of New York State scenes in the Adirondack region. These photographs depict scenic views, buildings, hunting and shooting activities, and colleagues of Commissioner George Dupont Pratt. (For example, there are photographs of his visit to the camp of Robert Pruyn, presumably of the Pruyn family that had major landholdings in the Adirondacks.) There are also photographs of a trip to North Carolina and to New York State fish hatcheries in the Southern Tier counties (specifically, Hammondsport and Chautauqua). None of the depicted individuals are identified, but most if not all of the images are identified as to place and date. Many of the photographs were taken as part of Pratt's official business as commissioner of the Conservation Commission.

The photographs are securely pasted onto the boards of the album. The photographs were evidently contact prints from negatives, mostly 5x7 (presumably glass) and 3.5x5 (presumably film) inches in size. There are a few panoramic views of Adirondack scenes.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

List of sequences of images is available at the repository.

Custodial History

While the photograph albums date from the period of Mr. Pratt's service as Conservation Commissioner and apparently depict official trips, they were retained as personal property. The albums were donated to the State Archives by Ms. Deming Holleran of Hanover, New Hampshire. Ms. Holleran is the granddaughter of Commissioner Pratt.