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Raymond C. Somers photograph collection, 1865-1993

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Somers, Ray, 1917-
Title
Raymond C. Somers photograph collection
Dates
1865-1993 (inclusive)
1890-1940 (bulk)
Quantity
11 boxes, (5.0 linear ft. )
Collection Number
UUS_P0324
Summary
1,163 black & white and color photographs, 890 black & white negatives (4x5, 5x7, and 35 mm negatives), 48 black & white glass plate negatives, cyanotypes, duplicates and photocopies, and copies from pages in Mr. Somers' books. Most of the images were taken in Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho, Logan and Logan Canyon, Utah and the Bear River Range, Box Elder County and Southeastern Idaho). A few are from Wyoming, Hawaii, and California. Subjects include the Utah State Agricultural and Brigham Young Colleges of Logan, Cardon Jewelry company and family, Stanford University, the Logan L.D.S. Temples and Tabernacle, Hampton's Ford, fishing, hunting, and camping, railroads, the Jim Bridger Centennial Celebration, the 145th Artillery Unit, businesses and buildings of Cache Valley, parades, portraits of Logan residents and homes, the Peterson farm in Petersboro, agricultural scenes, the Hercules Power Plant, Shoshone Indians, and Bear River Canyon. Most images were taken during 1890-1940.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions
Restrictions

Open to public research. Nitrate negatives have been removed from this collection and placed in Cold Storage Boxes 12-16. Patrons must request to view these negatives 3 hours in advance.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
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Biographical Note

Ray Somers was born on November 28, 1917, in Garland, Utah. He spent his early years working on the family farm in East Garland, Utah. He also delivered the Deseret News to people in surrounding areas. While collecting for his route, Somers was able to converse with descendants of early settlers of Box Elder County, and it was here that his desire to learn about history was nurtured and began to take root. Somers attended and graduated from Bear River High School in 1936 and attended the Utah State Agricultural College in the fall of 1937. In school Somers discovered his passion for radio and electronics. To support himself through his education, he opened and managed a radio repair shop in the spring of 1938. That following summer he began working as a "gandy dancer" for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Rye Patch, Nevada. In 1940, instead of finishing his college degree, Somers decided to pursue other interests and was employed at the Western Music Company where he assembled and installed Wurlitzer jukeboxes throughout southern Idaho and northern Utah.

In the fall of 1940 he met Josephine Harris, whom he later married on January 5, 1942. Somers' interests in radio and electronics and the preservation of history continued to grow throughout the years. From 1942-1944, Somers taught a radio theory class at Utah State Agricultural College for the United States Navy and following a short period of service in California for the United States Navy, he returned to the radio repair business in 1946. As Somers' business evolved from radio repair to video rental and historic press, Somers was able to incorporate his passion for history and preservation into his stores by adding galleries and museums of his collections in the back of his store. He also purchased the home of early Logan settler Charles W. Nibley and began a lengthy restoration process. Since that restoration he has opened his home to the community for historical lectures, piano concerts, and tours.

Somers has been heavily involved in the community as well as organizations that promote the preservation and study of history. In 1969, Somers co-founded the Geneology Club of America and in 1973, he became president of the Cache Valley Historic Society. Other organizations he has been involved with include the Old Main Society, Victorian Society of America, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Logan Kiwanis Club. Somers has also written several historical books which include History of Logan (1993), Hampton Ford and Stage Stop, Box Elder County, Utah, (co-written with Charles Eugene Bigler in 1984), A Tribute to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1998), and History of Cache Valley (2004).

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Content Description

The Ray Somers Photograph Collection contains 48 black and white glass plate negatives (4x5, 5x7, and 5x8), 1,163 black and white and color images, and 890 black and white negatives (predominantly 3½x6), duplicates and photocopies, copies from pages in Mr. Somers books, and 35mm black & white negatives (most of which are duplicates from photographs already in the collection). Most of the images in the collection were taken in Cache Valley, Logan, Logan Canyon and the Bear River Range, Box Elder County, and Southeastern Idaho. A few images are from Wyoming, Hawaii and California. Many items, however, have not been identified with a specific location although most are assumed to be in Logan or surrounding areas. Subjects in the collection include the Agricultural College of Utah, Brigham Young College, Cardon Jewelry Company and family, Stanford University, the Logan L.D.S. Temple and Tabernacle, Hampton's Ford, fishing, hunting, and campting, railroads, the Jim Bridger Centennial Celebration, the 145th Artillery Unit, businesses and buildings of Cache Valley, parades, portraits of Logan residents and residences, the Peterson Farm in Petersboro, agricultural and irrigation scenes, the Hercules Power Plant, Shoshone Indians, and Bear River Canyon. Most images were taken from the 1890s to the 1930s.

Most of the images were published in Mr. Somers' books and the individual identifications came from these books. The titles on the folders in Box 10 were taken from Mr. Somers files.

Dates accompanying the negatives were taken from the development envelopes from Cardon Jewelry Co. and are assumed to be the date the film was taken in for development rather than the actual date of the activity depicted in the negative. Many of the photographs were apparently taken by the Cardon family but what images were taken by the Cardon's and what images were from negatives developed by the Cardon Jewerly Co. is not clear.

The first three folders of Box 8 are photographs taken by the Peter Peterson Family of Petersboro, Utah, circa 1910. These photographs include farm scenes including several threshing scenes, parades, horse shows, scenery, and buildings in Cache Valley. A hand written inventory of the Peterson Photographs is located in Box 8:03. Many of the photographs listed in this inventory are not found in the collection.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Raymond C. Somers photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Raymond C. Somers photograph collection, 1865-1993. (P0324). Utah State University. Special Collections & Archives Department.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in numeric sequence according to Box and Item

Acquisition Information

Gift of Raymond C. Somers.

Processing Note

This collection was donated and processed in several installments causing similar photographs, that normally would be placed together, to be scattered among the collection. Duplicates are listed next to each photograph. Register completed by Camille Gooch, February 2002. Revised and updated by Mark Buchanan, April 2005, and Daniel Davis, July 2011.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agriculture--Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--Photographs.
  • Farms--Utah--Petersboro--Photographs.
  • Holidays--Utah--Logan--Photographs.
  • Parades--Utah--Logan--Photographs.
  • Recreation--Cache National Forest (Utah and Idaho)--Photographs.
  • Recreation--Utah--Logan Canyon--Photographs.
  • Recreation--Utah--Logan--Photographs.
  • Shoshoni Indians--Utah--Photographs.

Corporate Names

  • Brigham Young College (Logan, Utah)--Photographs.
  • Cardon Jewelry Co. (Logan, Utah)--Photographs.
  • Hampton's Ford Station (Collinston, Utah)--Photographs.
  • Hercules Power Plant (Logan Canyon, Utah)--Photographs.
  • Logan Tabernacle (Logan, Utah)--Photographs.
  • Logan Temple (Utah)--Photographs.
  • Thatcher Opera House (Logan, Utah)--Photographs.
  • Utah State University--Photographs.

Family Names

  • Cardon family--Photographs.
  • Peterson family--Photographs.

Geographical Names

  • Bear River (Utah-Idaho)--History--Photographs.
  • Cache County Courthouse (Logan, Utah).
  • Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--History--Photographs.
  • Idaho--History--Photographs.
  • Logan (Utah)--History--Photographs.
  • Logan Canyon (Utah)--History--Photographs.
  • Logan River (Utah)--Photographs.

Finding aid created by Camille Gooch, February 2002. Revised and updated by Mark Buchanan, April 2005.
2008

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