According to the call for entries for the "Austin Seen" photography exhibition, the photographs submitted for the exhibition would become part of the permanent collection of the Austin History Center, but the copyright to the images would remain with the photographers. The prints are to be used by the Austin History Center for research and display. Some photographers gave permission for their photographs to be published, but only if they, along with the History Center, are given credit.
“Austin Seen” Photograph Collection, 1939-1984 (AR.2000.016). Austin, TX: Austin History Center, Austin Public Library and the individual photographer, if applicable. Some photos entered in the exhibition are restricted - researchers should consult the individual prints they wish to publish.
Donor #: No donor number - photographs submitted for exhibition competition
Donation Date: 1984
Initial Inventory and Preliminary Processing By/Date: Teresa Tucker/January 2002.
Final Processing and Finding Aid By/Date: Margaret Schlankey & Jennifer Hecker/June 2005.
Access restricted to Austin History Center hours of operation.
Twelve photographs in the collection may not be reproduced. The others may be reproduced by the Austin History Center and its users but credit must be given to both the Austin History Center and the photographer. The applicable restrictions are indicated on the back of each photo in the collection.
The Austin History Center recognized the need to document, as stated by curator Audray Bateman in the “Austin Seen” exhibition catalog, “our rapidly vanishing recent heritage.” To encourage this documentation, the “Austin Seen” photo competition was created. The general public was invited to submit a piece of history as seen through the lens of their own cameras. The contest criteria for photos submitted was that each “show a recognizability of people, places, and events, or an essence of life in this area.”
Three men distinguished in the field of photography formed the jury: Russell Lee, the internationally renowned photographer; Stanley Farrar, director of photography for the Austin-American Statesman, news photographer, and picture editor; and Roy Flukinger, Curator of the Photography Collection, Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas. Mr. Flukinger, also the author of many books and articles, contributed the article “Some of Their Magic” to the exhibition catalog.
Ninety-four people submitted a total of 530 photographs. Of these, 114 photographs were chosen to be included in the exhibition, representing the work of 54 photographers. Of the original 530 photographs, 368 were donated to the Austin History Center and are now a part of the Center’s permanent collection.
The exhibition catalog, a Waterloo Publication, was published by the Austin History Center and compiled by Carolyn Baker. The exhibition curator, Sharmyn Lumsden, also contributed “Portrait of a City” to the exhibition catalog, an article describing the evolution of photography in Austin.
Besides photographs, the Austin community provided other contributions to make the exhibition a success. Sponsors of the exhibition were Custom Photographic Labs, Inc.; Texas Commerce Bank; and the Austin History Center Association. Contributors were Austin Prints for Publication, Book of Days, Capitol Camera, and Miller Blueprint Company. Assisting in production and planning were Carolyn Baker, Jeanne Baker, Audray Bateman, Bill Clark, Sharmyn Lumsden, Robert Haslanger, and Danny Schweers.
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.
Photographs are arranged according to the contest entry number.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection. (NOTE: Photograph titles are presented as formatted by submitter.)