Skip to main content

Burton Frasher real photo postcards

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_P0683

Scope and Contents

This collection contains 250 postcards that focus on Native American life in Arizona, Utah, and Colorado mostly during the 1930s. Frasher’s postcards include shots of Navajo, Apache, Acoma Pueblo, Taos Pueblo, and Hopi tribes. These photographs are useful to those interested in Native American art and craftwork, as they show images of sand art, basket and rug weaving, and doll and jewelry making. These postcards also give a snap shot of Native American livelihoods at the beginning of the twentieth century and demonstrate how Anglo-American culture represented Native American societies. Also included are images of towns, trading posts, reservation buildings, and Native American pueblos.

Dates

  • 1920 - 1950

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Burton Frasher Sr. Southwest Indian real photo postcards must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Biographical Note

Burton Frasher Sr. (1888-1955) started his commercial photography business in Lordsburg (now La Verne) California in 1914, but later moved it to Pomona in 1920. He traveled the west extensively ranging from California and the Southwest northwards to Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Frasher is known for his 1920s and 1930s “Frasher Fotos” postcard views of the Southwest, which depict a variety of subjects from Native American life to shots of civic buildings in Southwestern towns. By the late 1930s, Frasher’s business was so successful that he hired additional photographers to capture new scenes as well as advertise and sell postcards. Frasher passed away in 1955 having been one of the most prolific photographers of the Southwest during his era.

Extent

1 Box (0.5 linear feet)

Abstract

This collection contains 250 real photo postcards depicting Native American life in the Southwest in the 1930s.

Arrangement

Postcards are arranged by photograph orientation.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Tschanz Rare Books, L.L.C.

Processing Information

Processed in January of 2020

Title
Guide to the Burton Frasher real photo postcards, 1920-1950
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Alyson Griggs.
Date
©2020
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English.

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)