Martin’s photo shop
collection, 1906–1976

Collection Information

Historical/ Biographical Sketches

Scope and Content Note

Series Contents

Cataloging Information

Processed by

Alison Smith, Dorothy Nicholson
Volunteer, Joanne Spann
December 2005

Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF COLLECTION:	Approximately 500 scanned portrait images, 1 box of portrait photographs 322 boxes of photographs 1 box of color photographs 1 box of OVB photographs 5 rolls of microfilm
COLLECTION DATES:	1906–1976
PROVENANCE:	Kenneth Martin.
RESTRICTIONS:	The use of photographs from the collection for advertising purposes is prohibited for a period of fifty years after the date that the negatives were made, unless the requester obtains written release from the donor or his heirs.
COPYRIGHT:	Permission to reproduce or publish material from the collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS:	Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS:
RELATED HOLDINGS:	On the banks of the Wabash: a Photograph Album of Greater Terre Haute, 1900-1950. General Collection Folio: F534.T37 O5 1983
ACCESSION NUMBER:	1983.1207
NOTES:	Due to the volatile nature of nitrate negatives some of the images from the portrait series in this collection were digitized. These are now available for viewing through the Digital Image Collections on the library website. Some images from the commercial series of the Martin Collection are also available through the Digital Image Collections on the library website. Future updates to the collection guide planned.

historical/BIOGRAPHiCAL SKETChes

MARTIN’S PHOTO SHOP

Frank J. Martin established Martin’s Photo Shop as a blueprint business and photography studio in 1906. Over the years and with the help of his seven children, the Martin’s operated as photojournalists for the local newspapers and documented daily life in Terre Haute and Vigo County until it closed in 1976.

The studio stayed at 681 ½ Wabash for the duration of 70 years. In the years that the shop was at this location Frank Martin and his sons seldom discarded any of the images that they had taken. The only negatives that were destroyed were the ones made of glass. They were heavy and threatened the integrity of the building. There were over 100,000 prints and approximately 400,000 negatives that were carefully developed, organized, and stored at the studio. These include family portraits, Cirkut photographs, and different events that happened around the county. There had been little damage to the collection due to the fact that the studio was not afraid to try new technology and they kept high standards in place for the development of the film. Some of the new technologies the Martins introduced to their studio were the first electric blue printing machine, first contained flash powder cabinet, first fluorescent studio lamp, first flash bulbs, and the first electronic flash.

FRANK J. MARTIN

While employed at the Terre Haute Traction and Light Company Frank J. Martin saw a need to create blueprints for the growing Vigo County community. He opened a photography studio to fulfill this necessity in 1906. His enterprise evolved into Martin’s Photo Shop, located at 681 ½ Wabash Ave. in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was here that he developed his skill behind the camera and went on to be a successful professional photographer. He took portraits of people, commercial enterprises, and events that happened in and around Terre Haute and Vigo County. Frank Martin trained all 7 of his children in the art of photography and each of them spent time working with him at his studio until 1933 when he was hit by a car on his way to photograph a prom at Indiana State University. After the loss of their father, Kenneth and Willard Martin took over the family business.

KENNETH MARTIN

Kenneth Martin was born on March 14 1909. He married the former Margaret Evinger in Terre Haute on July 6, 1929. They had two children, Robert and Marilyn. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana State University and started working for his father at the studio in 1928. After his father’s untimely death in 1933 Ken and his brother, Willard took over Martin’s Photo Shop. Ken managed the commercial element of the business and Willard managed the portrait section of the enterprise until his retirement in 1969. After that Ken ran the business until he retired in 1976. He was a member of the Professional Photographers of America and its governing body the National Council, the American Society of Photographers, and was the past president of the Professional Photographers of Indiana, and the Daguerre Club of Indiana.

WILLARD MARTIN

Willard Martin was born on August 25, 1898. He married the former Margaret Landis on September 20, 1921 in Ephrate, Pennsylvania. They had two children, Millicent and Dorothy. Willard attended the Chicago Art Insitute and the Winona School of Photography. He earned his masters degree in photography and taught at the Winona School. He served in the photographic section of the Signal Corps in 1918 and eventually taught for them in Washington D.C. from 1919 to 1921. After the death of his father he returned to Terre Haute and along with his brother Ken bought Martins Photo shop from their mother. Willard oversaw the portrait aspect of the business and Ken managed the commercial side of the business. He was a member and past president of the Daguerre Club of Indiana and the Professional Photographers of America

The collection was donated to the Indiana Historical Society by Kenneth Martin, the son of Frank Martin who opened Martin’s Photo Shop in 1906.

Sources:

Bockner, Harold, ed. Terre Haute’s People of Progress. 1970. Pp. 147,150,260,261.

Indiana Historical Society.“500,000 of Martin shop photo images now repose at state historical society.” Tribune-Star. 22 July 1984, p. E3.

Mitchell, Penny Blaker, “Capturing life’s images” Tribune-Star 28, December 1986, Pp. G1-G4.

Teller, Alan 1984. The Martin Family Collection. Journal of American Photography 2(2): 6-9.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

Series 1 Selected Portraits This part of the collection contains a small selection of the approximately 200,000 portrait negatives in the Martin Collection. These portraits of men, women, children, and families are a record of hair and clothing styles as well as the stylistic conventions use by the Martin photographer’s at that time. Unfortunately, the portraits taken during the 1920s and early 1930s were recorded on nitrate film, and due to their age and volatile nature it was necessary to dispose of them. To preserve the essence of the portraits from this time period, approximately five hundred nitrate negatives were selected and digitally scanned. They are arranged alphabetically in the collection guide and each portrait is accompanied by a job number. The names of the individuals and numbers, along with some dates and addresses were transcribed by the processor from the envelopes that contained the negatives. These names and numbers can be utilized by researchers to view specific images through the Digital Image Collections on the library website. A few of the negatives were accompanied by photographs. These have been preserved and are noted in the collection guide with a box and folder location. The processor’s comments are in square brackets [ ].

Series 2 Commercial Photographs This series of images makes up the bulk of the collection from the 1920s to the 1970s. There are approximately 100,000 black and white prints and a few color prints stored in 324 boxes. The Martin’s kept daily records of each job in their commercial registers. There are 12 of these registers for the commercial photographs. They have been copied onto 3 rolls of microfilm. Two sets of the microfilms are available to researchers. The second set however is missing the first roll of microfilm that dates from1921 to 1949.

The database project to document the subjects in the registers is in progress along with a detailed box and folder list for the boxes of photographs. The collection guide will be updated upon their completion.

series CONTENTS

Series 1: Selected Portraits from Nitrate Negatives, 1926–1930s

CONTENTS	IMAGE NUMBER
Shirley Abbott [Child’s portrait]	14880
Amy Acock	17037
Hugo Albrecht	25644
David Albright, 525 South 5^th	25095
Harold Albright, 514 Chest St.	25130
Ruth Albright, 514 Chestnut Street	24803
Martha Lee All, May 21, 1928, Child’s portrait, Highland	17080
Hazel Anderson	16647
Kay Anderson, December 5, 1928 [Children’s portrait]	17659
Margaret Jane Arnett [Children’s portrait]	23701
Dorothy Atkinson, 2405 North 13^th Street	21732
Agnes Ball	21898
Gladys Ball	21899
Jos. Ball, 1106 Sixth Ave.	24288
Opal Ball, Residence Hall	22437
Rhoda Jean Bartenboch, [Baby portrait] December 12, 1930	21321
Annabell Bauer, 1100 Poplar	24852
Margaret Bauer	22224
Ted Bauer	24180
Kenneth Bauers, 3604 Wabash	22833
Birch Bayh [Baby portrait]	17021
Birch Bayh [2 Baby portraits]	18069
Birch Bayh (Buddy) [3 Baby portraits] Jan 28,1930	20190
Birch Bayh [Adult portrait]	64403 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Nylan Beasley [2 Baby portraits]	14857
Nylan Beasley [2 child’s portrait]	15451
Dorothy Becherer ,1820 North 8^th Street Sycamore	19552
Emil Becker, 217 College Ave.	25542
Sarah Bence, November 15, 1926	15223
Mr. & Mrs. Bevie & Nylan Beasley [Family portrait]	23699
Paul Benning family [4 Children’s portraits]	23674
Willard. W. Bergman [Child’s portrait] December 10, 1925	14375
Thelma Biddle, Residence Hall	21779
Mildred Bledsoe, 1233 South 10^th	24927
Benjamin Blumberg, June 17, 1926	14837
Max Blumberg	16018 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Mr. & Mrs. Max Blumberg	24011
Hallie Bolinger, 409 North 6^th Street	24615
Virginia Bolinger, 1904 North 10^th	21719
Kathryn Bopp ,226 Rent	24874
Martha Botman, 409 North 6^th Street	22058
R.D. Bowsher	23066 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Margaret Louise Boyce [Child’s portrait]	23688
Alvan Branson	23850
Gertrude Branson	24973
Richard Brennan Jr. [Child’s portrait]	23665
Jayson Brentlinger [Child’s portrait]	26088
Mrs. Russell Brentlinger	26089
H. Breutlinger, September 14, 1925	13984
Mr. Louis Brown	19828 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Helga Buckingham	19353
Mary Burford	22240
William Burkebyle, Charge to Woodburn Prtg. Co. Shofers licence [sic.]	24188
Catherine Cagle	24417
Horace Call, June 13, 1930	20956
Betty Lou Carmichael [Child’s portrait]	23657
Cecelio Chaney	22730
Chestnut [2 Portraits of a basketball player]	25127
George Chestnut [Football player]	24622
James Conover	18622
James Conover, November 23, 1928, Faculty	17605
C.A. Cook, Sept. 9,1925	13881
Minnie Cook, Greenwood Ave. Avondale Greenwood Apt. Cincinnati Ohio	15543
J.W. Cook	18534
Otto Coons	24102 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
James Corey, Graduation portrait	23560
Julia Ann & Patsy Covey [Children’s portrait]	23669
Gladys Cox , 911 Beach Street	22117
James Cox, 1358 3^rd Avenue	21729
John Cox , 1223 North 10^th Street	22777
M.A. Cox , Sept 9, 1925	13885
Marsee Cox, Aug 28, 1929	18921
Mary Louise Cox, 2525 Garfield	24336
Paul Cox, 2525 North 12 ½	21726
Virginia Cox, 410 North Center	22279

Wilfred Cox [Child’s portrait]	22018
Vaughn Coyne	24189
B. F. Crawford, January 23, 1928	16777
Celia Crawford, 1605 South Center, Ind S. High	25404
Clara Crawford	23953
Eldon Crawford, 458 North 6^th	25018
Carlisle Crockett	23519
Lee Culberth October 7, 1930	21114
William Cumin, July 1927	15957
Anna Louise Curtis [Nurse’s portrait]	25615
Charles W. Curtis	25088
Edward Curtis	22689
June Curtis, 427 North 12^th Street	22785
Margaret Ann Dahlquest [Child’s portrait]	18662
Charles Davis, 1615 North 7^th Street	25179
Margaret Deady	23717
Curt DeBaun	25770
Myrtle DeBaun	25771
Roy Burton Deer, May 28, 1928, Business	17105
Rev. R. B. Deer, December 14, 1929 [Family portrait]	19768
Mrs. R. B. Deer, and children October 2, 1928	17350
Adelaide Devaney, 34 Home Ave February 4, 1930	20350
Grace Devaney, 34 Home Ave. February 4, 1930	20351
Anna Dickerson, Seilyville, Indiana	24895
Brian Dickenson [Child’s portrait]	24186
Gaylia Dickenson [Child’s portrait]	24187
Richard & Sally Dill [Children’s portrait]	23685
Robert Dillon [Child’s portrait]	23666
Floyd Dix, December 1, 1930	21208
H. L. Dix, May 13, 1930, Dix Lumber Co.	20786
Mary Donham	21032
Elizabeth Donnelly	23401
Mrs. James E. Donnelly	23896
John Donnelly, R.R. 2 West Terre Haute, State High	25414
William J. Douthitt	17322
Gene Duenweg, 68 ½ Home Avenue	24610
Gene Duenweg [2 portraits of an Athlete]	24623
Max Duenweg, 68 ½ Home Avenue	22050
Max Duenweg	24611
Nelle Duncan, November 23, 1928, Faculty	17610 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Edith Eddy	23749
Joan & John Talley Edmonds [4 Children’s portraits]	23744
Sister Mary Edward	25792
Mareelene Englehart, Child’s portrait, Mrs. George Englehart 401 E. Natt, Brazil, Ind.	23672
Robert Eppert, 2321 Garfield	24268
Glenna Epping, 802 North 13 ½	24878
Herman J. Ermish	23105 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Linda Lee Ermish, 123 South 21 Street April 18, 1930 [Child’s portrait]	20703
Rev. A. J. Esperson and family December 22,1932	26148
Pauline Evinger, 623 Fourth Avenue	24334
Minnie J. Fawley, September 19, 1925, Engraving Co.	14043
George Fisher, October 30,1930	21141 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Kermit Flesher	22238
Irvin Foor, hair gray, eyes light blue, complexion ruddy, suit black	14841
Etta Formolo	23655
Jerome Fougeousse, 414 North Center Street	22220
George Foulkes, 10 months old [2 Baby portraits]	24052
Patricia Ann Fox [Baby portrait] Davis Apts. Suite 3	13728
Patty and John Orr Fox May 24, 1928 [Children’s portrait]	17091 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
G. W. Frederick September 22,1927	16293
Carl Froderman October 14, 1927 [2 Baby portraits]	16381
Jan Froeb [Mother and baby portrait]	24053
Norma C. Froeb, 1012 South 6 ½ Street	24426
Blanche Fuqua	25668 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Eston Fuson [Baby portrait]	25721
Willa Rose Galloway	25033
Charles Garmong, R. R. 2	24214
Harry Garmong, 1819 Washington	25479
Helen Gerdink, 1128 South 7^th	24854
Mrs. Pearl Y. Gibson, September 16,1925	14007
Birdella Gilbert, 643 Chestnut	22016
Clyde L. Gilbert	14052
Clyde Gilbert, 641 Ohio Room 40	23075
Stanford Gilley	17426
A.O. Gillis	23120
Chase Gillis	23119 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Kenneth Gillis	23118 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Marilyn Jane Gillis [Children’s portraits]	25714
David Glascock [Child’s portrait]	21053
Eleanor Gosnell, 100 North 6^th Street West Terre Haute	22226
Eva Gosnell	23273
C. G. Grove	23683 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Miss Flora Guilick, [2 prints, 18239]	Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Miss. Flora Guilick	18768
J. Haarliammer, December 20, 1930	21380
John Hager	23686
Herman Hall, December 30, 1925	14477
Maude Hall	23687
Peggy Hallock, Jane Justice [Child’s portrait]	18608
Mrs. H Hamby, Sept 9,1925	13900
Mr. Harry Hamby, Sept 10, 1925	13905
Marion Hanners	23568
Alfred S. Harding, 456 North Center, Prom Mar 14	22088
Alfred S. Harding [full length standing view in cap and jacket]	25186 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Ross Harriott	13844
R.P. Harriott, May 27, 1930	20885 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
James Lee Harrison [Baby portrait]	24079
“Rudy” Harrison [Child’s portrait]	23616
Patience Hayden [African American woman]	23677
Louis Hellman	26085
Vera Hogue	26031
Emma Holt, 244 North 14^th Street, October 25, 1931	21661
O.C. Horning	24139
Rehe Horning	24140 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 1
Herman Hornung	24143
Wilson House, May 21, 1930	20585
Francis Hughes	14271
E.T. Hulman	24058
Mrs. E. Hulman, Detroit	23855
Hermine Hulman, 2037 North 7^th Street	22033
Jessie Hulman, 825 South 4^th Street	24750
Mr. Cyrus Hunt, Sept 10,1925	13912
Sister Mary Immaculee	25795
Mrs. N.A. Ireland	14948
Ruth Ireland, Dress red &ribbon, Lace econ, beads yellow, Hair light brown, eyes gray	14964
Glenn D. Irwin Nov. 20,1930	21174
Irvin Jacobs, April 10, 1929, For Fridays paper	18463
Fred O. Jeffries, September 7, 1929	18945
Sister Ann Joachin, Mrs. J.C. Healy (Mother) 118 So. 6^th St. Ironton, Ohio	25794
D. C. Johnson, May 23, 1929	18652
Noble Johnson	15044 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
Catherine Kadel	25670
Mrs. Metta Kadel	23440
Wanda Kadel	23444
Raymond Kasemyer, 333 Kent Avenue	24509
Harold Pichard Kearns [Baby portrait]	23656
Theodore Keaton, February 26,1927	15626
A.C. Keifer at desk	5382
A.C. Keifer	13874
A.C. Keifer, July 16,1929	18792
Louis Keifer Sept. 11,1925	13952
Louis, Keifer [Baby portrait]	16396
Florence Kelso, 1940 North 11^th	24893
Harvey Kessler R.R. 3 Box 175	22393
Jack King [Child’s portrait]	23654
Pauline and Jack King [Mother and son]	23658
John Kirchner, 502 North 15^th	21759S
H.J. Kruzan	22415
Mary & Charlotte Kruzan	26067
R.A. Kruzan	24157
Kathrine Kunkler, December 17, 1930 [Child’s portrait]	21359
A.H. Kuper [4 Children’s portraits]	23673
William & Kathlene Kurkin [Children’s portrait]	21369
Chas Lamb, Civil Service	24033
William Lamb [Child’s portrait]	24001
Marie Latta, 2515 Crawford, Garfield Faculty	19210
Marie Latta, June 26, 1930	20995 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
Pearl Latta	23236
Hazel Laughlin (customer) 1000 South 6^th C.7311	426
Douglas & Sylvia Legg [3 Children’s portraits]	23695
Mrs. William Lewis [Family portrait] November 11, 1929	18233
Cleda Lovelace, November 13, 1928	17425
Doris Lovelace [Child’s portrait]	14765
Roberta Lovelace	14673
Wesley Lyda [African American Associated with ISU]	23574
H. McFarland	17328
Carl Raymond McKee [Baby portrait]	23927
Dudley McKee, Auburn, Indiana	23959
R. D. McKee	23400
Margaret McKee, 1116 Sycamore	25055
Milton McKee	22839
Saelia McKee	21746
Saelia McKee [prints only, 24402]	Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
James McKinney [Baby portrait]	23679
Bessie Martin	25610
Chester Martin, 525 South 5^th	22139
Chester Martin [4 Football player portraits]	21833
Dorothy Fern Martin, 410 North Center	22045
Dorothy Martin, Staff Residence Hall	21813
Eva Martin, 1427 Chestnut	22387
Marilyn Ruth Martin [Child’s portrait]	25915
Maude Martin, 389 5^th Avenue New York City	25828
Paul Martin	25680
Raymond P. Martin, 1318 South 3^rd Street	22772
Ruth Marton	24481
Don Mattox, 720 Collett	19167
Goldie Mattox	23292
C.R. Mayfield, July 11, 1929, Charge to Int. Haw. Co.	18778
Mr. & Mrs. C. R. Mayfield, November 30, 1929	19643
Margaret Mayrose	23125
Dr. L. H. Meeks [Family & baby portrait]	19333
Albert Mewhimmey, 1138 North 10^th Street	24320
Marilyn Jane Meyer [Child’s portrait] January 2, 1932	24021
Andy Miller, May 15, 1930 (Fred Waldren)	20791
Warren D. Miller, June 11, 1928	17135
Gene and Judy Ann Mittank [3 Children’s portraits]	23671
Agnest Moare Resident Hall	24537
Annie Modesitt, 1839 ½ North 7^th Street	21759W
Chesler C. Modesitt and wife	26042
Fred W. Modesitt, 1012 North 9^th Street	21755
Gerald Lee Modesitt [Baby Portrait]	25745
Ruth Modesitt	22287
Thelma Modesitt	25901
Herman J. Moench	23764
Jessie Moore	23413
Joanne Moore [Baby portrait]	25800
John Moore [Tennis player]	25182
Juanita Moore	23045
Herb Morringer	24099
Alice Morris [Baby portrait]	23682
Marian Morton	23634
Mary Alice Morton [Child’s portrait]	24110
Dallas Mount	23680
Beth Audree Nash, November 27, 1926 [Baby portrait]	16098
Eva Marie Nasser [Baby portrait]	23852
Howard Skauder Nassar, December 5, 1929	19668
Mary Nasser Residence Hall	24875 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
Blair Nattkemper [Child’s portrait]	23724
Reba Neukom, 1528 North 7^th	24919
Betty Jo Newhouser [Child’s portrait]	23670
Carl Allen Newlin Jr., November 12, 1929 [Baby portrait]	19222
Carl Allen Newlin [Child’s portrait]	23344
Charlotte & Robert Newlin [Children’s portrait]	25946
Harold Newlin, 410 Chestnut	24782
Mrs. Charles Newlin November 23, 1926 [Family group portrait]	15244
Robert Nunn Jr. [Boy Scout]	24071
John Oberholtzer, 511 North 6^th Street	24502
LuLu Oberholtzer	23473
Lewis Oberholtzer	25608
Veronica Ogden	24141 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
Madeline Ogle	21826
Mary Ohm	26026
Mary Ohm, 240 South 9^th	21894
Osborne [Basket Ball player]	25126
Hasler Osborne, 121 North 6^th Street [Woman]	24579
Hasler Osborne 121 North 6^th Street	25110
George Osburn	23860
H. Clay Owen, May 12, 1927	15787
Mrs. H. Clay Owen, October 1, 1927	16332
Creston Paine	18033
Dorothy Parsons [Child’s portrait]	25940
Faye Parsons	25135
Florence Payton [Wedding portrait]	17597
Florence Payton, November 2, 1929, Garfield Faculty	19076
Shirley Jeanne Peterson & Father?, March 2, 1925	13398
Bobbie Pfister	20617
Joe Pfister, October 16, 1931	21602
Thelma Pickbrell, R.R. 2 West Terre Haute	23533
Earl Pike, Nov 20, 1928, Faculty	17555 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
Burnice Porter, Sleeveless Dress light	23370
Marguerite Probst, 247 South 2^nd Street	21966
Marguerite Probst	23584
Mildred Profist	25192 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
Mildred Profist	23567
Straussa Pruitt, 1839 North 7^th	24412 Portrait Photographs: Box 1, Folder 2
Zelda Pugh, 3027 South 13^th Street	24224
Jack Puvner [Child’s portrait]	14704
Mrs. W. S. Rae, For Rae Park Club House	15899
Jack Ragle, February 17, 1928 [Child’s portrait]	16841
Thomas Records [Child’s portrait]	16406
Helen Reitzel, November 21,1928, Faculty	17583
Mary Margaret Reintzes [Child’s portrait]	133

Collection #

P 0129 F1707–F1711