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John Dubas photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: 1977.20

Abstract

The John Dubas Collection consists of 24 boxes of photographs and manuscript materials related to Baltimore photographer John Dubas, including more than 3600 photographic prints, film negatives and glass negatives taken by Dubas between 1900 and 1971, as well as correspondence, ledger books, and log books. There are also newspaper clippings.

Dates

  • 1900-1977

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.

Biographical / Historical

John Dubas (1889-1976) was a photographer in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's public relations department for three decades. Born in Vienna, Austria, his family immigrated to Baltimore in 1904, settling in East Baltimore. In 1928, the B&O railroad hired him as a photographer, and he remained with the railroad until retiring in 1960. In his spare time he documented the East Baltimore neighborhood where he lived in a straight forward, no frills style, capturing his friends and family, street scenes, architecture, and the everyday life of the city. A lover of sailing and the sea, Dubas also took thousands of images of ships coming in and out of the Baltimore Harbor.

Extent

24 Linear Feet (24 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The collection is organized into four series by format. Subseries in Series I. and II. further divide material by format as well as by topic.

Series include:

Series I. Photographic prints (Boxes 1 - 2)

Subseries A. Baltimore Views

Subseries B. Baltimore Harbor Views

Subseries C. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

Subseries D. Bay Ships

Subseries E. Construction and Pumping Stations

Subseries F. Fires

Subseries G. Interiors

Subseries H. Key West, Florida

Subseries I. Other Photographers

Series II. Film negatives (Boxes 3 - 13)

Subseries A. John Dubas

Subseries B. Portraits

Subseries C. Miscellaneous

Subseries D. 35mm Film Negatives

Series III. Glass negatives (Boxes 4 - 22)

Series IV. Manuscript materials (Boxes 23 - 24).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection was purchased at auction by the Peale Museum in 1977; Acc#1977.20. In 1997 the Baltimore City Life Museums/Peale Museum closed due to lack of funding. Their collections were transferred to the Maryland Historical Society in 1998.

Related Materials

An additional 700+ photographs taken by John Dubas can be found in the BCLM Glass Plate Negative Collection.

Scope and Contents

The John Dubas Collection consists of 24 boxes of photographs and manuscript materials related to Baltimore photographer John Dubas. The photographic materials consist of over 3600 photographic prints, film negatives and glass negatives taken by Dubas between 1900 and 1971. The manuscript materials include correspondence, ledger books kept by John Dubas recording the arrival and departure of ships in the Baltimore Harbor, and log books containing exposure information for photographs. There are also newspaper clippings about John Dubas and articles on ships that he collected.

Title
Guide to the John Dubas photograph collection
Author
Damon Talbot and Delaney Hochrein
Date
2015-06
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Revision Statements

  • 2020-05-06: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Emily Somach.

Repository Details

Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository

Contact:
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750