Skip to main content

Harold Putnam Collection

 Collection — Box: 1-16
Identifier: MS-050

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Photographs, negatives, slides and contact prints taken for the Putnam's various publications about Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Also includes the original mock-up of the travel guide, "North to Adventure in Michigan's Upper Peninsula" and a slide camera with light meter and camera accessories.

Dates

  • Undated; Approximately 1956-1963

Conditions Governing Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.

Biography

Harold and Beatrice Putnam were the husband and wife team behind the Putnam Feature Services which operated out of Detroit, Michigan. Harold was the photographer and Beatrice was the writer. Together they pooled their talents in the publication of books, brochures, travel guides, film strips, and slide shows. Their first publication was an assignment from the Copper Country Vacationist League, "We Fell in Love with Keweenawland in Michigan's Upper Peninsula." It's title set the tone for all their promotions of the Upper Peninsula. Their most ambitious project was the publication of "North to Adventure in Michigan's Upper Peninsula," published and distributed at their expense. Their objective was to produce a tourist guide from the standpoint of the tourist, using themselves as guinea pigs as opposed to the subsidized publications featuring the county point of view. It quickly became a recommended teaching aid and reference text and served as the inspiration for their film strip "Exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula," produced by the University of Michigan. As a result, three film strips were produced and marketed, including "Winter Carnival in Michigan's Upper Peninsula," featuring the snow statues at Michigan Technological University's Winter Carnival. The Putnams retired to the Keweenaw, buying a summer house in Eagle Harbor.

Extent

3.71 Cubic Feet (16 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection, undated, of photographs by Harold Putnam, the photographer of the husband and wife publishing team, Putnam Feature Services. Includes photographs, negatives and contact prints taken for the Putnam's various publications about Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Also includes the original mock-up of the travel guide, "North to Adventure in Michigan's Upper Peninsula."

Arrangement

MS-050 is arranged into three series: 1. Photographic Prints, 2. Negatives, and 3. Slides.

Acquisition

One cubic foot of 8x10 black and white photographs was donated to the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collection by Harold Putnam on March 24, 1987. Five additional accessions from June 1987 through November, 1988 consisting of color slides, negatives, and the orginal mock up of "North to Adventure in Michigan's Upper Peninsula," were received from Harold Putnam. A final donation consisting of color slides, a Rollei camera with accessories and a light meter were received from Harold Putnam in July, 1992.

Bibliography

  • Copper Country Vacationist League (Houghton, Mich.). We Fell in Love with Keweenawland in Michigan's Famous Copper Country: Gateway to Isle Royale National Park. Houghton, Mich: Copper Country Vacationist League, 1956.
  • Putnam, Beatrice Morgan. North to Adventure; A Travel Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Detroit: Putnam Feature Services, 1960.
Title
Harold Putnam Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Elizabeth Russell, revised by Rachael Bussert.
Date
12/7/2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
Funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US