Ivory Photo photograph collection, circa 1927-1971

Summary

Creator:

Ivory Photo (Firm)

Abstract:

Ann Arbor, Michigan, photography firm. Photonegatives, and some photoprints, of images largely relating to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, but including Ypsilanti and other Michigan cities: buildings, businesses, houses, street scenes, community activities, and organizations; also photos of automobiles, storm damage, etc. taken to support insurance claims.

Extent:

31 linear feet

Language:

English.

Call Number:

92324 UBB.2 2

Authors:

Finding aid prepared by: Susan Wineberg, 1982 Karen Mason, 1986

Background

Scope and Content:

The Ivory Photo collection consists of an impressive array of negatives and prints taken by Ann Arbor photographer Mel Ivory from the 1920s to the early 1970s. Most of the photographs were taken by Ivory for customers, whether the University of Michigan, local businesses, or private citizens. The collection is probably most valuable for its extensive documentation of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, the two areas in which it bulks largest. However, because it spans a relatively long time period, the collection is also useful for illustrating changes in photography as an art and as a business, and for documenting social trends in twentieth-century America. Finally, the collection documents the career of a commercial photographer.

As a photographer for the University of Michigan in the 1920s and 1930s, Ivory took the standard pictures of campus events, buildings, and people, but the value of many photographs from this period is as much aesthetic as informational. Producing cover art for the Michigan Alumnus allowed him to experiment with unusual angles, lighting, and subject matter. (See, for example, photographs of the Clements Library and of students strolling through the Diag in the 1930s.) In stark contrast to these images is a large group of photographs of car wrecks that Ivory took for insurance companies between 1937 and 1969.

Besides providing thorough documentation of the physical plant of the University of Michigan, the Ivory collection evokes the flavor of life on campus in the 1930s and 1940s through photographs of football games and crowds, dance bands, social events, professors at work in laboratories, the Michigan Daily staff at work, and students in classrooms, libraries, and dormitories.

The Ann Arbor subseries includes numerous photographs of houses and businesses, filed by address to facilitate research into a particular building or site, as well as a rich assortment of photographs depicting life in Ann Arbor through more than four decades. There are numerous photographs of men and women at work in factories, stores, and other settings. Some show women at work in unusual settings (as cab drivers for Ace Cab Company, for example) while others depict women in stereotypically female occupations (as secretaries, store clerks, and ditto machine operators). Photographs of drug and department store display windows and of products in grocery stores illustrate trends in merchandising.

The Ivory collection is also remarkable for its documentation of social mores. Wedding photographs taken from the 1930s to the 1960s depict a variety of settings, fashions, wedding rituals, and even fads, such as a 1940 wedding at a roller rink. There is also a small group of photographs of funerals and an extensive series of portraits of children, families, and individuals.

Photographs of a depression-era hobo cooking near a railroad car, of lawn parties and country clubs, of the soap box derby and sports teams reflect diverse aspects of life in Ann Arbor. The home front during World War II is documented in views of an aluminum drive, a blitzkrieg game in a local tavern, a commuter bus with a female conductor, and the Judge Advocate General's school exercises in the Law Quad.

Although the Ypsilanti subseries is considerably smaller than the Ann Arbor and University of Michigan subseries, it contains a number of valuable photographs, such as the Cleary College photographs showing rows of students at typewriters, students relaxing on boarding house steps and in Cleary lounges and recreation rooms, and annual graduation processions. The Washtenaw County subseries contains rural scenes such as farms, country roads, and a county fair. The remaining subseries consist of businesses, street scenes, railroad stations, and a variety of other photographs representing Michigan towns and counties.

A few copy negatives made by Ivory from existing photographs are scattered throughout the collection. A late nineteenth or early twentieth-century anatomy lesson in the Medical School, for example, is filed in the "Colleges, Schools, and other Divisions" section of University of Michigan 5"x7" negatives.

The contents of the various subseries and sub-subseries are for the most part self-evident, but a few words of explanation about the Ann Arbor subseries are in order. "Buildings and Views" consists largely of exterior views of buildings. However, there are many interior scenes of people and activities in the "Churches," "Hospitals," and "Schools" sections. For example, photographs of Ann Arbor churches include views of the pastor and congregation, choirs, recreation rooms, meetings, and athletic teams in addition to interior and exterior views of the buildings. "Schools" contains photographs of sports teams, classroom scenes, social events, and buildings representing Ann Arbor public and parochial schools, but also Ann Arbor Secretarial School and Concordia College.

Researchers seeking images of commercial enterprises will find material in the "Buildings and Views" sub-subseries (listed under the street address in the "Houses and Businesses" section) and in the "Businesses" sub-subseries (under the name of the enterprise).

The "Houses and Businesses" negatives within the "Buildings and Views" sub-subseries are arranged alphabetically by street name and then numerically by address. Most of these photographs are exterior views, but interior scenes of businesses have been filed here in order to keep exterior and interior views of a particular business together. Photographs of products, equipment, people at work, and special events are filed in the "Businesses" sub-subseries when no building exteriors exist or when the address of the business was unknown. Researchers should look both places for photographs of businesses. Although some "see also" references have been added, they are by no means exhaustive. Researchers may also wish to examine the "Motor Vehicles" sub-subseries, which contains photographs of trucks owned by Ann Arbor businesses.

In the University of Michigan subseries, "Buildings and Views" consists of exterior and interior views of buildings, whereas "Colleges, Schools, and Other Divisions" contains photographs of professors and students in laboratories and classrooms as well as group photographs of staff and students.

Biographical / Historical:

Melvin Allison Ivory came to Ann Arbor in the mid-1920s from Lansing, where he had done amateur photo finishing for his father's two drugstores. He from Ann Arbor High School and worked part-time doing photo finishing for his uncle, Percy Mack, who was part owner of Calkins-Fletcher Drug Company and was in charge of the camera department.

While an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, Ivory became a photographer for the Alumni Association. He continued to handle photo finishing "both amateur and professional" for Calkins-Fletcher after graduating from the university in 1931. In addition, Ivory Photographic Services became the official photographer for the Michigan Alumnus, Michiganensian, and the Bureau of Alumni Relations. Ivory married Janet Boylan in 1931.

In 1937 Mel Ivory and his brother Gail Ivory founded the Ivory Photo Engraving Company at 1030 East University Avenue in Ann Arbor. The company continued until 1944, although Gail Ivory had departed earlier to join the Navy. In 1944 Mel Ivory bought the business of photographer Oscar Mahlke, including his photo finishing equipment and contracts with local businesses. Eventually, Ivory was doing daily photo finishing for more than forty stores in Ann Arbor and neighboring towns. This work is reflected in an extensive group of photographs of stores, restaurants, factories, and other workplaces and products. Ivory also took photographs for insurance companies from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Ivory Photo moved to 606 South Main Street in 1948, where it remains to this day. When Mel Ivory died in 1972, his daughter Susan Ivory Shipman and her husband Robert Shipman took over the business. In 1982 the Shipmans sold Ivory Photo to Diane and Michael Hough.

For further information see: Bentley Historical Library Annual Report 1982-1983, pp. 27-30; Michigan Alumnus 38 (March 19, 1932), p. 427; and Ann Arbor News, June 25, 1982, Sec. C, p. 5. Bentley Historical Library, Annual Report 1982-1983, pp. 27-30; Michigan Alumnus 38 (March 19, 1932), p. 427; and Ann Arbor News, June 25, 1982, Sec. C, p. 5.

Acquisition Information:

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shipman (donor no. 6857 ), 1982.

Arrangement:

The negatives are arranged according to size; prints of all sizes are filed together in one series of 9"x12" envelopes. The collection is arranged in four series: Negatives - 4"x5"; Negatives - 5"x7"; Negatives - 8"x10"; and Prints. The Negatives - 4"x5" series contains all negatives that are 4"x5" or smaller. Two Super 8 films are filed at the end of Box 25. A useful box-by-box summary outline of the contents list follows this section.

Within each series, the negatives and prints are arranged in subseries according to the town or county they represent and then according to subject matter. Subseries and further subdivisions are arranged alphabetically; photographs within a particular category are arranged chronologically. Because of their quantity, University of Michigan negatives and prints constitute a separate subseries rather than part of the Ann Arbor subseries.

The largest subseries are Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan, Ypsilanti, and Washtenaw County. The remaining subseries consist of other towns and counties in Michigan; most of these contain only a few negatives or prints. Researchers should see the contents list for the names of towns and counties represented.

1. Negatives - 4"x5" [boxes 1-25]
   • Ann Arbor [boxes 1-14]
     • Airports and Airplanes [box 1]
     • Buildings and Views [boxes 1-7]
       • Cemeteries [1]
       • Churches [1]
       • Gas Stations [1]
       • Hospitals [2]
       • Houses and Businesses [boxes 2-5]
       • Parks [5]
       • Public Buildings [5]
       • Railroad Stations and Trains [5]
       • Schools [5-6]
       • Streets [6-7]
     • Businesses [7-9]
     • Insurance Claims [boxes 9-10]
       • Fires [9]
       • Storm Damage [9]
       • Traffic Accidents [9-10]
     • Motor Vehicles [10]
     • Organizations and Groups [10-11]
     • People [11-13]
     • Pets and Other Animals [13]
     • Politics [13]
     • Social Life and Customs [boxes 13-14]
       • Community Events [13]
       • Dance Bands and Orchestras [13]
       • Funerals [13]
       • Parties [14]
       • Radio and Television Broadcasts [14]
       • Sports [14]
       • Weddings [14]
     • World War II [14]
   • University of Michigan [boxes 15-23]
     • Alumni Activities [15]
     • Athletics [15-17]
     • Buildings and Views [17-19]
     • Colleges, Schools, and Other Divisions [19-21]
     • Individuals and Groups [21]
     • Organizations [21]
     • Special Celebrations and Events [22]
     • Student Life [22-23]
     • World War II [23]
   • Bridgewater [23]
   • Chelsea [23]
   • Dexter [23]
   • Manchester [23]
   • Milan [23]
   • Pittsfield Township [23]
   • Salem Township [23]
   • Saline [23]
   • Scio Township [23]
   • Whitmore Lake [23]
   • Willow Run [23]
   • Ypsilanti [boxes 23-24]
     • Businesses [23-24]
     • Centennial [24]
     • Houses and Apartments [24]
     • People [24]
     • Rural Scenes [24]
     • Schools [24]
     • Streets and Buildings [24]
   • Washtenaw County [box 24]
     • Aerial Views [24]
     • Businesses [24]
     • Cassidy Lake Tech [24]
     • County Offices [24]
     • Farms [24]
     • Lakes [24]
     • Rural Scenes [24]
   • Michigan Towns and Counties (non-Washtenaw) [boxes 24-25]
   • Miscellaneous [25]
   • Buildings [25]
   • Businesses [25]
   • Churches [25]
   • Events [25]
   • People [25]
2. Negatives - 5"x7" [boxes 26-27]
   • Ann Arbor [box 26]
     • Airports and Airplanes [26]
     • Buildings and Views [26]
       • Churches [26]
       • Hospitals [26]
       • Houses and Businesses [26]
       • Railroad Stations and Trains [26]
       • Schools [26]
       • Miscellaneous [26]
     • Businesses [26]
     • Motor Vehicles [26]
     • Organizations and Groups [26]
     • People [26]
     • Social Life and Customs [26]
   • University of Michigan [boxes 26-27]
     • Alumni Activities [26]
     • Athletics [26]
     • Buildings and Views [26-27]
     • Colleges, Schools, and Other Divisions [27]
     • Individuals and Groups [27]
     • Organizations [27]
     • Special Celebrations and Events [27]
     • Student Life [27]
   • Ypsilanti [27]
   • Washtenaw County [27]
   • Michigan Towns and Counties (non-Washtenaw) [27]
3. Negatives - 8"x10" [boxes 28-30]
   • Ann Arbor [boxes 28-29]
     • Airports and Airplanes [28]
     • Buildings and Views [28]
       • Churches [28]
       • Gas Stations [28]
       • Hospitals [28]
       • Houses and Businesses [28]
       • Railroad Tracks and Crossings [28]
       • Schools [28]
       • Streets [28]
     • Businesses [28-29]
     • Insurance Claims [29]
       • Traffic Accidents [29]
     • Motor Vehicles [29]
     • Organizations and Groups [29]
     • People [29]
     • Social Life and Customs [29]
     • World War II [29]
   • University of Michigan [boxes 29-30]
     • Alumni Activities [29]
     • Athletics [30]
     • Buildings and Views [30]
     • Colleges, Schools, and Other Divisions [30]
     • Individuals and Groups [30]
     • Organizations [30]
     • Special Celebrations and Events [30]
     • Student Life [30]
     • World War II [30]
   • Bridgewater [30]
   • Dexter [30]
   • Manchester [30]
   • Milan [30]
   • Saline [30]
   • Scio? [30]
   • Whitmore Lake [30]
   • Ypsilanti [30]
   • Washtenaw County? [30]
   • Michigan Towns and Counties (non-Washtenaw) [30]
   • Miscellaneous [30]
4. Prints [box 31]
   • Ann Arbor [31]
     • Airports and Airplanes [31]
     • Buildings and Views [31]
       • Houses and Businesses [31]
       • Parks [31]
       • Railroads [31]
       • Schools [31]
     • Businesses [31]
     • Insurance Claims [31]
     • Motor Vehicles [31]
     • Organizations and Groups [31]
     • People [31]
     • Pets and Other Animals [31]
     • Social Life and Customs [31]
     • World War II [31]
   • University of Michigan [31]
     • Alumni Activities [31]
     • Athletics [31]
     • Buildings and Views [31]
     • Colleges, Schools, and Other Divisions [31]
     • Individuals and Groups [31]
     • Organizations [31]
     • Special Celebrations and Events [31]
     • Student Life [31]
     • World War II [31]
   • Dexter [31]
   • Milan [31]
   • Whitmore Lake [31]
   • Ypsilanti [31]
   • Washtenaw County [31]
   • Michigan Towns and Counties (non-Washtenaw) [31]
   • Miscellaneous [31]
5. Super 8 Films [25]

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Automobiles.
Automobile service stations.
Buildings -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Buildings -- Michigan -- Ypsilanti.
Business enterprises -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Churches.
Dwellings.
Dwellings -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Dwellings -- Michigan -- Ypsilanti.
Farms.
Hospitals -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Schools -- Michigan -- Washtenaw County.
Women.

Formats:

Photographs.
Portrait photographs.

Names:

University of Michigan -- Sports.
University of Michigan -- Buildings.
University of Michigan -- Campus.

Places:

Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Ann Arbor (Mich.) -- Buildings.
Ann Arbor (Mich.) -- Business enterprises.
Ann Arbor (Mich.) -- Churches.
Ann Arbor (Mich.) -- Dwellings.
Bridgewater (Mich.)
Chelsea (Mich.)
Dexter (Mich.)
Manchester (Mich.)
Milan (Mich.)
Pittsfield (Mich. : Township)
Salem (Washtenaw County, Mich. : Township)
Saline (Mich.)
Scio (Mich. : Township)
Washtenaw County (Mich.)
Whitmore Lake (Mich.)
Willow Run (Mich.)
Ypsilanti (Mich.)
Ypsilanti (Mich.) -- Buildings.
Ypsilanti (Mich.) -- Dwellings.