This is a work in progress to compile as comprehensive as possible a listing numbers and titles of individual Carleton Eugene Watkins stereographs of Arizona. Each listing will include a brief biographical overview, in addition to the checklist of stereoviews complied to date.

Carleton Eugene Watkins was born on November 11, 1829, in Oneonta, New York. At 22 he left Oneonta for San Francisco with Collis Huntington, who went on to become one of the owners of the Central Pacific Railroad. 

In 1854, Watkins began working with Robert Vance, initially learning photography, which would become a passion for the rest of his life. Watkins opened his own gallery in 1858. Using both an 18” X 22” mammoth plate and stereo cameras, he produced iconic images that helped define the nation’s perception of California. His work in the early 1860s in Yosemite contributed to generating national attention on its beauty, helped persuade Congress to protect the Yosemite Valley, and resulted in a national reputation for his work. 

Watkins’ work focused heavily on California. As his reputation grew, he received commissions which broadened his portfolio. The Oregon Steamship Company hired Watkins to photograph Portland and the Columbia River in 1867. Though he had photographed the California railroads during this era, a major infusion of images to his portfolio came from the purchase of the negatives of the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad produced by Alfred A. Hart. These stereographs were published with the “Watkins Central Pacific Railroad” imprint. 

Watkins’ reputation continued to grow. His portfolio ranged from cartes de visites and stereographs to cabinet cards and his magnificent, mammoth plates. He moved to larger studio quarters, named the “Yosemite Art Gallery,” in San Francisco in 1871. He traveled throughout California and his catalog of stereographs grew to include thousands of titles. Unfortunately though a talented photographer, he was not a good businessman. In 1875 his business faltered and he lost his studio to creditors. One, J.J. Cook, obtained rights to all of Watkins negatives. Cook and photographer Isaac W. Taber took over the “Yosemite Art Gallery” and marketed Watkins’ work under Taber’s imprint. 

Despite loosing his entire life’s work, or possibly in spite of doing so, Watkins regrouped and began again. He returned to Yosemite and started a second series of pho tographs, including his “Watkins New Series” and “Watkins Pacific Coast Series” stereographs. He would eventually produce over 2,300 new titles, including over 80 stereographs of Arizona. 

Carleton Watkins produced over 100 stereographs and photographs during his trip to Arizona from April 10–May 18, 1880. He traveled by rail from Yuma to Tucson making photographs along the route. Most of these stereographs were produced on his New Series mount and were labeled: 

WATKINS NEW SERIES/ Of Pacific Coast Views, 427 Montgomery Street, S.F./ Photographic Views of California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Lower Cal., and the/Pacific Coast embracing Yosemite, Big Trees, Geysers, Mount Shasta Mining, /City, etc. etc. Views made to order in any part of the State or Coast 

He produced over 30 stereographs of Yuma, including views of the fort, new railroad bridge, and overviews of the town. He also made a number of images of the local native population and of the various cacti species which grew in Southern Arizona, with each labeled by its scientific name on the mount. While in Tucson, he produced similar documentation of the region. He photographed the area adjacent to the Palace Hotel, including two views of the Park Brewery. Watkins also visited the Mission San Xavier del Bac. He had been documenting the Spanish missions of California, and he added San Xavier to his portfolio. In addition to his stereo camera, he brought his mammoth plate camera and made four larger views as part of this series. 

Watkins traveled north to the Casa Grande, producing five stereographs of the ancient ruins. Before returning to California, he also visited the boomtowns of Tombstone, Millville, and Charleston. 

Back in California, despite his contract work for the railroad, he never reached his previous level of success. He eventually returned to and became manager of his old “Yosemite Art Gallery.” 

The San Francisco earthquake dealt Watkins a final blow. He lost the studio and all his negatives. In 1910 he was committed to the Napa State Hospital for the Insane. Carleton Watkins died six years later on June 23, 1916. 

(from Arizona Stereographs 1865-1930 by Jeremy Rowe, 2014)

For detailed information about Carleton Watkins photographs please see Carleton Watkins.org

If you have additional information about the Carleton Watkins, examples of his Arizona stereographs that are not on this list, or variant titles for any of the numbers or captions I would appreciate hearing from you. Ideally, I would like to obtain either a Xerox copy or scan for my files as well.
Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.

Please feel free to use this information but please credit this source and reproduce only with full credit information.
Thank you.

Jeremy Rowe
jrowe@vintagephoto.com

©Jeremy Rowe 2017

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For examples of Watkins stereographs of Arizona see Steve Hestleton's Carleton Watkins site with examples frmo my collection and other sources.

PHOTOGRAPHER: C. E. WATKINS
LOCATION: San Francisco, California
SERIES: WATKINS PACIFIC COAST SERIES
MOUNT COLOR: orange
DATE: April 10 - May 18, 1880

4837. Casa Grande, Pre-historic Ruins, Arizona

4838. Casa Grande, Pre-historic Ruins, Arizona

4839. Casa Grande, Pre-historic Ruins, Arizona

4840. Casa Grande, Pre-historic Ruins, Arizona

4841. Casa Grande, Pre-historic Ruins, Arizona

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PHOTOGRAPHER: C. E. WATKINS
LOCATION: San Francisco, California
SERIES: WATKINS NEW SERIES/ YOSEMITE AND PACIFIC COAST/ 26 MONTGOMERY STREET/ AND WOODWARD GARDEN GARDENS, S.F.
DATE: Taken April 10 - May 18, 1880
NOTES: Same series as other Watkins New Series, published from 1876-79

Yuma Indian, Arizona (in script)

(studio view of two apache Indians, one holding bow on the other)

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PHOTOGRAPHER: C. E. WATKINS
LOCATION: San Francisco, California
SERIES: WATKINS NEW SERIES/ Of Pacific Coast Views, 427 Montgomery Street, S.F./ Photographic Views of California , Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Lower Cal., and the/Pacific Coast embracing Yosemite, Big Trees, Geysers, Mount Shasta Mining,/ City, etc.etc. Views made to order in any part of the State or Coast (on front)
DATE: April 10 - May 18, 1880
NOTES: Published 1880 - 1890

4842. Cactus,(Cereus Englemanni.) Arizona

4843. Cactus,(Opuntia Arbuscula.) Arizona

4844. Cactus,(Opuntia Echinophloea.) Arizona

4845. Cactus, (Opuntia bigelovi) Arizona

4846. Cactus (Fonquiera Splendens)

4847. Cactus, (Cereus Giganteus) Arizona

4848. Cactus (Cereus Giganteus)

4849. Cactus (Cereus Giganteus)

4850. Cereus Giganteus in blossom. Arizona

4851. Dos Palmos Station, Colorado Desert, 60 feet below sea level

4852. Fort Yuma, from Yuma City

4853. Fort Yuma, from Yuma City

4854. At Fort Yuma

4855. At Fort Yuma

4856. City of Yuma, from the Fort

4857. City of Yuma from the Fort, Arizona

4858. City of Yuma from the Fort, Arizona

4859. View from Fort Yuma, Arizona

4860. Colorado Bridge, from Fort Yuma, Arizona

4861. R.R. Depot, Yuma, Arizona

4862. Colorado Bridge, Yuma, Arizona

4863. Colorado Bridge, Yuma, Arizona

4864. R.R. Depot, Steamer Landing, Yuma Arizona

4865. Colorado River Steamer and Bridge, Yuma, Arizona

4866. Barge No. 3 going through the draw, Yuma, Arizona

4867. Colorado River Bridge, Yuma, Arizona

4868. View up the Colorado, Yuma, Arizona

4869. Colorado River Bridges, Yuma, Arizona

4870. Colorado River Steamer "Gila", Arizona (ornate variant type for Watkin's New Series)

4871. View of the Colorado River, Yuma, Arizona

4872. R.R. Depot, Yuma, Arizona

4873. R.R. Depot, Yuma, Arizona

4874. View up the track from Depot, Yuma, Arizona

4875. View over Yuma, from Near the Depot, Arizona

4876. View over the City of Yuma, Arizona

4877. Along the Gila at High Water

4878. Along the Gila at High Water

4879. Home Comforts, Yuma, Arizona

4880. Yuma Indian, Yuma, Arizona

4881. Yuma Indian, Yuma, Arizona

4882. Yuma Indian, Yuma, Arizona

4483. Yuma Indian, Yuma, Arizona

4884. Yuma Indian, Yuma, Arizona

4885. City of Tucson, Arizona

4886. Sentinel Mountain from Palace Hotel, Tucson, Arizona

4887. Flour Mill, foot of Sentinel Mountain, Tucson, Arizona

4888. Palace Hotel, Tucson, Arizona

4889. View from the Palace Hotel, Tucson, Arizona

4890. View from the Palace Hotel, Tucson, Arizona

4891. View from the Palace Hotel, Tucson, Arizona

4892. View from the Palace Hotel, Tucson, Arizona

4893. View from the Palace Hotel, Tucson, Arizona

4894. Street in Tucson

4895. Wood Train in Tucson, Arizona

4896. Park Brewery, Tucson, Arizona

4897. Park Brewery, Tucson, Arizona

4898. Gen. View San Xavier Mission, near Tucson, Arizona

4899. San Xavier Mission, near Tucson, Arizona

4900. San Xavier Mission, near Tucson, Arizona

4901. San Xavier Mission, near Tucson, Arizona

4902. Contention Mill, Contention, Arizona

4903. Contention Mill, Contention, Arizona

4904. Mason's Western Hotel, Contention, Arizona

4905. Wells Fargo Express Office, Contention, Arizona

4906. Charleston, Arizona

4907. Residence R. Gird, Esq., Millville, Arizona

4908. Gird's Mill, Millville, Arizona

4909. Gird's Dam, Millville, Arizona

4910. Corbin's Mill, Millville, Arizona

4911. Tombstone, Express, Millville, Arizona

4912. Tombstone, Arizona

4913. Tombstone, Arizona

4914. Street in Tombstone

4915. Cosmopolitan Hotel, C. Bilicke, Pro., Tombstone, Ariz.

4916. California Store, Tombstone, Arizona

4917. View in Tombstone, Arizona

4918. View in Tombstone

4919. View in Tombstone, Arizona

4920. Tough Nut Hoisting Works, Tombstone, Arizona

4921. Contention Works, Tombstone, Arizona

4922. Contention Works, Tombstone, Arizona

Tombstone, Arizona

Indians of Arizona and New Mexico (boy with back mule)

Yuma R.R. Bridge from the Arizona Side

Palace Hotel

©Jeremy Rowe 2017

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