IOWA CITY , IOWA
HELEN
BAMFORD (1902-1994)
PAPERS, 1911-1994
1.1 linear feet
ACQUISITION: The papers (donor no. 274) were donated by Mary Zoller in 1995.
ACCESS: The papers are open for research.
ARTIFACTS: In box 3.
COPYRIGHT: Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa.
PHOTOGRAPHS: In boxes 1, 2, and 3.
PROCESSED BY: Natalie S. Brody, 1995.
Biography
Helen Bamford was born on November 16, 1902, in Muscatine, Iowa, to Frank and Mary Dietrick Bamford. She spent her entire life in Muscatine except for five years in California as a young child. Bamford graduated in 1920 from Muscatine High School and started in the photography business as a receptionist at the J. A. Chamberlin studio in 1924. It was there that she learned the profession. In 1949 she opened her own studio. She specialized in portrait photography and won many awards, including the Medlar Award for Iowa's best portrait in 1968. She was a member of Professional Photographers of America, Professional Photographers of Iowa and Southeast Iowa Photographers. Bamford retired in 1978 and died in 1994.
Scope and Content Note
The Helen Bamford papers date from 1911 to 1994 and measure 1.1 linear feet. The papers are arranged in four series: Biographical information, Professional photography, Photographs, and Artifacts.
The Biographical information series (1926-1994, scattered) includes newspaper clippings about Bamford, her obituaries, and diaries from the years 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1989. Account books including household, charity, and medical expenses, and miscellaneous notes in spiral notebooks complete the series.
Bamford's professional career as a photographer is detailed in the series Professional photography (1949-1980) which includes information about the awards she received, memorabilia, and newspaper clippings about her studio, as well as a number of studio portraits.
ThePhotographs series (1913-1994) includes two albums of family snapshots from the years 1913 to 1941 and various photos of the Bamford family.The Photographs series (1913-1994) includes two albums of family snapshots from the years 1913 to 1941 and various photos of the Bamford family.The Photographs series (1913-1994) includes two albums of family snapshots from the years 1913 to 1941 and various photos of the Bamford family.
A Photography Hall of Fame medal and miscellaneous nametags comprise the Artifacts series (1967, 1969 and undated).
Box no. Description
Biographical information
Certificates and diplomas,
1911, 1916, 1920 [shelved in map case]
General, 1926-1994, scattered
Diaries
1970, 1981
1983, 1989
Notes and household account books, 1981-1989
and undated
Account books, 1976-1994 (scattered)
Professional Photography
Awards, 1957-1980
Bamford Studio,
1949-1964
Studio portraits
Undated [shelved in map
case]
Box 2
Photographs
Family albums
1913, 1918, 1924-1932
1932-1941
Helen Bamford,
family and friends, undated
Helen Bamford
[shelved in map case]
Artifacts, 1967, 1969 and undated