NHPRC Grant Project Kickoff
David DeHarport Collection
Welcome to the kickoff of History Colorado’s 20th Century Photography Collections Project! Just to recap for those who may not remember: Last May, History Colorado received a 2015 National Historical Publications & Records Commission (NHPRC) Access to Historical Records grant. Thanks to the financial support provided by the grant, a project archivist (that’s me!) will be able to spend the next two years processing and cataloging four important, but currently hidden History Colorado photography collections.
10011138, David DeHarport Collection. A large cloud hovering over Colorado’s Eastern Plains. DeHarport’s family had a long history in the region; they ranched in Douglas County for nearly a century.Photograph taken in 1951.
The first materials up for processing are the papers and photographs of David DeHarport, a Colorado-born photographer and Harvard trained archaeologist. Spanning four decades, DeHarport’s photographic work includes visual surveys of archaeological sites in Canyons de Chelly and del Muerto; abstract desert landscapes taken in Death Valley National Park and Four Corners locations; and minimalist views of Colorado’s Eastern Plains. This last subject was close to the photographer’s heart. Not only had DeHarport’s family lived in the Eastern Plains for nearly 100 years, but in the late 1980’s he and fellow photographer, Marscha Winterfield, began exploring and photographing the towns and landscapes of the region. These efforts culminated in “Last Chance to Cope,” a photographic series that is as unromantic as it is starkly beautiful. Winterfield and DeHarport hoped the series would draw more attention to the Plains, part of Colorado that the artists felt was often overlooked in favor of the state’s mountainous regions .
10010331, David DeHarport Collection. Workshop entrance near Silver Plume, Colorado. DeHarport’s subject matter often includes abandoned structures; images like this one reveal a harsh, almost insular culture. Photograph taken in 1970.
In addition to being a prolific photographer, DeHarport was also a dedicated diarist and note- taker. Much to my delight, I’ve found that it is often possible to match up the dates of DeHarport’s negatives with entries in his diaries . Giving insight to DeHarport’s photographic technique and artistic process, these daily entries greatly enrich the experience of viewing his images. For instance, he wrote of the accompanying photograph:
10034543, David DeHaport Collection. Farm as viewed through sunflowers in Brighton, Colorado. Part of the “Last Chance to Cope.” Photograph taken in 1991.
…We found an old style western ranch. The church pictures had been taken in cloudy light, but at the ranch we had bare sun. Couldn’t shoot from the best angle, NNE against the low sun. The road cut southeast, and I spotted a deeply trod cow trail. Stopped and I shot it with the Pentax with the 135 mm. The deeply eroded cow path was filled with shadow. With that leading to the little ranch against ¾ light and using a high horizon, I think I got something pretty good. –David DeHarport, 12/4/89
10010581, David DeHarport Collection. Ranch near Grover, Colorado. Corresponds with DeHarport’s 12-4-89 diary entry. Part of the “Last Chance to Cope.”
DeHarport’s diaries often read like no-frills travel logs, revealing little of the photographer’s inner emotions. DeHarport’s writing style is likely the product of years of taking terse field notes on archaeological expeditions. Yet DeHarport, not usually one for waxing poetic, does occasionally reveal the Colorado he and Winterfield were trying to capture in the Eastern Plains.
10010736, David DeHarport Collection. Murals in Kersey Colorado. Correspondonds with DeHarport’s 7-23-90 diary entry. Part of “Last Chance to Cope.”
We wound up there by 12:30 and took I-25 north to US 34 past Greeley to Kersey. Found some murals on the town bar and photographed them. Had lunch in the pancake house. I had an enormous tuna salad sandwich. Stopped at the railroad tracks where I finished out the fourth roll in the wide angle Omega. Wherever we went we saw the beautiful, unphotogenic country. –David DeHarport, 7/23/90
As many archivists can tell you, finding such detailed and accurate documentation is extremely rare in manuscript and photograph collections. I am excited to see what further exploration yields. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more updates!
Interested in seeing more of DeHarport’s work? Head over to History Colorado’s online collections and enter “DeHarport” in the keyword search box.
Thanks again to the NHPRC for funding this exciting project!
