Guide to the Gene Rapp Photographs 1930s-1987
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Gene Rapp Photographs
- Creator
- Rapp, Gene.
- Collection Number
- PSS 0047
- Extent
- 7 linear feet (7 boxes)
- Date
- 1930s-1987
- Abstract
- Gene Rapp was a photographer in Pittsburgh, Pa. during the mid-20th century. He worked for Associated Photographers during the 1950s and photographed for Westinghouse Electric Corporation during the 1950s and 1960s. The Gene Rapp Photographs include over 300 industrial stock photographs and hundreds of 35 mm slides primarily of industrial scenes and various mining operations.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
Gene Rapp was a photographer in Pittsburgh, Pa. during the mid-20th century. He worked for Associated Photographers during the 1950s, and photographed for Westinghouse Electric Corporation during the 1950s and 1960s. Rapp images include aerial shots of the City of Pittsburgh, mining operations, steel mills, Westinghouse research facilities, industrial scenes, as well as creating photographic art.
Scope and Content Notes
The Gene Rapp Photographs primarily consist of over 300 industrial stock photographs and hundreds of 35 mm slides of steel mills and various mining operations. Some of the images taken for Westinghouse are of locations outside of southwestern Pennsylvania, including images of the lights the company created for the Verrazano Bridge in New York City. The majority of the images depict underground mining operations and rescue training; the insides of steel mills and various industrial shots; and aerial shots of Pittsburgh. Boxes one, two, and five contain industrial images, Westinghouse photographs including those from N.Y. installations, U.S. Steel stock images, pictorial art, and aerial views of Pittsburgh.
Boxes three and four contain mining images and slides. The mining photographs appear to be reproductions of older photographs which are not included in this collection. Nearly all of these photographs originate with the U.S Bureau of Mines, within the Department of the Interior. They depict 19th and 20th century excavations, strip mining operations, men working underground, and some of the equipment used in the extraction process. There are images of accidents and mining disasters. There were several labels indicating some of the images are of southwestern Pennsylvania mining operations.
Boxes six and seven contain more industrial mill and city images, photographs of Westinghouse operations in New York, and several larger photographic productions Rapp entered into photograph contests.
Conditions Governing Access
None
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from Gene Rapp in 1996.
Archives accession # 1996.0187
Preferred Citation
Gene Rapp Photographs, 1930s-1987, PSS 0047 , Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Preliminary processing by Alex J. Toner on 05/07/11.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Subjects
- Associated Photographers.
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
- United States Steel Corporation.
- United States Bureau of Mines
- Rapp, Gene.
- Pittsburgh (Pa.)
- New York City (Ny.)
- Photography--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh--20th Century.