Death Valley 1940; Pictures. by (DEATH VALLETY) SMITH, David [photographer] - 1940

N.p.: N.p., 1940. Three photographs albums bearing 240 original photographs of a trip to Death Valley in 1940 undertaken by David Smith and 12 companions as members of the Eighth Annual College of the Pacific (Stockton) Expedition to Death Valley. The photographs are of varying sizes and are tipped in. Many have captions in white ink. Contemporary string-tied fabricoid albums. While a number of the photographs have come loose they are all present and in very good condition, as are the albums (although the rear cover has become detached on the largest album).The College of the Pacific conducted yearly expeditions to Death Valley for its students. The College was moved from San Jose to the Great Central Valley in the City of Stockton In 1925, and in 1961 it was renamed the "University of the Pacific", Two faculty members served as guides and chaperones. In the case of this Eighth Expedition the professors were Prof. Joutel and Dr. Arnold and there appear to have been about 50 students including out photographer David Smith.The two smaller albums bear 165 photographs of the Expedition. It is hard to determine by which route they entered Death Valley but more than likely it was via the usual southern route as there are photographs of the Armagosa and Boulder Dam. Naturally there are a good number of photographs of David's pals but he also recorded the terrain. We see pictures of a chuckwallah lizard they caught, ancient kilns, Zabriskie Point, Red Rock Canyon (now a state park), Augsberry Point, the Harmony Smith Borax Works, Corkscrew Canyon and many of the the Furnace Creek Inn. Given the number of photographs of the pool at the Furnace Creek Inn the explorers must have encountered some very hot weather. The whole party was shepherded by Otto Buer, Captain of the Inyo County California Highway Patrol. The area was still quite dangerous back then as cars were not nearly as reliable as they are now so it makes sense that they would be assigned a full-time watcher. Judging from the many photographs of Capt. Otto he seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed himself.The third albums contains over 30 lager photographs. These are enlargements of photographs chosen by David Smith as presumably being the best. They are about 8 x 10 inches and many of them bear a David Smith's stamp of the verso.