Access is granted in accordance with the
Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center.
PROVENANCE
Gift of Eleanor MacCraken, daughter of Charles Albert Dickson, 1974.
ARRANGEMENT
The collection of photographs is arranged into one series: Metallurgy
Students and Professors. The collection is further divided into three
sub-series: Copy Negative, c.1891; Copy Positive, c.1891; Photograph
Album, c.1890. The Copy Negative and the Copy Positive sub-series each
contain the same image, it is not clear if this image was part of the
original photograph album, or not. The Photograph Album sub-series contain
loose pages from a photo album. The Photograph Album sub-series descriptive
information follows the arrangement of the photographs affixed to each
side of the album pages and is not arranged alphabetically.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Albert Dickson was born on May 17, 1870 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
He attended Pittsburgh Central High School prior to matriculating to
the University of Pennsylvania in 1889.
While at the University of Pennsylvania, Dickson attended courses in
Metallurgy and Mining as a Special Student, taking two years to complete
three years work by working overtime and on Saturdays. Dickson's extracurricular
activities included participation in the Camera Club and the Scientific
Club. Following his graduation with a Certificate in Science in 1890,
Dickson worked for Marshall Field & Company in Chicago. In 1899,
he returned to Pittsburgh to work as an accountant.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
As a student in the University of Pennsylvania's Metallurgy and Mining
program, Charles A. Dickson captured this collection of candid photographs
featuring his fellow students and professors in his program. The photographs
document classroom activities and dormitory life, c.1890. One photograph
features Charles A. Dickson sitting alone. Another photograph contains,
among others, Edgar Fahs Smith, who later became Professor of Chemistry
(1877-1881, 1888-1898), Vice-Provost (1898-1911), and Provost (1911-1920)
of the University of Pennsylvania. The collection is arranged under
the series Metallurgy Students and Professors, c. 1890-1891.