Mathew M. Forster Photograph Collection, 1890-1925
P0010

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Scope and Content:

The Mathew Forster photograph collection consists of a photograph album of images probably taken just before Forster left on his LDS mission in 1899. The photographs consist of Salt Lake City views, agricultural scenes around Mendon, and members of the Forster family.

Biographical Note:

Mathew McCullough Forster (not to be confused with his first cousin Mathew A. Forster who was also a photographer in Mendon) was born on March 29, 1860, in Mendon, Utah. He was said to have been the second child born in Mendon. He served on a mission for the LDS Church to Great Britain from 1899-1901. Upon his return he was engaged as the postmaster of Mendon and as a photographer. He also served as a counselor in the Y.M.M.I.A., and was elected Secretary of the city of Mendon in 1913. Sometime after 1913, however, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and worked as a street car motor man. Forster returned to Mendon when he retired. He died in 1935. He was married to Carrie M. Sorenson, but the two apparently did not have children.

Provenance:

The photographs in the album were transferred to the Merrill Library by Bob Hall around 1967. Before that they were stored at the Forster Hotel in Mendon.

Researcher Note:

Researchers should see also the collection of Mathew McCullough Forster papers, MS240.

Nitrate negatives have been removed from this collection and placed in Cold Storage Box 4. Patrons must request to view these negatives 3 hours in advance. Copies are available in box 1. Register completed by Camille Gooch, April 2001.

Inventory:

Box 1. (Oversize)
01:01-2. A wooden trestle bridge, possibly over the Jordan River in the Salt Lake Valley.
01:03. Image of farm, assumed to be the Forster ranch in Mendon, Utah.
01:04. Farm scene, dog coming towards a young girl, boy in the background.
01:05. Farm scene, young girl standing next to a group of roosters and chickens.
01:06. image Farm scene, young girl standing up next to a baby buggy.
01:07-10. Cattle.
01:11. Four women standing outside, in front the James G. Willie home.
01:12. One woman standing outside, in front the Willie home.
01:13. Woman standing in the yard with an animal at her feet, blurred image.
01:14. Woman sitting in the doorway of the Willie home.
01:15. Man and a woman sitting together on large boulders.
01:16. Two women holding up an object in a field.
01:17. Three people standing outside, on the side of house.
01:18. Man holding the reins of a horse. Horse standing in the street in front of some buildings.
01:19. Man holding the reins of a horse. Horse standing in the street in front of some buildings.
01:20. Image of horse standing the street, buildings in the background.
01:21. West side of the Salt Lake City and County Building.
01:22. Two women, two young girls, and a boy standing on a porch.
01:23. image View looking north at Eagle Gate.
01:24. View looking northwest at the Brigham Young Monument, LDS Salt Lake Temple in the background.
01:25. The south side of the LDS Salt Lake Temple.
01:26. The Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City.
01:27. image Store owned by Charles Ellis Johnson, The Johnson Co. (sign says "Kodaks and Curios") and the Desert News and Publishing Co.
01:28. View looking southwest at intersection of South Temple and Main Street, shows Brigham Young Monument and Continental Block.
01:29. The Bureau of Information building.
01:30. The Salt Lake Theater.
01:31. Young boy in overalls leading a cow down a path. Hens next to the fence.
01:32. Two young girls, a boy, and a cow.
01:33. Man holding on to the side of a cow, winter scene.
01:34. Cow eating hay out of a wagon, winter scene.
01:35. Cows standing in a field, winter scene.
01:36. Pigs and piglets in a field.
01:37. Pigs in their pen, a man and two horses also in pen.
01:38. Portrait post card of "Aunt Violet".
01:39. Portrait post card of a man, taken in Ipswich in January of 1913.
01:40. image Post card of Violet Nelson Jensen and Myrtle Nelson Holmgren playing the guitar and ukelele.
01:41. Family snapshot in front of the car, early 1920s.
01:42-63. Probably members of the Forster family. Also includes a photo of the Saltair Saloon, farm buildings, a stone bridge, and what appears to be a hotel registration desk. At least two of the photos show a horse and buggy next to Old Main. These photographs were printed from nitrate negatives some of which show extensive deterioration.