Historical Photo Album Fred W. Perkins Virginia Chief of Motion Pictures Edelen

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Historical Photo Album Fred W. Perkins Virginia Chief of Motion Pictures Edelen :
$225.00

First off I want to say, disregard the yellow and pink lines running through the photos above as that is just my scanner going out.

This photo album has some incredible historical provenance. It originally belonged to Frederick Wallace Perkins who among other things was the Chief of Motion Pictures for the U. S. Department of Agriculture in the 1920’s. Before I get to the album I would like to quote from his obituary found in the Washington Post Newspaper…..

“Friday December 13, 1974 Obituary: FRED W. PERKINS, 84, retired writer on labor matters for Scripps-Howard Newspapers died Wednesday at Colonial Villa Nursing Home in Silver Spring after a long illness. He was born in 1890 in Hinton West Virginia and graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1908. When he retired in 1959, Mr. Perkins was considered the dean of labor reporters in the nation’s capital. He joined the Old Washington Daly News of Scripps-Howard in 1931, when he initiated the “9 to 4:30” column, which was devoted to news about federal government employees. It was the first such newspaper column of its kind in Washington. Mr. Perkins began specializing in reporting on labor matters in World War II. He became a close friend of the late John L. Lewis, then head of the United Mine Workers. Earlier, before he became a specialist on labor, Mr. Perkins attended a press conference of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and asked the chief executive if he intended to run for a third term. He was told to “put on a dunce cap and sit in a corner,” by Mr. Roosevelt. Born in West Virginia, the son of a Confederate cavalry officer who served under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. Mr. Perkins stared his newspaper career by writing sports stories while in high school in Parkersburg. In fact began writing for The Sentinel and rose to managing editor about 1915. He later worked for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During the 1920’s, he was in charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s motion picture work. His assignments took him to Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and the South Seas. A former member of the board of governors of the National Press Club, Mr. Perkins had founded its annual golf tournament of which he served as chairman for many years. His wife, Barbara Perkins, 84, died less than a month ago at the colonial Villa Nursing Home….”

As stated above his wife was Barbara (Edelen) Perkins, Daughter to Charles and Lena (Leachman) Edelen. She was born at Parkersburg, West Virginia. In 1917 she married Frederick Wallace Perkins, the son of Archer and Henrietta (Layne) Perkins of West Virginia. They had three children were born, Frederick Wallace Perkins II, graduate of University of Maryland; Charles Henry Perkins; and Penelope Perkins.

Frederick was also a writer and two of his book I found were, “Motion pictures of the U. S. Department of Agriculture 1921” and “Twelve Year Trial of Educational Films 1926.”

While at the USDA Office of Motion Pictures he would oversee the construction of the new lab and administrative headquarters for the film program. He reorganized its production and distribution procedures, expanding the audience for department films from seven hundred thousand to a reported 10 million people by 1926.

Now as far as the album goes. I took all of the photos and postcards out of the pages (except two as they had handwritten identifications on the pages themselves) because the album is falling apart. The photos and postcards are in good shape but so many of the pages were loose and torn up, including the cover and they had no particular order because of that. In fact ½ of the photos were already loose. The photos themselves look good, some in better shape than others of course.

There are a total of 84 pieces in this album. Forty-four of them are original snapshot type photos (pre 1930’s) and some amazing ones at that. A few of the snapshots have handwritten identification. Ten (of the 84) are scenic postcards (most of which have handwritten notes and have postage) and then 30 photo postcards and almost all of them are of his family, friends or personal events pre 1930’s. Three of them are fabulous photo postcards of the Ohio River Flood of 1913. Of the 40 postcards, 23 of them have handwritten notes and are postally used. Some of the messages really tell a great story too because his photos are so unique and I believe a few have to do with his work. I tried to scan as many as would allow but they are all fascinating. In fact one of the photos shows two men standing on a cliff and one is filming with a movie camera. I’m almost sure it’s the Grand Canyon they are filming as one of the photos shows a sign on a tree that says, “Yavapai Point Elev. 7050.” And of course that is one of the view points on the South Rim of the canyon. On the back of the photo is written, “Eugene Tucker. F. W. Perkins” and sure enough I found out that Tucker was a cameraman for the Department of Agriculture Motions Picture Department. In fact when you put his name into the search engines with the Dept. of Agriculture there are some fascinating early (1930’s) YouTube motions pictures that he help to film. On an additional note I found out this information on Tucker, and I quote…..

“With $5,000 provided by Congress, Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, of the Board of Indian Commissioners, has made a permanent record of a considerable part of the American Indian sign language by means of moving and sound pictures. This enterprise originated with Chairman Scott Leavitt, of the House Committee on Indian Affairs. His bill authorizing the appropriation was cordially received by Congress. It passed the House quickly and, with the aid of Senator Lynn J. Frazier, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, as quickly passed the Senate. The measure placed the disposition of the fund in the hands of the Secretary of the Interior. As the Interior Department has no facilities for making moving pictures. Assistant Secretary Joseph M. Dixon made arrangements with the Department of Agriculture to have the photographic work done by the office of motion pictures of that department. In September, 1930, General Scott went to Browning, Mont., the headquarters of the Blackfeet Agency to begin the filming of the sign language. He was joined by Raymond Evans, the chief, and Eugene Tucker, the cameraman of the office of motion pictures, who handled the mechanical and technical work. Fourteen full-blood Indians, representing 13 tribes, all proficient in the sign language, had been assembled at Browning.”

Some of the other handwritten notes and titles are:

“Fred Prince, F. W. Perkins” (Two men standing talking with trees around them)

Postcard showing “Lakes of the Clouds Hut.” On the back it says “August 10th, 1919. Saturday I slept in this hut last night and came back this morning to the summit of Mt. Washington. On again this afternoon. F. W.” It’s addressed to “Mrs. F. W. Perkins 912 Virginia Avenue Parkersburg W. Va.”

Postcard showing three boys on a houseboat and on the front it says, “Dave, Jones and Me.” On the back it says “All the same as ever. Have a good time. Dick.” Addressed to Barbara Edelen 101 W. Huron Wheeling W.Va.” It’s dated 1908.

Postcard showing “Hut in Carter Notch” and on the back it’s dated 1919 and says, “Returned today after a week of tramping and found your long letter. Glad to read all it contained. I am feeling fine but am too tired to write you now about my wonderful trip. Probably start home tomorrow or Wednesday. I spent Saturday night in the hut pictured on the other side. Love to you and Freddie. F. W. P.” addressed to his wife.

The postcard showing a large class of students for the Dept. of Pharmacy dates 1909 and is written to Miss Barbara Edelen in Parkersburg W. Va. this one says, “Had expected to hear from you by this time. This is my class. My roommate is in the window (x). The long coats we use, when in the laboratory. This is the side entrance to the school which is (4) stories high. Lets hear from you. Robt.”

The postcard showing the football team has a face cut out of it and I it might be our Mr. Perkins, I’m not sure. All the men’s names are written on the back, including his.

A few of the postcards are from Paris and I think Barbara took a trip. They are addressed to Fred W. Perkins and date from 1919.

One postcard showing Gorham N. H. from Point Lookout is from 1919 and addressed to his wife. It says, “Arrived this morning after an all night ride Sans Pullman. Ate big breakfast then slept till safternoon. When I got in touch with Forest Supervisor and are going to plan trip with him tonight. Very cool, bracing, beautiful. Only one thing lacking, you. My address, Care Forest Supervisor here. Tell Freddie. FWP.”

Another postcard showing Summit of Mt. Washington is from the same trip as above. It says, “Had a real hike today with Forest Service men. Another one for tomorrow. Enjoying myself. Making headquarters at Gorham. Love to you and Freddie. F. W. P.”

The postcard I kept in the album pages has all the Edelen children and lists their names. Wonderful photo too. Really there are so many incredible photos in this lot with noteworthy provenance.

I scanned the album but again it’s in bad shape. It measures about 5” x 7 ¾”.