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Louis S. Slevin

March 03, 2024

Louis Stanislaus Slevin, (November 7, 1878 – November 9, 1945) was an American photographer, known for his black-and-white images of the Monterey Peninsula. He was a pioneer in the early days of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, the first to open a general merchandise store in 1905, the first postmaster, first express agent, and first city treasurer. His photographs of Carmel from 1903 to 1835 are recognized as a record of Carmel's past.[1] His photo collection is housed at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.[2]

Louis S. Slevin
L. S. Slevin, First Treasurer of Carmel (1916)
Born
Louis Stanislaus Slevin

(1878-11-07)November 7, 1878
San Francisco, California, US
DiedNovember 9, 1945(1945-11-09) (aged 67)
San Jose, California, US
Known forPhotography and businessman
SpouseMabel O'Connell
Children2
ElectedCity treasurer

Early life edit

Slevin was born on November 7, 1878, in San Francisco, California. He was the son of Thomas Edwards Slevin (1836-1894) and Marie Claire Bruguierre (1854-1927). He lived with his parents and two brothers on California Street in San Francisco. He married Mabel O'Connell on December 15, 1909, in Monterey, California and had one son and one daughter.[3]

Career edit

Slevin moved to Carmel ca. 1903 where he and his wife and two children lived in their home on Carmelo Street between Sixth and Ocean Avenues. That same year, they bought a lot for $325 (equivalent to $10,993 in 2022) on Ocean Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln Streets, where Slevin built a general merchandise store in March 1904. The wood-framed Western false-front style store included artists' materials, stationary, magazines, Kodak cameras, photographic supplies, and fishing tackle.[4]

From 1904 to 1915, he was Carmel's first postmaster and express agent. He had lock boxes for mail that those on horseback could "ride up, insert their key into a locked box, remove their mail and ride off."[1] He was one of the earliest registered voters in Carmel and voted for the Republican Party.[5][3][6][7]

Old timer in Carmel. "Artists' Supplies" has hung outside his door these many years. We used to trail up to his place for our Sunday papers, pick up our choice from the stoop and drop our nickels through the slit in the door. Noted stamp collector. Also beetles. Thirty thousand of the latter he collected and tagged, then shipped to Calif. Academy of Science at San Francisco, now a famous collection. Photographer of Carmel's beauties (Scenic).

— Carmel Pine Cone[8]

Slevin was a supporter of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club where he served as treasurer and director. The club was another place to sell his photographs in addition to his store.[1] He photographed plays at the Forest Theater,[9] California State Fairs, the King City bridge, festivals at Carmel Mission, abandoned mines, fauna near Paso Robles, California, and settlements at Paraiso Springs. Slevin photographed the whaling station at Moss Landing, California in 1919 and many of the shipwrecks on the Monterey Bay.[10] He displayed his photographs at the Carmel Annual Exhibitions in 1913, 1919, and 1920. His first public exhibition in Carmel was sponsored by the Wallace Johnsons in 1905, which was reviewed in the San Francisco Chronicle, saying that he had "some particularly good photographs."[11] He was the manager of the Carmel News Company, where he sold artist materials, fishing tackle, and photo post cards of Carmel, Big Sur, and Salinas.[12][3][13]

Slevin was a writer and many of his writings appeared in local and Monterey publications, including his historical writings on sailing ships.[1] In 1912, he and his wife wrote a concise account of the Mission system from the beginning with a chronological table giving dates of main events. It is titled Guide Book To The Mission of San Carlos At Carmel and Monterey California.[14]

In 1919 and 1925 he was elected secretary-treasurer of the local Manzanita Club and served as chairman of the committee for the restoration of the Carmel Mission. He was the first official Carmel City Treasurer and served for ten years. His slogan was "Safe, Sane, and Conservative."[7]

He established a printing photograph business for amateur photographers. In 1930, he was elected a life member of the California Academy of Sciences for the donation of 30,000 moths collected on the Monterey Peninsula over twenty years.[15] For over thirty years, he photographed a series of photographs of Monterey Cypress trees at Point Lobos. He was a member of the Monterey History and Art Association.[1]

Slevin sold his business in November 1939 to Mary Louise (Pearce) Dummage, who was one Carmel's first residents, and owned the Mary Dummage Shop. The store was later changed to Spencers Stationery.[1] Slevin and his wife moved to San Jose, California in September 1942 and purchased a home at 750 South Eighth Street. When his health began to fail, he moved to the Casa Bella Sanitorum in Saratoga, California. At this time he gave his original glass plates photographs (between 80–150) to Roy D. Graves that are now on file at the Bancroft Library.[2]

His wife, Mabel E. Slevin died on January 8, 1943, in San Jose. She lived in Carmel for 35 years. Funeral services were held at St. Mary's in San Jose and graveside services at the Monterey Cemetery.[16][17]

In 1945, Slevin wrote a series of articles for the Carmel Pine Cone about the early days of Carmel-by-the-Sea.[6] One was titled "Carmel-Infancy to Adolescence," that was about Santiago J. Duckworth's real estate promotions for "Carmel City" in 1888; James Franklin Devendorf and the Carmel Development Company, and other historical figures.[18][3]

Death edit

Slevin was accidentally killed on November 9, 1945,[15] in San Jose, at the age of 67. He was buried at the San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey, California.[6]

Photographs by Louis S. Slevin
  •  
    Historic American Buildings Survey Collection
  •  
    Sonoma bark figurehead and bow (1903)
  •  
    Photograph of Carmel Ocean Ave. with Slevin's store (1910)
  •  
    Bernard Maybeck (1919)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A tribute to yesterday: The history of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, California: Valley Publishers. p. 25-26. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  2. ^ a b "Roy D. Graves Photograph Collection" (PDF). The Bancroft Library. Berkkeley, California. 1964. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  3. ^ a b c d "Untitled" (PDF). tfaoi.org. p. 628. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  4. ^ Seavey, Kent (2007). Carmel, A History in Architecture. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 15–16, 43, 45. ISBN 9780738547053. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  5. ^ "Of Interest To People Of The Pacific Coast". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. 28 Sep 1904. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  6. ^ a b c "Louis Slevin". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1945-11-23. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  7. ^ a b Hudson, Monica (2006). Carmel-By-The-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 23, 25, 30, 32–33, 39, 42–43, 46, 120. ISBN 9780738531229. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  8. ^ "Who's Who-and Here". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1928-12-14. pp. 9–15. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  9. ^ "Browse All for Slevin, Louis S." California Revealed. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  10. ^ "20th-Century California Photographers". Pat Hathaway Photo Collection. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  11. ^ "Art Notes". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California. 23 Jul 1905. p. 40. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  12. ^ "Carmel News Co". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1915-06-23. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  13. ^ Bogdan, Robert; Weseloh, Todd (2006). Real Photo Postcard Guide The People's Photography. Syracuse University Press. p. 253. ISBN 9780815608516. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  14. ^ "Guide Book To The Mission of San Carlos At Carmel and Monterey California". Library Of Congress. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1912. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  15. ^ a b "The Pan-Pacific Entomologist". Pacific Coast Entomological Society. 20–22: 141. 1945. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  16. ^ "Carmel". The Californian. Salinas, California. 13 Jan 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  17. ^ "Mabel Slevin". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1943-01-15. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  18. ^ "Carmel News Co". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1945-01-09. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-07-06.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Louis S. Slevin.
  • Old Carmel In Rare Photographs by L.S. Slevin
  • Slevin family papers, 1886-1954
  • L.S. Slevin notebooks containing lists of his negatives, circa 1880s-1930s
  • L.S. Slevin photograph collection (graphic)
  • Monterey area photographs (graphic)
  • Monterey County Free Libraries Local History Photograph and Document Collection

March 03, 2024
louis, slevin, louis, stanislaus, slevin, november, 1878, november, 1945, american, photographer, known, black, white, images, monterey, peninsula, pioneer, early, days, carmel, california, first, open, general, merchandise, store, 1905, first, postmaster, fir. Louis Stanislaus Slevin November 7 1878 November 9 1945 was an American photographer known for his black and white images of the Monterey Peninsula He was a pioneer in the early days of Carmel by the Sea California the first to open a general merchandise store in 1905 the first postmaster first express agent and first city treasurer His photographs of Carmel from 1903 to 1835 are recognized as a record of Carmel s past 1 His photo collection is housed at the Bancroft Library University of California Berkeley 2 Louis S SlevinL S Slevin First Treasurer of Carmel 1916 BornLouis Stanislaus Slevin 1878 11 07 November 7 1878San Francisco California USDiedNovember 9 1945 1945 11 09 aged 67 San Jose California USKnown forPhotography and businessmanSpouseMabel O ConnellChildren2ElectedCity treasurer Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editSlevin was born on November 7 1878 in San Francisco California He was the son of Thomas Edwards Slevin 1836 1894 and Marie Claire Bruguierre 1854 1927 He lived with his parents and two brothers on California Street in San Francisco He married Mabel O Connell on December 15 1909 in Monterey California and had one son and one daughter 3 Career editSlevin moved to Carmel ca 1903 where he and his wife and two children lived in their home on Carmelo Street between Sixth and Ocean Avenues That same year they bought a lot for 325 equivalent to 10 993 in 2022 on Ocean Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln Streets where Slevin built a general merchandise store in March 1904 The wood framed Western false front style store included artists materials stationary magazines Kodak cameras photographic supplies and fishing tackle 4 From 1904 to 1915 he was Carmel s first postmaster and express agent He had lock boxes for mail that those on horseback could ride up insert their key into a locked box remove their mail and ride off 1 He was one of the earliest registered voters in Carmel and voted for the Republican Party 5 3 6 7 Old timer in Carmel Artists Supplies has hung outside his door these many years We used to trail up to his place for our Sunday papers pick up our choice from the stoop and drop our nickels through the slit in the door Noted stamp collector Also beetles Thirty thousand of the latter he collected and tagged then shipped to Calif Academy of Science at San Francisco now a famous collection Photographer of Carmel s beauties Scenic Carmel Pine Cone 8 Slevin was a supporter of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club where he served as treasurer and director The club was another place to sell his photographs in addition to his store 1 He photographed plays at the Forest Theater 9 California State Fairs the King City bridge festivals at Carmel Mission abandoned mines fauna near Paso Robles California and settlements at Paraiso Springs Slevin photographed the whaling station at Moss Landing California in 1919 and many of the shipwrecks on the Monterey Bay 10 He displayed his photographs at the Carmel Annual Exhibitions in 1913 1919 and 1920 His first public exhibition in Carmel was sponsored by the Wallace Johnsons in 1905 which was reviewed in the San Francisco Chronicle saying that he had some particularly good photographs 11 He was the manager of the Carmel News Company where he sold artist materials fishing tackle and photo post cards of Carmel Big Sur and Salinas 12 3 13 Slevin was a writer and many of his writings appeared in local and Monterey publications including his historical writings on sailing ships 1 In 1912 he and his wife wrote a concise account of the Mission system from the beginning with a chronological table giving dates of main events It is titled Guide Book To The Mission of San Carlos At Carmel and Monterey California 14 In 1919 and 1925 he was elected secretary treasurer of the local Manzanita Club and served as chairman of the committee for the restoration of the Carmel Mission He was the first official Carmel City Treasurer and served for ten years His slogan was Safe Sane and Conservative 7 He established a printing photograph business for amateur photographers In 1930 he was elected a life member of the California Academy of Sciences for the donation of 30 000 moths collected on the Monterey Peninsula over twenty years 15 For over thirty years he photographed a series of photographs of Monterey Cypress trees at Point Lobos He was a member of the Monterey History and Art Association 1 Slevin sold his business in November 1939 to Mary Louise Pearce Dummage who was one Carmel s first residents and owned the Mary Dummage Shop The store was later changed to Spencers Stationery 1 Slevin and his wife moved to San Jose California in September 1942 and purchased a home at 750 South Eighth Street When his health began to fail he moved to the Casa Bella Sanitorum in Saratoga California At this time he gave his original glass plates photographs between 80 150 to Roy D Graves that are now on file at the Bancroft Library 2 His wife Mabel E Slevin died on January 8 1943 in San Jose She lived in Carmel for 35 years Funeral services were held at St Mary s in San Jose and graveside services at the Monterey Cemetery 16 17 In 1945 Slevin wrote a series of articles for the Carmel Pine Cone about the early days of Carmel by the Sea 6 One was titled Carmel Infancy to Adolescence that was about Santiago J Duckworth s real estate promotions for Carmel City in 1888 James Franklin Devendorf and the Carmel Development Company and other historical figures 18 3 Death editSlevin was accidentally killed on November 9 1945 15 in San Jose at the age of 67 He was buried at the San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey California 6 Photographs by Louis S Slevin nbsp Historic American Buildings Survey Collection nbsp Sonoma bark figurehead and bow 1903 nbsp Photograph of Carmel Ocean Ave with Slevin s store 1910 nbsp Bernard Maybeck 1919 See also editTimeline of Carmel by the Sea CaliforniaReferences edit a b c d e f Hale Sharron Lee 1980 A tribute to yesterday The history of Carmel Carmel Valley Big Sur Point Lobos Carmelite Monastery and Los Burros Santa Cruz California Valley Publishers p 25 26 ISBN 9780913548738 Retrieved 2022 07 06 a b Roy D Graves Photograph Collection PDF The Bancroft Library Berkkeley California 1964 Retrieved 2022 07 07 a b c d Untitled PDF tfaoi org p 628 Retrieved 2022 07 06 Seavey Kent 2007 Carmel A History in Architecture Carmel by the Sea California Arcadia Publishing pp 15 16 43 45 ISBN 9780738547053 Retrieved 2022 07 07 Of Interest To People Of The Pacific Coast The San Francisco Call San Francisco California 28 Sep 1904 p 2 Retrieved 2022 07 06 a b c Louis Slevin Carmel Pine Cone Carmel by the Sea California 1945 11 23 p 2 Retrieved 2022 07 06 a b Hudson Monica 2006 Carmel By The Sea Carmel by the Sea California Arcadia Publishing pp 23 25 30 32 33 39 42 43 46 120 ISBN 9780738531229 Retrieved 2022 07 07 Who s Who and Here Carmel Pine Cone Carmel by the Sea California 1928 12 14 pp 9 15 Retrieved 2022 10 17 Browse All for Slevin Louis S California Revealed Retrieved 2022 07 09 20th Century California Photographers Pat Hathaway Photo Collection Retrieved 2022 07 08 Art Notes San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco California 23 Jul 1905 p 40 Retrieved 2022 07 06 Carmel News Co Carmel Pine Cone Carmel by the Sea California 1915 06 23 p 2 Retrieved 2022 07 06 Bogdan Robert Weseloh Todd 2006 Real Photo Postcard Guide The People s Photography Syracuse University Press p 253 ISBN 9780815608516 Retrieved 2022 07 06 Guide Book To The Mission of San Carlos At Carmel and Monterey California Library Of Congress Carmel by the Sea California 1912 Retrieved 2022 07 07 a b The Pan Pacific Entomologist Pacific Coast Entomological Society 20 22 141 1945 Retrieved 2022 07 08 Carmel The Californian Salinas California 13 Jan 1943 p 2 Retrieved 2022 07 08 Mabel Slevin Carmel Pine Cone Carmel by the Sea California 1943 01 15 p 9 Retrieved 2022 07 08 Carmel News Co Carmel Pine Cone Carmel by the Sea California 1945 01 09 p 8 Retrieved 2022 07 06 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Louis S Slevin Old Carmel In Rare Photographs by L S Slevin Slevin family papers 1886 1954 L S Slevin notebooks containing lists of his negatives circa 1880s 1930s L S Slevin photograph collection graphic Monterey area photographs graphic Monterey County Free Libraries Local History Photograph and Document Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Louis S Slevin amp oldid 1203944995, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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