Skip to main content

L. Oscar Plaster Photographs

 Collection
Identifier: MC 813

Scope and Content Note

The photographs include 53 images of the Arkansas Centennial Celebration (1936) in Mena and 97 images of buildings, events, and people in and around Mena from the late nineteenth century into the 1950s. The business records are an itemized account of income and outgo for the photographic studio, rental property, and the antique business.

Dates

  • 1930-1978

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

Use Restrictions Apply: Negatives are not available for research. No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

L. Oscar Plaster (1898-1978) opened his photography studio in Mena in 1918. He married Eloise Goodwin in 1924 and the two worked together in the business. In 1930, Plaster bought the studio of former Mena photographer Bert Hiltebrand, including many of Hiltebrand's negatives and prints. Plaster became an Eastman Kodak dealer in 1940 and processed and printed customers' film, as well as continuing his own photography, using primarily a 5" x 7" Kodak view camera he had bought in 1920. The Plasters also produced direct positive prints (a quick process especially popular during World War II) and postcards.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet (2 Boxes)

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged and described in two series:

  1. Business records
  2. Photographs

Acquisition Information

Photographs, mostly 5" x 7" black and white prints, were donated to Special Collections by his widow, Eloise Barbara Plaster of Mena, Arkansas, November 1984. Included in the donation were eight volumes of business records dated 1947-1965.

Related Materials

See also the following related collection:

MS H562 385 Bert Hiltebrand Photographs

Processing Information

Processed by Nan Lawler, Special Collections Department, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in June, 1988.

Finding aid language was updated by Katrina Windon in September 2023 as part of a project to update outdated or harmful description related to slavery or to enslaved persons

Title
L. Oscar Plaster Photographs
Status
Completed
Author
Nan Lawler
Date
1988
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444