Frank Patterson

Frank Patterson
Born in 1883 in Klickitat , Washington, Frank Patterson began his photography career in the early 1900s in Hood River, where he advertised "Outdoor Photos of All Kinds. Landscapes, Views, Stereograms. Order by Mail."

After his first marriage ended in 1921, he remarried and moved to the Medford area, where he specialized in photos of the Crater Lake area. About 1926 he started doing postcards of towns, buildings, commercial spots, etc. from the Medford area to Red Bluff, California. He also traveled from Grants Pass, Oregon to Ukiah, California along the Redwood Highway. In the summer of 1928 be moved to Santa Rosa, California and added Sonoma County to his postcard list. At one time be had 228 dealers selling his postcards.

In 1940 his photography career was interrupted when he was sentenced to San Quentin Prison, where he served six years for "Lewd and Lascivious conduct with a child under the age of 14". He had pleaded no contest, and did not admit anything. During this time his business was sold to Robert Laws.

Upon his release, Patterson went to work for Bear Photo is San Francisco, where he was employed from 1946 till 1959. He died in 1961 in Napa State Hospital, where he was sent after developing Alzheimer's.

--Summarized from the Redwood County and Vintage Postcards site at www.digthatcrazyfarout.com/redwoods.

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  1. Agness Suspension Bridge Across the Rogue River - circa 1926
    As low as $5.00
    This historic forestry footbridge over the Rogue River was constructed of steel carried piece by piece up-river from Gold Beach by the mail boats in 1924. It was swept away by flood waters in December 1964. Learn More
  2. Arriving at the Summit of Mount Hood - 1910s
    As low as $5.00
    Two women and two men arrive at the summit of Mt. Hood on a beautiful day. Learn More
  3. Azalea Hotel, on the Pacific Highway - circa 1928
    As low as $5.00
    The Azalea Hotel was built in 1912, and was first known as the Canyon Pass Hotel. The building still exists, and now houses the Azalea Mountain Store. Learn More
  4. Columbia River Railroad Bridge at Celilo - c. 1912
    As low as $5.00
    Looking across the Celilo railroad bridge shortly after its completion in 1912. Learn More
  5. Cottage Grove, Looking West Down Main Street - circa 1928
    As low as $5.00
    We are looking west towards the river from near the intersection of what is now Highway 99, also known as the Goshen-Divide Highway. Learn More
  6. Fishing, Old and New, at Celilo Falls - 1910s
    As low as $5.00
    This fishing photo shows two methods of taking salmon at the falls. Learn More
  7. Forest Road near Diamond Lake - c. 1928
    As low as $5.00
    Old growth trees line the road somewhere near Diamond Lake in Douglas County, southern Oregon. There's but a single lane, and no broad right-of-ways like we see today. Learn More
  8. Getting in Line at Hood River Depot - 1910s
    As low as $5.00
    It's "hurry up and wait" time at Hood River Depot, as passengers and freight haulers await their turn to board the eastbound train. Learn More
  9. Golden Rule Grocery, Auto Camp and Garage, Cottage Grove - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    We have a number of photos taken by Frank Patterson, but only a few are recreated from their original glass negatives. While cellulose negatives were widely used in 1925, some traditionalist professional photographers preferred the qualities only available by using glass. Learn More
  10. Hood River from the Eastside Grade - c. 1910
    As low as $5.00
    Looking north down Hood River from the east bank, we see the town named after the river to the left. In the distance is the Columbia River, and the hills of Washington State on the other side. Learn More
  11. Hood River, Looking East on Oak towards Downtown - c. 1910
    As low as $5.00
    This view is from the edge of Hood River, out where the sidewalks ended. Oak Street then, as well as now, was one of the main streets in the town. Learn More
  12. Hood River, Looking West on Oak at 2nd - c. 1910
    As low as $5.00
    Many of the buildings in this century-old view of the town of Hood River still stand today, and Oak Street continues to be one of the main streets in town. Learn More
  13. Horseshoe Curve in Siskiyou Mountains - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    The horseshoe of the road in this photo is a wonderful shape, almost filling the frame of the image and pushing against its borders. Learn More
  14. Lithia Springs Hotel, in Ashland - c. 1926
    As low as $5.00
    When the luxurious nine-story Lithia Springs Hotel opened on July 1, 1925, it was the tallest building between Portland and San Francisco. Learn More
  15. Looking East Across Ashland Plaza Towards Hotel Ashland - c. 1935
    As low as $5.00
    We are looking east across the historic plaza in Ashland, and have a good look at the back of "Pioneer Mike", the statue that was recently restored, and the drinking fountains that bring water to the public from the mineral waters of Lithia Springs. Learn More
  16. Looking East along the Summit of Mt. Hood - 1910s
    As low as $5.00
    This is the breath-taking view that awaited Mt. Hood climbers in the 1910s, and still awaits them today. Learn More
  17. Lower Serac, at Mount Hood - 1910s
    As low as $5.00
    A young woman pauses at Lower Serac, while climbing Mount Hood. Learn More
  18. Lunch at Mazama Camp - 1913
    As low as $5.00
    There are lots of fascinating details in this photo of the climbing club the Mazamas as they break for lunch, during a climb at Mt. Adams. Learn More
  19. Oregon Caves Resort, Old Chalet - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    This view shows the "Old Chalet" at the Oregon Caves, built in the mid 1920s by a group of Grants Pass businessmen, under a permit issued by the U. S. Forest Service. Learn More
  20. Overlooking Celilo Falls, with New Bridge - c. 1912
    As low as $5.00
    This view of Celilo Falls looking upstream shows the recently completed Columbia River Railroad Bridge in the background. Finished in 1912, it replaced an earlier ferry service. Learn More
  21. Overlooking the Pinnacles at Mount Hood - 1910s
    As low as $5.00
    A young woman pauses on her climb of Mount Hood to enjoy a view of the Pinnacles. Learn More
  22. Panorama of Crater Lake - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    This softly hand-tinted photograph of Crater Lake was created by Frank Patterson, who in the 1920s competed with Fred Kiser to produce views of this popular tourist destination. Learn More
  23. Panorama of Crater Lake from the East Rim - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    This panorama of Crater Lake is unusual due to its vantage point. Most of the tinted photographs we see are taken from near the Lodge, but here we are looking back towards the Lodge from the east rim. Learn More
  24. Panorama of Crater Lake with Phantom Ship - c. 1925
    As low as $12.00
    Photographers Frank Patterson and Fred Kiser were competitors in southern Oregon in the 1920s. Both produced hand-tinted photos of Crater Lake; this is an example of Patterson's work. Learn More
  25. Panorama of Crater Lake with Touch of Snow - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    Photos of Crater Lake hand-tinted by Frank Patterson and his wife Josephine varied in palette, from soft to more robust colors like this one. Learn More
  26. Passing Phantom Ship by Boat, Crater Lake - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    Most of us never had the chance to see Crater Lake and its islands at water level. Fortunately, photographer Frank Patterson captured that scene for us over 80 years ago. Learn More
  27. Rogue River, on the Pacific Highway - c. 1928
    As low as $5.00
    A 1920s car approaches us along a gentle curve on the Pacific Highway. Pine trees along its edge indicate that the road was built some time before - at least long enough for the trees to reach this size. Learn More
  28. Sutherlin, Oregon, Looking East on Central Ave. - 1927
    As low as $5.00
    The old Sutherlin Hotel on the right dominates this view down Central Avenue in Sutherlin, Oregon. Learn More
  29. Switchbacks Between Grants Pass & Crescent City - c. 1925
    As low as $5.00
    In a great example of the road builders' art from eighty years ago, we see how the engineers have negotiated their way down a steep slope in the Siskiyous. Learn More
  30. Vertical Panorama of Crater Lake - 1924
    As low as $5.00
    This striking, originally hand-colored, photo was printed and published by Frank Patterson, but the original photo may have been taken by Buhrl Harwood. Learn More
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