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Gisbert Bossard/Max Florence photograph collection, 1908-1912
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Bossard, Gisbert Ludolf, 1890-1975
- Title
- Gisbert Bossard/Max Florence photograph collection
- Dates
- 1908-1912 (inclusive)19081912
- Quantity
- 2 boxes, (1.25 linear ft.)
- Collection Number
- UUS_P0002
- Summary
- The Gisbert Bossard/Max Florence Collection consists of about 60 glass lantern slides and 56 black and white images used by Max Florence for a series of lectures he delivered in New York City in 1911. Included in the images are rare interiors of the Salt Lake Mormon Temple taken by Gisbert Ludolf Gerhart Bossard. Bossard was a Swiss convert to Mormonism who fell out with the church in 1911 and took these pictures as a form of revenge. He gave the images to Max Florence who tried to sell them in New York City. Florence was not able to find a buyer and after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) published the book "The House of the Lord," with better quality interiors of the temple in 1912, the issue became moot. The other views consist of Salt Lake City, Utah politicians and boosters such as Florence and Samuel Newhouse, and views of a streetcar in front of several buildings. Some of these images were taken by Charles Ellis Johnson. Box 2 also includes a typed letter from Bossard to Florence, dated September 1913, in which the author details elements of his plan to recover some money despite the introduction of the book "The House of the Lord," which Bossard readily admits ruined the value of his photos.
- Repository
-
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Restrictions
No restrictions on use except: not available through interlibrary loan.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Max Florence was born in 1865 to Russian-Jewish parents in Latvia. He moved to America when he was nineteen and made his way West. Eventually he ended up in Salt Lake City where he owned several motion picture theaters and the Florence Film Exchange. He apparently sold these businesses in 1911 or 1912. After 1911 he ran a restaurant, owned an express truck, and marketed alcohol during prohibition. After serving a sentence in prison for conspiracy to transport contraband liquor, he moved to Farmington, Utah. He died of cancer in 1932. Gordon Van Fleet purchased the Florence home after a fire in 1944 and discovered the hidden slides. Mr. Van Fleet donated the images to Special Collections in 1991.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Gisbert Bossard/Max Florence Collection consists of about 60 glass lantern slides and 56 black and white images used by Max Florence for a series of lectures he delivered in New York City in 1911. Included in the slides are rare interiors of the Salt Lake Mormon Temple by Gisbert Ludolf Gerhart Bossard. Bossard was a Swiss convert to Mormonism who fell out with the church and took these pictures as a form of revenge in 1911. He gave the images to Max Florence who tried to sell them in New York City. Florence was not able to find a buyer and after the LDS Church published "The House of the Lord," with better quality interiors of the temple in 1912, the issue became moot. The other views consist of American Presidents, a woman behind bars with the caption "The White Slave" across it, Salt Lake politicians and boosters such as Florence and Samuel Newhouse, views of a streetcar in front of several buildings including the Elite Theatre and the Tribune building, portraits of LDS Church leaders, the Florence Film Exchange, the Elite Theatre, and the Luna Theatre. Some of these images were taken by Charles Ellis Johnson. Box 2 also includes a typed letter from Bossard to Florence, dated September 1913, in which the author details elements of his plan to recover some money despite the introduction of the book "The House of the Lord," which Bossard readily admits ruined the value of his photos.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
The description listed next to each image is transcribed directly from the information written on the envelope containing each lantern slide. The physical condition of the slides is generally good, although some have small cracks. The black and white images exhibit no descriptions except on two of the images, which are in Bossard's cursive script and written, presumably, in his native language. These descriptions are not recreated here; instead, the locations within the temple depicted in the photos are included.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
CopyrightIt is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Gisbert Bossard/Max Florence photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: P0002; Gisbert Bossard/Max Florence photograph collection; Photograph Collections; Utah State University Special Collections and Archives, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University.
Following Citations: P0002, USUSC.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in numeric sequence according to box and item.
Processing Note
Processed in 2001 and 2014
Acquisition Information
Donated to Special Collections by Gordon Van Fleet in 1991.
Acquisition Information
Gordon Van Fleet purchased a home previously owned by Max Florence after a fire in 1944 and discovered the hidden slides. Mr. Van Fleet donated the images to Special Collections in 1991.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Glass Slides, 1908-1912Return to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 1
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:01: William Jennings Bryan |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:02: George Q. Cannon |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:03: Max Florence, captioned "Doing the Best I Can" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:04: Max Florence, captioned "A Salt Lake Booster" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:05: Max Florence and unidentified friend, captioned: "Two Little Boosters - Max Florence and his College Chum" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:06: J.W. Kern |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:07: Jesse William Knight, Democratic candidate for Governor of Utah |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:08: Francis M. Lyman |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:08a: Francis M. Lyman |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:09: Samuel Newhouse |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:10: Samuel Newhouse |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:11: Samuel Newhouse, captioned: "A Real Live 'Utah Booster'" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:12: Samuel Newhouse, captioned: "The Father of the Salt Lake Sky-Scrapers" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:13: President Theodore Roosevelt |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:14: William Spry, Republican candidate for Governor of Utah |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:15: J.S. Sherman |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:16: R.G. Sleater, candidate for U.S. Representative of Utah |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:17: Erastus Snow |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:18: Lorenzo Snow |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:19: President William H. Taft |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:20: Margaret Zane Witcher, Republican candidate for Slate Lake County Clerk |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:21: William Jennings Bryan |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:22: Interior of the Florence Film Exchange in the rear of the Luna Theatre |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:23: Interior of the Florence Film Exchange |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:24: Interior of the Florence Film Exchange |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:25: Business office of the Florence Film Exchange |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:26: Interior of the business office of the Florence Film Exchange |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:27: Streetcar in front of the Elite Theatre captioned "The Max Florence Special Starting from the Elite Theatre" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:28: Streetcar in front of the U.S. Post Office |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:29: Streetcar in front of the Tribune building |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:30: Streetcar in front of the Herald Office |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:31: Streetcar in front of Freed Furniture and Carpet |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:32: Streetcar and riders, top of Elite Theatre in background |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:33: The Ladies G.A.R. Military Band posed with their instruments in front of the Elite Theatre (copy negatives only) |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:34: The American Drum Corps posed with their instruments in front of the Elite Theatre |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:34a: Streetcar in front of the Brigham Young Monument, looking northwest, LDS Temple in background |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:35: Exterior of the William C. Staines Conservatory, Mormon Temple barely visible in the background |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:36: Probably the interior of Brigham Young's office in the Lion House |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:37: Probably the interior of Brigham Young's office in the Lion House |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:38: Exterior of the Bureau of Information building |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:39: View of the Mormon Temple looking northwest (photo by A.J. Clapham) |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:40: View from the roof of the Mormon Temple includes a protion of the northeastern spire in the foreground, Hotel Utah in the background |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:41: Close-up of an exterior wall of the ground floor of the Mormon Temple |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:42: Views of the Terrestrial Room of the Mormon Temple |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:43: Room with altar and witness chairs, Mormon Temple |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:44: Views of the Terrestrial Room of the Mormon Temple |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:45: Enactment of a temple ceremony, one man in temple robes and another in street clothes, unidentified room in the Mormon Temple |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:46: An illustration of a woman behind bars with the caption "The White Slave" across it |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:47: Enactment of a temple ceremony, one man in temple robes and another in street cloethes, unidentified room in the Mormon Temple |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:48: An illustration of a woman behind bars with the caption "The White Slave" across it |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:49: Introductory slide reading "Good Afternoon" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:50: Ending slide reading "Good Night" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:51: Slide reading "Change of Program Wednesday and Sunday" |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:52: Illustration of a train caboose with a blank space, reads "Rocky Mountain Limited" at the bottom |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:53: A forty-six star American flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:54: The British flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:55: The British flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:56: The German flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:57: The German flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:58: The Swedish flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:59: The Swedish flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:60: The Swiss flag |
1908-1912 |
| 1 | 1 | 01:01:61: The Swiss flag |
1908-1912 |
Black and White Images, 1911Return to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 1
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:01: Baptismal font, taken through railing, low, looking at oxen |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:02: Baptismal font, view of access stairway, low |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:03: Baptismal font, taken through railing, low, looking at oxen; back says, “Mormon Temple Series (interior) No.4” |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:04: Baptismal font, view of access stairway, low |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:05: Northwest corner of main assembly room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:06: Main assembly room, west end showing Aaronic Priesthood archway |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:07: Main assembly room, east end showing Melchizedek Archway |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:08: Main assembly room, east end showing Melchizedek Archway |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:09: Basement level Creation Room, showing door leading into Garden Room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:10: Basement level Creation Room, showing door leading into Garden Room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:11: Location unknown, showing carved molding in detail |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:12: Garden Room, very poor exposure |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:13: From roof looking west |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:14: From roof looking west; domed roof of Hotel Utah visible |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:15: From roof looking west; domed roof of Hotel Utah visible |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:16: From North Temple Street looking southeast; showing Annex (left) and Staines Conservatory (center). Temple in background |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:17: Telestial Room, showing murals on wall |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:18: Telestial Room, showing murals on wall; with doorway leading in |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:19: Telestial Room, showing murals on wall; looking to back of room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:20: Telestial Room, showing murals on wall; with doorway to Terrestrial Room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:21: Garden Room, showing archway exit to Grand Staircase Hallway |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:22: Creation Room, showing murals on wall |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:23: Garden Room, showing archway exit to Grand Staircase Hallway |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:24: Garden Room, showing mural in northeast corner |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:25: Office room, showing bookcases, probably in Beehive house |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:26: Beehive house, southeast corner room of main floor |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:27: Third floor, Council Room looking towards east wall, showing two chairs |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:28: Second floor, reception room south of east sealing room, looking south |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:29: Third floor, inside council room, showing desk near circular portal window |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:30: Close view of wall painting, poor exposure |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:31: Entrance to Staines Conservatory |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:32: Doomed roof of Holy of Holies, from 3rd floor |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:33: Sheathed sword near Garden Room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:34: Statuary of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, from behind |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:35: Sheathed sword near Garden Room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:36: Closer view of Smith statue engraving, illegible |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:37: High council room looking south towards memorial window |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:38: Beehive house |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:39: Office room, showing bookcases, probably in Beehive house |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:40: Beehive house |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:41: First floor, Washing and anointing station |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:42: Third floor, council room looking southeast |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:43: Second floor, showing furniture in celestial room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:44: Poor exposure, location unknown |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:45: Second floor, east sealing room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:46: Celestial room looking south |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:47: Altar in Garden room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:48: Second floor, telestial room showing door to terrestrial room and stairway from west hall |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:49: Exterior, entrance to Garden room |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:50: Exterior, east face |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:51: Skylights above underground passage to old annex |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:52: Exterior, southwest corner of old annex |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:53: Main street, people walking |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:54: Front of old annex |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:55: Unidentified young girl |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | 02:01:56: Exterior of assembly hall, front entrance, crowd moving in and out |
1911 |
Letter from Bossard to Florence, 11 September 1913, September 1913Return to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 2
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 2 | 02:02:01: Letter from Bossard to Florence, dated 11 September 1913, detailing plans and arrangements in wake of publication of "The House of the Lord" |
1913 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Bossard, Gisbert Ludolf, 1890-1975
- Bossard, Gisbert Ludolf, 1890-1975
- Bossard, Gisbert Ludolf, 1890-1975
- Electric railroads -- Utah -- Salt Lake City -- Cars.
- Mormon temples -- Utah -- Salt Lake City.
- Mormon temples -- Utah -- Salt Lake City.
- Newhouse, Florence -- Portraits.
- Newhouse, Samuel I. -- Portraits.
- Salt Lake Temple -- Pictorial works.
- Salt Lake Temple -- Pictorial works.
Geographical Names
- Salt Lake City (Utah) -- Photographs.
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Finding aid/Register created by Daniel Davis and Cory M. Nani
2014
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
