MS-316 Edmund Trissell Collection
Introduction
The Edmund Trissell Collection chronicles the life of Dayton photographer Edmund William Trissell through negatives, photographs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence from Mr. Trissell’s daily life and photographic assignments.
The collection was donated by Clark Trissell, Edmund’s son and is 3.5 linear feet filling 11 boxes.
The collection shall be open to the research public without restriction. Copyrights are dedicated to the public, but any publication of material from the collection should contain the credit line, “From the Edmund Trissell Collection housed in Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries.”
The collection is divided into the following record series:
Series List
I. Negatives
II. Negatives (Oversized)
III. Strip Negatives
IV. Photographs
V. Newspaper Clippings
VI. Correspondence
VII. Adverstising
Biographical Sketch
Edmund Trissell was born in Dayton, Ohio, but raised between Kansas City and Independence, Missouri. His first significant photographs as a photographer are of Harry S. Truman during his campaign for Senate in 1928, which are housed in the Truman Library. Beginning in 1935, Trissell worked as a government surveyor in high precision mapping and charting. His work as a surveyor led to the network of longitude and latitude mappings used by modern aircraft. During World War II, he served in the First Photo Mapping and Charting Group at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. and in the 13th Air Force as a photographer in the South Pacific. During the War, Trissell photographed such dignitaries as Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. After the War, Trissell worked in the photographic laboratory at Wright Field. He retired after 32 years in civil service and spent most of his time photographing his family, weddings, and local events in the Dayton area.
Scope and Content Note
The Edmund Trissell Collection consist of seven series with a date span
from 1940-1997:
I. Negatives
II. Negatives (Oversized)
III. Strip Negatives
IV. Photographs
V. Newspaper Clippings
VI. Correspondence
VII. Advertising
Series I. Negatives. The collection contains over two thousand negatives from Edmund Trissell’s personal and professional life. The date span of the negatives is 1940-1995. The series contains negatives relating to people, military life, social life. The military negatives consist of military ceremonies, aircraft, and World War II. The World War II negatives show life in the Philippines for the military personnel stationed there. The social life negatives contain hundreds of negatives of people in a variety of social situations. There are numerous copy negatives of the Wright Brothers. Most of these negatives are undated.
Series II. Negatives (Oversized). This series contains negatives of buildings, people, Jay's Eat Off event, copy negatives of the Wright Brothers, military, and Trissell Family. Of interest is the folder on the Trissell Family History. This folder contains information relating to the Trissell family tree.
Series III. Strip Negatives. This series contains strip negatives from the professional life of Edmund Trissell ranging from the 1982 to 1993. The descriptions and categorization was maintained as it was previously defined by the photographer. The series contains strip negatives of contests, parades, clubs, organizations, ceremonies, and social life from Dayton and the surrounding area. Researchers interested in clubs and organizations during the late twenty-first century may find the strip negatives in this series particularly helpful. Most of the dates in this series were undated.
Series IV. Photographs. This series contains many photographs from both the personal and professional life of Edmund Trissell ranging from the early 1940s through the late 1990s. The series consists of people from the Miami Valley, ceremonies, the Wright and Kettering families, and a significant number of the Trissell family and their friends in various social activities. The collection would be of particular interest to researchers studying daily life and social situations. The majority of these photographs are undated.
Series V. Newspaper Clippings. The series contains newspaper articles covers obituaries, Wright Brothers family, and Edmund Trissell’s Family. The Wright Brothers articles are clippings from the Dayton Daily News concerning the Wright Family. The series also contains clippings tracking career moves of other Trissell family members. The connection between the obituaries and the photographer are unknown. Researchers interested in additional Wright Brothers information should refer to the Wright Brothers Collection MS-1.
Series VI. Correspondence. The series, consisting of one folder, includes greeting cards and letters relating to Edmund Trissell’s photography studio and family. The correspondence reflects Edmund Trissell’s volunteer work and span from the 1982-1993. Researchers can gain a glimpse into the business ethics of Edmund Trissell through these two letters.
Series VII. Advertising. This series contains a single advertising flyer for Trissell Photographic Studios. The flyer is on a standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper with pictures of the photographer and a wedding. White not dated, the picture appears to be from the 50's or 60's. Researchers may find the clothing, camera equipment, and social information conveyed in the photographs of interest.
Container Listing
Series I. Negatives
| Box |
File |
Description |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Animals (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
2 |
Animals, Dogs (14 negs) |
Undated |
|
3 |
Animals, (11 negs) |
Undated |
|
4 |
Animals, Cats (12 negs) |
Undated |
|
5-15 |
Landscapes, (113 negs) |
Undated |
|
16 |
Art (13 negs) |
Undated |
|
17-22 |
Buildings/Exterior, (63 negs) |
Undated |
|
23-27 |
Buildings/Interior, (48 negs) |
Undated |
|
28-30 |
Celebrities, Lawrence Welk (28 negs) |
Undated |
|
31-33 |
Celebrities, Liberace (30 negs) |
Oct 27, [?] |
|
34 |
Celebrities, Joe Namath (2 negs) |
1979 |
|
35-36 |
Correspondence, Ed and Helen (1 letter) |
Undated |
|
37 |
Correspondence, Ronald Reagan (1 letter) |
Undated |
|
38 |
Correspondence, Phil Kiddao (1 letter) |
Undated |
|
39 |
Correspondence, Harry S. Truman to Trissell (1 letter) |
Oct. 23, 1968 |
|
40 |
Correspondence, Tom Wilson to Trissell (1 letter) |
April 26, 1984 |
|
41 |
Correspondence, Harry S. Truman to Trissell (1 letter) |
Oct. 9, 1968 |
|
42 |
Correspondence, Kampf to Trissell (1 letter) |
Nov. 3, 1975 |
|
43 |
Correspondence, Bess Truman to Trissell (1 letter) |
Oct. 18, 1973 |
|
44 |
Correspondence, Virginia Kampf to Trissell (1 letter) |
Sept. 3, 1976 |
|
45 |
Correspondence, John Bickmore, M.D. to Trissell
(1 letter) |
March 23, 1979 |
|
46 |
Correspondence, 1903 Wright Kitty Hawk Original Fabric Certificate of Authenticity letter to Trissell |
Undated |
|
47 |
Correspondence, Poems from Grandma |
Undated |
|
48 |
Cultures, (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
49 |
Cultures, New Guinea (8 negs) |
Undated |
|
50 |
Cultures, Native American (8 negs) |
Undated |
|
51 |
Documents, Trissell Awards (7 negs) |
Undated |
|
52 |
Documents, Warranty Deed, (4 negs) |
Undated |
|
53 |
Documents, Emma Trissell Birth Certificate (1 neg) |
Undated |
|
54 |
Documents, Ida L. Follett Death Certificate (1 neg) |
Undated |
|
55-57 |
Franklin, (14 negs) |
Undated |
|
58-66 |
Group Shots, (84 negs) |
Undated |
|
67 |
Headstones, Philipena and William Kramer (3 negs) |
1861-1924;1858-1908 |
|
68 |
Headstones, Daisy Monroe (1 neg) |
1881-1976 |
|
69 |
Headstones, Ida Snyder (3 negs) |
1886-1980 |
|
70 |
Headstones, Penny Trissell (1 neg) |
19[08]-1961 |
|
71 |
Headstones, William Wirsching (1 neg) |
1879-1946 |
|
72 |
Headstones, Charles & Emma Wollenhaupt (1 neg) |
1873-1957;
1881-1956 |
|
73 |
Headstones, Elizabeth Righter (1 neg) |
1840-1923 |
|
74 |
Headstones, (4 negs) |
Undated |
|
75-76 |
Historic, (18 negs) |
Undated |
|
77 |
Kettering Family, (13 negs) |
Undated |
|
78 |
Kettering Plane, (7 negs) |
Undated |
|
79 |
Landscapes, (2 negs) |
Undated |
|
80 |
Local Events, Nancy Lopez Golf Tournament (16 negs) |
1984 |
|
81 |
Local Events, Retirement Party for C.W. Skinner
(7 negs) |
Aug 7, 1974 |
|
82 |
Local Events, U.S. Air Force Museum Dedication
(2 negs) |
July 23, 1976 |
|
83 |
Local Events, Jay’s 2nd Annual Oyster Eat-Off
(11 negs) |
1979 |
|
84 |
Local Events, Druid’s Team (2 negs) |
Undated |
|
85 |
Local Events, United Way (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
86 |
Local Events, Paul Guy’s Golf Tournament, Kitty Hawk golf course (1 neg) |
Undated |
|
87 |
Local Events, Bogie Busters Celebrity Gala (3 negs) |
1982 |
|
88 |
Local Events, Elsa’s Mexican Open Golf Classic (1 neg) |
1985 |
|
89 |
Local Events, An Affair of the Heart Dayton Heart
Heart Association (1 neg) |
1989 |
|
90 |
Local Events, Goodwill Store Grand Opening (1 neg) |
Undated |
|
91-92 |
Local Events, (24 negs) |
Undated |
|
93 |
Local Events, Celebrity Bowl-a-thon (8 negs) |
1982-1983 |
|
94 |
Local Events, (11 negs) |
Undated |
|
95 |
Local Events, Jay’s 11th Annual Oyster Eat-Off
(3 negs) |
1985, 1988 |
|
96 |
Local Events, Hearing & Speech Center Annual Report Meeting (1 neg) |
1983 |
|
97 |
Local Events, BHA (19 negs) |
Undated |
|
98 |
T. Martin (9 negs) |
Undated |
|
99-101 |
Medical Hotline, (34 negs) |
Undated |
|
102-103 |
Melba Hunt, (19 negs) |
Undated |
|
104 |
Military, USAAF 614 Bomb Sq. Reunion, Dayton
(4 negs) |
Aug 1, 1970 |
|
105 |
Military/Ceremonies, (4 negs) |
Undated |
|
106 |
Military, (6 negs) |
Undated |
|
107-112 |
Military/Korean War Era, (64 negs) |
Undated |
|
113-114 |
Military/Korean War Era, Trissell (16 negs) |
Undated |
|
115 |
Military/Celebration, (6 negs) |
Undated |
|
116 |
Military/W.P.A.F.B., Aerial View (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
|
|
|
2 |
1-6 |
Morgenthal, (65 negs) |
Undated |
|
7 |
Newspaper Clippings, Trissell (3 negs) |
1983-1984 |
|
8-10 |
People, (36 negs) |
Undated |
|
11 |
People, Shakers (10 negs) |
Undated |
|
12-13 |
People, (24 negs) |
Undated |
|
14 |
People, Joe Namath (5 negs) |
Undated |
|
15 |
People, Joe Michael Funeral (1 neg) |
Undated |
|
16 |
People, Don Michael (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
17-93 |
People, (768 negs) |
Undated |
|
94-105 |
Snyder, (119 negs) |
Undated |
|
|
|
|
3 |
1-11 |
Social Life/Bar (109 negs) |
Undated |
|
12 |
Social Life/Bar, New Year’s Eve Party (10 negs) |
Undated |
|
13-16 |
Social Life/Patio, (42 negs) |
Undated |
|
17-28 |
Trissell Family, (123 negs) |
Undated |
|
29-33 |
U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, (54 negs) |
Undated |
|
34 |
Social Life, (11 negs) |
Undated |
|
35 |
Social Life/Wedding, (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
36-38 |
Social Life/Reunion, (33 negs) |
Undated |
|
39 |
Wright Brothers, with Paul Laurence Dunbar in front of school (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
40 |
Wright Brothers, by a car (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
41 |
Wright Brothers, standing outside (copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
42 |
Wright Brothers, at a celebration (copy, 2 negs |
Undated |
|
43 |
Wright Brothers, walking by Wright Flyer
(copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
44 |
Wright Brothers, sitting on porch (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
45 |
Wright Brothers, Wilbur standing in field
(copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
46 |
Wright Brothers, Wilbur profile (copy, 4 negs) |
Undated |
|
47 |
Wright Brothers, Wilbur sitting in chair (copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
48 |
Wright Brothers, Wilbur with Surrey Equipment (copy, 3 negs) |
Undated |
|
49 |
Wright Brothers, Wilbur sitting on banister
(copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
50 |
Wright Brothers, Wilbur on Wright Flyer (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
51 |
Wright Brothers, Orville head shots (copy, 3 negs) |
Undated |
|
52 |
Wright Brothers, Drawing with Uncle Sam
(copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
53 |
Wright Brothers, Orville (copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
54 |
Wright Brothers, Orville sitting on porch at Hawthorn Hill (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
55 |
Wright Brothers, Orville in front of Wright Flyer
(copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
56 |
Wright Family, Milton Wright (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
57 |
Wright Family, Milton Wright walking down the sidewalk down the sidewalk (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
58 |
Wright Family, Milton Wright (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
59 |
Wright Family,Wright men standing by trees
(copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
60 |
Wright Family, Katharine Wright in front of Wright Flyer (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
61 |
Wright Family, Katharine Wright at celebration
(copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
62 |
Wright Family, (copy, 3 negs) |
Undated |
|
63 |
Wright Family, Susan Wright (copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
64 |
Wright Family, Milton Wright sitting on porch at Hawthorn Hill (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
65 |
Wright Family, Milton Wright sitting in hammock (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
66 |
Wright Family, Milton Wright profile (copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
67 |
Wright Family, 1 of Wright Family sitting on porch (copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
68 |
Wright Flyer, (copy, 2 negs) |
Undated |
|
69 |
Wright Flyer, Wilbur flying at Pau (copy, 4 negs) |
[Jan. 1909] |
|
70 |
Wright Flyer, Orville autographed photograph to
Mabel Beck of First Flight (copy, 2 neg) |
[Dec. 17, 1903] |
|
71 |
Wright Flyer, Flight at Huffman Prairie (copy, 1 neg) |
[Aug 1911] |
|
72 |
Wright Flyer, Wright Brothers Airship Factory
(copy, 1 neg) |
Undated |
|
73 |
Wright Homes, Hawthorn Hill (5 negs) |
Feb. 16, 1948 |
|
74-75 |
Wright Homes, Hawthorn Hill Exterior (4 negs) |
Feb. 16, 1948 |
|
76 |
Wright Homes, Hawthorn Hill Parlor with fireplace
(3 negs) |
Feb. 16, 1948 |
|
77 |
Wright Homes, Hawthorn Hill Study (2 negs) |
Feb. 16, 1948 |
|
78 |
Wright Homes, Hawthorn Hill Dining Room and Kitchen (6 negs) |
Feb. 16, 1948 |
|
79 |
Wright Homes, Hawthorn Hill Interior Hallways
(6 negs) |
Feb. 16, 1948 |
|
80 |
Wright Homes, Hawthorn Hill Bedrooms (9 negs) |
Feb. 16, 1948 |
| |
|
|
|
Series II. Negatives (Oversized) |
|
|
|
|
4 |
1 |
Negatives, Building exteriors (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
2 |
Negatives, Military (9 negs) |
Undated |
|
3 |
Negatives, People (13 negs) |
Undated |
|
4 |
Negatives, Jay’s Eat Off (3 negs) |
1979 |
|
5 |
Negatives, Wright Brothers (10 negs, copy) |
Undated |
|
6 |
Negatives, Trissell Family, Family Tree (50 negs) |
Undated |
|
7 |
Negatives, Trissell Family (16 negs) |
Undated |
|
|
|
|
Series III. Strip Negatives |
|
|
|
|
5 |
1 |
Affair of the Heart (9 negs) |
[1990] |
|
2 |
Affair of the Heart (13 negs) |
[1989] |
|
3 |
Dave Agate (6 negs) |
[Feb 1981] |
|
4 |
BHA (32 negs) |
Undated |
|
5 |
Black-Diamond, 40th Anniversary (4 negs) |
[Nov 1990] |
|
6 |
Black Wedding, Xenia, OH (4 negs) |
[1974] |
|
7 |
Bogie Busters (13 negs) |
[June 5, 1982] |
|
8 |
Bogie Busters (26 negs) |
[1984] |
|
9 |
Bogie Busters (20 negs) |
[June 8, 1985] |
|
10 |
Bogie Busters (11 negs) |
[1984] |
| |
11 |
Bowl-A-Thon |
[1984] |
|
12 |
Paul Brown (18 negs) |
[1988] |
|
13 |
Century Memorial (2 negs) |
[1984] |
|
14 |
Certoma Club (21 negs) |
[June 27, 1993] |
|
15 |
Channel 2 Dayton (10 negs) |
Undated |
|
16 |
Paul Creager 50th (1 neg) |
[1993] |
|
17 |
Cox Home (13 negs) |
[1994] |
|
18 |
Dayton Parades (23 negs) |
[1985-1993] |
|
19 |
Elsil’s (14 negs) |
[June 20, 1985] |
|
20 |
General Mills (9 negs) |
[Dec 12, 1977] |
|
21 |
Dana Gil (3 negs) |
Undated |
|
22 |
Goddard (12 negs) |
[1979] |
|
23 |
Melba Hunt (4 negs) |
[June 1995] |
|
24 |
Hunt Museum (12 negs) |
[1976] |
|
25 |
Hunt Museum (19 negs) |
[Aug 1991] |
|
26 |
Irish Parade (7 negs) |
[1987] |
|
27 |
Jay’s Oyster Eat-Off (34 negs) |
[1980-1981] |
|
28 |
Jay’s Oyster Eat-Off (15 negs) |
[1984] |
|
29 |
Jay’s Oyster Eat-Off (47 negs) |
[1985-1986] |
|
30 |
Jay’s Oyster Eat-Off (28 negs) |
[1988-1990] |
|
|
|
|
6 |
1 |
Kettering Museum (3 negs) |
[1978] |
|
2 |
Kettering Museum (8 negs) |
[1987] |
|
3 |
Hall Kirsher (5 negs) |
[1978] |
|
4 |
K. Kuhlman (3 negs) |
[Oct 28, 1982] |
|
5 |
Leiea Club (4 negs) |
Undated |
|
6 |
Leisure Club (5 negs) |
[Dec 1993] |
|
7 |
Jerry Lewis (5 negs) |
[1979] |
|
8 |
Lion’s Club (5 negs) |
[1980] |
|
9 |
Nancy Lopez Golf Outing (10 negs) |
Undated |
|
10 |
Nancy Lopez Golf Outing (26 negs) |
[1984] |
|
11 |
Nancy Lopez Golf Outing (19 negs) |
[1985] |
|
12 |
Tom & Peggy Mooney (2 negs) |
[1987] |
|
13 |
People (2 negs) |
Undated |
|
14 |
John Poast (5 negs) |
[1985] |
|
15 |
Reunion (8 negs) |
[1986] |
|
16 |
Bob Semler (5 negs) |
Undated |
|
17 |
Bob Schmitt (5 negs) |
[1993] |
|
18 |
Shakers Farm (68 negs) |
[Apr 1983-May 1985] |
|
19 |
Three Amigos (13 negs) |
Undated |
|
20 |
Trail’s End (2 negs) |
[1982] |
|
21 |
Trissell Home (11 negs) |
Undated |
|
22 |
Veterans (6 negs) |
[1988] |
|
23 |
Lenny Wallace (1 neg) |
[1996] |
|
24 |
Lawrence Welk (20 negs) |
[1980] |
|
25 |
Wright Book Signing (5 negs) |
[June 1990] |
|
26 |
Wright Brothers Memorial (15 negs) |
[1981-1982] |
|
27 |
Wright Home (7 negs) |
[1995] |
|
28 |
Oversized Negatives; aerial map of Oklahoma City, OK (1 neg) |
Undated |
|
29 |
Oversized Negatives; Boat (1 neg) |
Undated |
|
30 |
Oversized Negatives; Edmund Trissell (2 negs) |
Undated |
|
31 |
Oversized Negatives; City of Kettering (4 negs) |
Undated |
|
32 |
Oversized Negatives; People (9 negs) |
Undated |
| |
|
|
|
Series IV. Photographs |
|
|
|
|
7 |
1 |
Photographs, Kettering Family (19 photos) |
Undated |
|
2 |
Photographs, Wright Residence, Hawthorn Hill
(17 photos) |
Undated |
|
3 |
Photographs, Cultures, Asian and Native American (7 photos) |
Undated |
|
4 |
Photographs, Wright Flyer (28 photos) |
Undated |
|
5 |
Photographs, Wright Brothers (32 photos) |
Undated |
|
6 |
Photographs, Military, 2nd Mapping Squadron
(7 photos) |
Undated |
|
7 |
Photographs, Melba Hunt/Kettering Museum
(39 photos) |
Undated |
|
8 |
Photographs, Daily Life (6 photos) |
Undated |
|
9 |
Photographs, Art (4 photos) |
Undated |
|
|
|
|
8 |
1-2 |
Unidentified People (97 photos) |
Undated |
|
3 |
Ivonna Wright and Wright Brothers (73 photos) |
Undated |
|
4 |
Industrial Structures (5 photos) |
Undated |
|
5 |
Building Architectural Features (6 photos) |
Undated |
|
6 |
Landscapes (13 photos) |
Undated |
|
|
|
|
9 |
1 |
Military Personnel and Equipment (13 photos) |
Undated |
|
2 |
Military Ceremonies and Celebrations (16 photos) |
[ca. 1975-1995] |
|
3 |
Philippine Military Base and soldiers during World War II (17 photos) |
[ca. 1940s] |
|
4 |
World War II aircraft nose art (7 photos) |
Undated |
|
5 |
Pre-1970 aircraft (22 photos) |
Pre 1970 |
|
6 |
Modern Aircraft (14 photos) |
Post 1970 |
|
|
|
|
10 |
1 |
Trissell Family (10 photos) |
Undated |
|
2 |
Celebrities (10 photos) |
Undated |
|
3 |
Nancy Lopez Golf Tournament (17 photos) |
1984 |
|
4 |
Unidentified Building Interiors (13 photos) |
Undated |
|
|
|
|
Series V. Newspaper Clippings |
|
|
|
|
11 |
1 |
Trissell Family (2 clippings) |
Undated |
|
2 |
Wright Brothers Community Involvement
(14 clippings) |
1987-1995 |
|
3 |
Obituaries (6 clippings) |
1985-1997 |
|
|
|
|
Series VI. Correspondence |
|
|
|
|
11 |
4 |
2 holiday cards to Ed from Melba Hunt, letter to Ed from Melba Hunt (July 30, 1982), letter to Ed from Melba Hunt (May 13, 1993), letter to Melba Hunt from Ed Trissell (May 5, 1993), greeting card from Ed Trissell recipient unknown |
1982-1993 |
| |
|
|
|
| Series VII. Advertising |
| |
|
|
|
11 |
5 |
Advertising Flyer |
Undated |
|