Take a look back at San Luis Valley farming and ranching in the early 20th century. The Adams State University Luther Bean Museum recently opened a new display of photographs documenting work in the fields.
During the spring 2016 semester, art major Molly O’Connor helped catalog and sleeve the Carl Johnson Collection of San Luis Valley photographs, as part of an internship in the museum.
The collection includes photographs by O. T. Davis (1859-1945), a successful photographer in the San Luis Valley region, as well as other black-and-white images which capture the essence of agriculture before the advent of machinery and technology.
"I enjoyed looking at the photographs and seeing the development and history of the SLV," O’Connor said. With guidance from the museum’s interim curator, Tawney Becker, O’Connor chose eight photographs to mount and display.
"I learned what goes into setting up a display and the research that goes with it," O’Connor added.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in sculpture on May 14.
The Adams State Luther Bean Museum summer hours, 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, begin May 31. The museum is closed major holidays. For more information call 719-587-7151.
