Burt V. Brooks Photograph Collection

1889-1934
3 boxes (1.5 linear feet)
Call no.: PH 060
rotating decorative images from SCUA collections

The artist Burt Vernon Brooks was one of the outstanding chroniclers of daily life in the Swift River Valley before it was inundated to create the Quabbin Reservoir. Born in Brimfield, Mass., in 1849 and raised in Monson, Brooks moved to Greenwich with his family in the 1870s, where he worked on the family farm. At some unclear point before he turned 40, Brooks became active as an artist, painting local homes and scenery and taking photographs of the landscape, residents, and daily life in the Quabbin region. A prolific photographer, he was, in the words of historian Donald W. Howe, "hardly ever seen without his camera strapped to his back," remaining active for decades. Three years after following his second wife to the west, Brooks died in Los Angeles in 1934.



The great majority of the 92 photographs in this collection are 5x7" dry plate glass negatives taken by Brooks in the earliest years of the twentieth century, documenting the houses and people of Greenwich. Brooks' work includes landscapes, houses, and a significant series of images of the Hillside School, but some of his best works are studio portraits, images of people at home or with their carriages, and posed scenes of children at play or at work. The collection also includes eight images by Brooks at Enfield, Greenwich, and Dana that are the property of the Swift River Valley Historical Society, and six images taken by Chetwynd and Pike in the Quabbin region to document properties slated for removal.

See similar SCUA collections:

Background on Burt V. Brooks


An image of: Checking for mail, Greenwich

Checking for mail, Greenwich

Burt Vernon Brooks left a remarkable visual record of daily life in the Swift River Valley, Massachusetts, in the years before it was inundated to create the Quabbin Reservoir. Born in Brimfield on May 22, 1849, the son of Benjamin (1813-1888) and Charlotte Emerson Brooks (1813-1895), Burt was raised in a home perched on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. His father, a farm laborer and later farmer, never acquired significant taxable property, even by the standards of his poor neighbors, and the family's fortunes improved little after they relocated from Monson, where they had been living, to the Swift River Valley town of Greenwich in the spring of 1879, according to Quabbin historian J.R. Greene.

Whether in spite of poverty, or because of it, family was a center of Brooks' life and he never strayed far from his parents or four siblings, living with his parents until he was well into his forties and only separating from them when his mother died. Both of Brooks's brothers died young. Abner Shaw Brooks (1841-1863) was only 22 when he was killed in action during the Civil War as a member of the 25th Connecticut Infantry, falling in the Battle of Irish Bend. A younger brother, Orson Francis Brooks, died even younger at the age of six on Aug. 12, 1857.

Brooks' sisters were more fortunate. Anna Mariah (1837-1904), the eldest of the siblings, married a shoemaker, T. Walter Deming (1832-1885) in 1852, and had the distinction of moving the furthest afield, barely, settling in the neighboring town of Palmer. The younger sister, Martha Jane (1838-1912), married twice: first to Miner King, with whom she had two children, and then, in 1876, to a carpenter and English immigrant, William H. Fewell. Through both marriages, at least until her parents' deaths, Martha remained at home. She, her husband, and sons William (who died young) and Edgar, lived with or next door to Burt for over thirty years, even though Greene notes that according to oral tradition, Burt and Edgar despised one another. Even in death, the family remained close. Most of the family's graves were removed together from Greenwich when the Swift River Valley was flooded and they were reinterred in Walter Deming's family lot in Monson's Moulton Hill Cemetery. Abner and Orson share a single stone, as do Anna and Walter, whose stone is inscribed with the Spiritualist motto "passed to spirit life."

Burt Brooks married twice, relatively late in life, with both marriages to much younger women. At the age of 34, he married Gertrude F. Childs (1868-1907), a dressmaker from Dana who was nearly twenty years his junior, and in September 1913, he married Ina Amelia Gamwell (1883-1983), who was nearly 35 years younger. Neither marriage resulted in children. Beyond these simple facts of family, however, many details of Brooks' life remain unclear. Although listed as a farm laborer in the 1880 census, he and his family found income where they could, including taking in boarders to their crowded house. In 1880, they boarded Rispah Chamberlain Powers (1803-1883), an elderly widow who was deemed "demented" (and who had formerly been an inmate at the state asylum in Worcester), and in 1900, he supported an 11 year old boarder who Greene argues may have been a "state orphan." In 1920, he and Ina boarded girls, also apparently orphans or abandoned children, one of whom was later recorded residing at the Lancaster State Industrial School. Greene adds that Brooks oversaw the town poor farm in Dana in 1891-92.

Flexibility in making ends meet was a necessary part of a poor person's life, of course, but Brooks stood out for pursuing an unusual occupation not typically associated with life in a small rural town: art. Precisely when he took an interest in the subject or whether, how, or with whom he trained remains unknown, but by the age of forty, Brooks was making money from his talents, and by 1900, he regularly listed himself as a painter -- or sometimes a landscape painter. His first artistic job probably predated 1887, when the Greenwich Selectmen paid him $35 to produce a map of town, and there are suggestions that Brooks may have taken up photography by the same time. Twenty years later, he was thanked in the town's annual report for presenting "pictures" of the town's schoolhouses, church, and two villages to the local library, and at least some of his surviving photographs can confidently be dated to prior to the turn of the century. He supplemented his income after the turn of the century by selling photographic postcards of Swift River Valley scenery.

As both painter and photographer, Brooks was known for his depictions of the landscape and buildings of Greenwich, but his work covered a broader range, including studio portraits, images of families, farm and domestic animals, work places, and carefully posed "genre" scenes. In his history Quabbin: The Lost Valley, Donald Howe recalled that Brooks cut a striking figure in town, with his high starched collar, bowler hat, and full beard, and that he was "hardly ever seen without his camera strapped to his back." The eccentric artist, Howe records, painted his own coffin during the "violent" flu epidemic of 1918-1919, adorning it with scenes from life in Greenwich.

Brooks was active as an artist well into his 70s, but by the time of the census of 1930, the then-80 year old man was recorded as living alone in a rooming house in Springfield, his wife Ina having moved to Los Angeles. In that census, Burt listed himself as married, while Ina, living with a lodger named John Finch, indicated she was divorced. Whatever the circumstances, Burt reportedly followed Ina to Los Angeles in the following year, toting his painted coffin with him, and he died there on April 24, 1934. Despite his wishes to be buried in his coffin, he was cremated, and the ashes were returned to Greenwich. He shares a stone with his first wife, though his own death date was never inscribed. Ina eventually married a chauffeur, Frederick Weston Finch, and lived in northern California until her death in 1983 at the age of 99.

Scope of collection

The photographs in the Brooks collection represent a significant assemblage of works by one of the most important chroniclers of the Swift River Valley. The heart of the collection consists of 75 glass plate negatives, all but one of which is 5x7", representing the full range of Brooks' work between ca.1899 and 1920, from scenic views of Greenwich Plain and Mount Pomeroy to images of the Hillside School and its students, houses and families in Greenwich, portraits of Brooks' relatives, and careful genre images depicting children at play and people at work. Added to the collection are six negatives on flexible stock: one of these (depicting an old fire engine in Enfield, Mass.) may be by Brooks, however the rest were taken by Chetwynd or Pike to document buildings in the Quabbin towns that were slated for removal. Eight other 5x7" glass plate negatives, all apparently by Brooks, are included in digital form only: the original glass plates are held by the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem.

Although none of Brooks' images is clearly dated, a few contain internal clues that set temporal boundaries: an image of a man in Enfield reading a broadside can be affirmatively dated to 1889 based on a calendar in the background; the image of the infant Elizabeth Adaline Edwards must have been taken shortly after her birth in 1899; and the photograph of Clarence and Marion Hall was taken at their wedding on Sept. 6, 1920. We have assigned an approximate date of 1910 for all images in which internal clues are lacking, although the range of dates is surely wider.

For the purposes of the finding aid, we have arranged the photographs in three broad groupings -- images by Brooks, images by other photographers documenting the Swift River Valley prior to its removal, and images owned by the Swift River Valley Historical Society. The Brooks photographs are in turn organized somewhat arbitrarily by category:

  • Enfield
  • Landscape and scenery in Greenwich
  • Homes and their residents, Greenwich
  • Daily life in Greenwich
  • Hillside School (founded in Greenwich in 1902 and later relocated to Marlborough)
  • Portraits from Greenwich

In most cases, we have retained the numbering system used by the donors of the images, assigning numbers at the end of the sequence for which they had not accounted or for images where they had assigned duplicate numbers. The collection includes two images for which there are second, slightly variant negatives: nos. 19and 19b and 62 and 62b.

Inventory

Enfield (Mass.)
ca.1889-1925
2 images
Brooks, Burt V.?: Man reading a broadside (Enfield, Mass.)
ca.1889 Aug.
10 x 12.5 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 77)

Man seated in the general store, Enfield, reading a broadside for a New York and New England Railroad excursion to Boston and Nantasket Beach. Photo may not be by Brooks.

Man reading a broadside (Enfield, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Demonstration of old steamer fire pump (Enfield, Mass.)
ca.1925
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative
Box 3

(no. 83)

Small crowd gathered around a demonstration of the antique steamer fire engine.

Demonstration of old steamer fire pump (Enfield, Mass.)
Greenwich (Mass.)
ca.1899-1920
154 images
Burt Brooks and family
ca.1899-1910
11 images
Brooks, Burt V.: Boy in falling snow (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 108)

Portrait of young boy standing outside in falling snow (retouched by Brooks) with rifle over shoulder. N.B.: scene taken near the front porch of the Brooks-Fewell house (see the corbel on porch support, Mount Pomeroy in distant background.

 Boy in falling snow (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Boy with crossbow, Brooks-Fewell home (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 17)

Young boy with homemade crossbow posed in front of the Brooks-Fewell house.

Boy with crossbow, Brooks-Fewell home (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Brooks-Fewell home, Mount Pomeroy in background (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 22)

Image of horse and buggy pulled up in front of Brooks-Fewell house.

Brooks-Fewell home, Mount Pomeroy in background (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Burt V. Brooks standing by line of trenches (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 7)

View of man holding shovel standing adjacent to a long series of trenches

Burt V. Brooks standing by line of trenches (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Flooding in front of Brooks-Fewell House (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 144)

View of flooded plain in front of Brooks-Fewell home.

Flooding in front of Brooks-Fewell House (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Lilla Childs (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 66)

Portrait of Burt Brooks' sister-in-law seated in front of a ivy-covered window.

Lilla Childs (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Olive Childs Edwards and infant daughter Elizabeth Adaline (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1899
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 64)

Portrait of Olive Edwards, wife of Charles (also sister of Gertrude Childs, wife of Burt Brooks), with smiling infant. Elizabeth was born Sept. 1898.

Olive Childs Edwards and infant daughter Elizabeth Adaline (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Pond behind Brooks-Fewell home (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 18)

Young woman and children wading in pond, Brooks-Fewell house in background.

Pond behind the Brooks-Fewell home (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Tree damage in front of Brooks-Fewell House (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 6

(no. 143)

View of fallen trees in front of Brooks-Fewell home.

Tree damage in front of Brooks-Fewell House (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Winter scene with frozen-over pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 79)

View of snow and frozen-over pond. Possibly Burt Brooks' house (see similar fence in painting of Brooks house in Howe, Quabbin: the Lost Valley, p.330.

Snow scene with frozen-over pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Winter scene of fence and pond adjacent to the Brooks-Fewell house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 115)

View of fence, snow, and frozen pond adjacent to the Brooks-Fewell house. See also Brooks no. 079.

Winter scene of fence and pond adjacent to the Brooks-Fewell house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Daily life in Greenwich
ca.1910-1920
16 images
Brooks, Burt V.: At the mailbox (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 58)

Woman in fashionable hat, standing beside mailbox; the letters in the mailbox are addressed to Miss Pansy Allen in Palmer, [Mass.].

At the mailbox (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Boating on a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 26)

Image of a man rowing two women across a pond.

Boating on a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Boy pulling girl in a toy wagon (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 51)

Young boy in straw hat pulling a girl seated in a toy wagon.

Boy pulling girl in a toy wagon (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Boys swimming in a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 25)

Group of ten boys in bathing suits gathered in pond with two women (teachers?) and a man overseeing them.

Boys swimming in a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Checking the mail (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 49)

Portrait of woman standing beside rural mailbox.

Checking the mail (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Children playing hide and seek (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 53)

Posed scene of seven children playing around a wooden shed.

Children playing hide and seek (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Children running down a lane (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 52)

Two boys and three girls running down a dirt road.

Children running down a lane (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Clarence and Marion Hall wedding (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1920-09-06
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 16)

Bride and groom posed with maid of honor and best man.

Clarence and Marion Hall wedding (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Cornfield, Mount Pomeroy Lane east (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 21)

Man and woman standing in cornfield with tall stalks.

Cornfield, Mount Pomeroy Lane east (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Couples in a field of boulders (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 27)

Three unidentified couples seated arm-in-arm, barn in background.

Couples in a field of boulders (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hammock in a stand of birches (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 28)

Image of a hammock strung up in a stand of birch trees, with banjo and woman's hat nearby

Hammock in a stand of birches (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Ice sailing on Curtis Pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 100)

Two young men, one on ice skates, with homemade ice boat with sail made from burlap fertilizer sacks. See also Brooks image no. 20.

Ice sailing on Curtis Pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Ice sailing on Curtis Pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 20)

Two boys on frozen pond with homemade ice sailing craft.

Ice sailing on Curtis Pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Man with rifle and toy elephant (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 3

(no. 98)

Gag photo of unidentified man in hunting attire, gun over shoulder, holding toy elephant by the tail.

Man with rifle and toy elephant (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Rowboat on a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 24)

Two men and two women boating across a pond .

Rowboat on a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Woman fishing in a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 56)

Unidentified woman fishing by the side of a pond.

Woman fishing in a pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Hillside School
ca.1910
17 images
Brooks, Burt V.: Barn and fields (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 140)

View of split rail fence and fields, barn in foreground; possibly Hillside School.

Barn and fields (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Boys working in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 57)

Group of ten boys (possibly Hillside School?) and supervisors in a field, planting potatoes.

Boys working in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School barn and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 1)

First of three views of the barn and grounds of the Hillside School, founded by Charlotte Drinkwater and Mary Drinkwater Warren on their farm in Greenwich, Massachusetts, as a self-sustaining school for poor and homeless boys.

Hillside School barn and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School barn and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 2)

Second of three views of the barn and grounds of the Hillside School, founded by Charlotte Drinkwater and Mary Drinkwater Warren on their farm in Greenwich, Massachusetts, as a self-sustaining school for poor and homeless boys.

Hillside School barn and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School barn and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 3)

Third of three views of the barn and grounds of the Hillside School, founded by Charlotte Drinkwater and Mary Drinkwater Warren on their farm in Greenwich, Massachusetts, as a self-sustaining school for poor and homeless boys.

Hillside School barn and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School building (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 112)

Unidentified building at Hillside School. See image of students on front steps of this building at muph060-b003-i090 and muph060-b004-i124.

Hillside School building (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School building (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 124)

View of building at Hillside School. See image of students on front steps f this building in Brooks no. 90 and no. 112.

Hillside School building (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School dormitory (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 30)

View from the side, with barn in background.

Hillside School dormitory (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School dormitory (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 31)

View from the front, looking onto front porch.

Hillside School dormitory (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School dormitory and barn, Mount Pomeroy to the east (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 29)

View of newly planted fields in front of Hillside campus.

Hillside School dormitory and barn, Mount Pomeroy to the east (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School students (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 90)

Group of Hillside School boys posed on steps of a building, main school building in background.

Hillside School students (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School students (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 93)

Group of Hillside School boys seated in front of twin silos adjoining school barn.

Hillside School students (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School: fields and barn (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 118)

View of property at Hillside School, major barn and twin silos on the left.

Hillside School: fields and barn (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Hillside School: main barn (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 120)

Cattle by the side of the large barn at Hillside School (twin silos at left).

Hillside School: main barn (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Plowing the fields at the Hillside School (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 78)

Man plowing fields at Hillside with two horse team.

Man plowing the fields at the Hillside School (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Plowing fields at Hillside School (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 126)

View of farm boy with two-horse team plowing fields at Hillside School. See different image of same boy and plow in Brooks no. 33.

Plowing fields at Hillside School (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Plowing the fields at the Hillside School (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 33)

A farmer with two-horse team, plowing a field.

Plowing the fields at the Hillside School (Greenwich, Mass.)
Homes and residents (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
32 images
Brooks, Burt V.: Automobile in front of a house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 32)

Automobile with two passengers pulled up in front of house; horse standing nearby.

Automobile in front of a house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Cape-style house and stone wall (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 125)

Unidentified Cape-style house with stone wall.

Cape-style house and stone wall (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Couple in front of home (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 41)

Man and young relaxing in front of house. Note: the same girl appears in images 11, 14, and 44, and the house is that depicted in image 10.

Couple in front of home (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Ed and Nellie Green house, Bruce's Crossing (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 14)

Young girl in gingham dress posed in front of house of Edward S. Green and his wife Nellie L. (Dufraine) Green; railroad crossing sign in foreground. Note: the same girl appears in images 11, 41, and 44.

Horse and buggy in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Family (?) seated by front door of a house (Greenwich, Mass.?)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 87)

Family group seated in front of door to house: older couple in center with nine grown children and three infants.

Family (?) seated by front door of a house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: George Loux Sr.'s house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 42)

View of fine house and fields, set among trees.

George Loux Sr.'s house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Henry Brown, Mount Pomeroy in background (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 15)

Family posed by side of house, Mount Pomeroy looming behind.

Henry Brown, Mount Pomeroy in background (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Horse and buggy in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 12)

Rider, horse and buggy pulled up in front of house -- probably the house of Ed and Nellie Green.

Horse and buggy in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Horse and buggy in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 13)

Rider, horse and buggy pulled up in front of house -- probably that of Ed and Nellie Green.

Horse and buggy in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: House among shade trees (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 127)

View of unidentified house behind large shade tree.

House among shade trees (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: House and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 128)

View of unidentified house and grounds buy railroad crossing, including edge of corn field. Same house is depicted in Brooks nos. 11-14, where it is identified as house of Edward S. Green and his wife Nellie L. (Dufraine) Green.

House and grounds (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: House beside lake (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 117)

View of large house beside lake (possibly Quabbin Lake). Boathouse or outbuilding by shore in foreground appears in disrepair.

House beside lake (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: House in town
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 142)

View of two women at front entrance to unidentified house in town.

House in town (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: House with gambrel roof (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 123)

View of unidentified house with gambrel roof and two dormers, and adjacent yard.

House with gambrel roof (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: House, workshop, and barn along street (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 129)

View of house and shop along street, with woman in front, horse and buckboard, and man pushing a reel mower.

House, workshop, and barn along street (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Interior of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 133)

Interior of unidentified, but elaborate house. Duplicate of image at Brooks no. 43.

Interior of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Interior of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 43)

Interior of elaborate, but unidentified house.

Interior of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Large tree and house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 131)

View of a large tree with nearly horizontal branches next to house with striped awnings; dog lying on grass in foreground.

Large tree and house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Mount Pomeroy Lane southwest(Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 10)

Small, well-tended Cape Cod house. Note: the house is the same as depicted in image 41.

Mount Pomeroy Lane southwest (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Ruins of unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 147)

Ruins of old house, roof collapsed, engulfed by woods. Possibly Greenwich.

Ruins of unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Two women in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 23)

Image of an elegant house with unidentified woman standing before front door and young girl perched on a fence nearby.

Two women in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Unidentified family and house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 39)

Family (parents and two children?) standing in front of Cape Cod-style house.

Unidentified family and house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 119)

View of older house with center chimney, woman and man standing in side yard. The house resembles "Dark Corners," which Brooks depicted in a painting (see Howe, Quabbin: the Lost Valley, p.330).

Unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 151)

Image of small house built into slope, fields behind.

Unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Unidentified house behind shade trees (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 150)

Image of front of house with ell and porch, chickens, terracing, and a hammock.

Unidentified house behind shade trees (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Unidentified saltbox house with gambrel roof and twin dormers (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 149)

Image of house being painted, ladders propped against the side.

Unidentified saltbox house with gambrel roof and twin dormers (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Winter scene of house in town (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 122)

View of unidentified house in town, under snow.

Winter scene of house in town (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Women and horse in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 19)

Group of five women posed in front of house with horse nearby.

Women and horse in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Women and horse in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 19b)

Alternate shot of group of five women posed in front of house with horse nearby.

Women and horse in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Women on a porch (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 65)

Four older women seated on a porch, one lying in a hammock

Women on a porch (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young boy and girl holding hands in front of unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 148)

Cape-style house with ells. Possibly Greenwich.

Young boy and girl holding hands in front of unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young girl in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 11)

Image of young girl in gingham dress stanidng in a field in front of a house -- probably that of Ed and Nellie Green. Note: the same girl appears in images 14, 41, and 44.

Young girl in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
Horses and buggies (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
6 images
Brooks, Burt V.: Driver with horse and buggy in front of Riverside Hotel (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 94)

Driver holding reigns to sport buggy, two people seated on steps in background. Probably taken at Riverside Hotel, Greenwich (see Howes, Quabbin, the Lost Valley, p. 318).

Driver with horse and buggy in front of Riverside Hotel (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Man and his dog in a wagon (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 37)

Unidentified man with walrus mustache, dog, seated in buckboard wagon. The wagon carries ten quart jugs to pick up cream from farmers.

Man and his dog in a wagon (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Man in a carriage, with horse, dressed for cold weather (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 35)

Man in carriage wearing a thick coat, parked in front of unidentified house.

Man in a carriage, with horse, dressed for cold weather (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Oscar A. King in his carriage, with horse Mae (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 34)

King, seated in a sporty carriage.

Oscar A. King in his carriage, with horse Mae (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Two women driving a buggy (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 165)

Two women seated in a buggy, reins in hand.

Two women driving a buggy (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Woman in a carriage, with horse, dressed for cold weather (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 36)

Woman in carriage, halted in a lane.

Woman in a carriage, with horse, dressed for cold weather (Greenwich, Mass.)
Landscape and scenery (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
20 images
Brooks, Burt V.: Barn and cattle, across the road from unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 130)

View of cattle grazing next to large wooden barn and across road from house, obscured by trees.

Barn and cattle, across the road from unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Birdseye view overlooking unidentified town
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 114)

View from opposite hill of sizable town with brick buildings.

Birdseye view overlooking unidentified town
Brooks, Burt V.: Cattle, Mount Pomeroy Lane (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 8)

Small herd of dairy cows in pasture, Mt. Pomeroy in background.

Cows, Mount Pomeroy Lane (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Cattle, Mount Pomeroy Lane (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 76)

Small herd of dairy cows in pasture, Mt. Pomeroy in background.

Cows, Mount Pomeroy Lane (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Cattle grazing on Greenwich Plain (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 9)

Small herd of cows in pasture

Greenwich Plain with grazing cows (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Cattle grazing in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 139)

View of cattle grazing on sloped field.

Cattle grazing in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Corn field with Mount Pomeroy in background (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 137)

Corn field at base of Mount Pomeroy.

Corn field with Mount Pomeroy in background (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Fire in the fields behind unidentified farm (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 97)

Shed, probably for animals, with fields behind burning.

Fire in the fields behind unidentified farm (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Greenwich Plain looking west, with Brooks homestead in center (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 6)

Panoramic view across the Swift River Valley.

Greenwich Plain looking west, with Brooks homestead in center (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Masonry structure by side of pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 134)

View of masonry structure adjacent to a pond. Same structure appears in Brooks no. 24.

Masonry structure by side of pond (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Middle Branch of Swift River, near the south end of Mount Pomeroy (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 4)

View of the Middle Branch of the Swift River as it passes by the base of Mt. Pomeroy.

Middle Branch of Swift River, near the south end of Mount Pomeroy (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Middle Branch of the Swift River (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 5

(no. 135)

View of Middle Branch of Swift River, Mount Pomeroy in background.

Middle Branch of the Swift River (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Panorama looking north from the area of Greenwich Lake (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 1

(no. 5)

Panoramic view of Swift River Valley.

Panorama looking north from the area of Greenwich Lake (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Planted fields (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 146)

Fields planted by unidentified home.

Planted fields (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Quabbin Lake (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 116)

View across Quabbin Lake (?).

Quabbin Lake (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Tree in rocky soil (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 3

(no. 95)

Image of roots and lower branches of a small tree, growing amongst large rocks.

Tree in rocky soil (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Tree with birdhouse (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 155)

Birdhouse(?) built onto branches of a large elm tree.

Tree with birdhouse (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Tree with fallen branches in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 157)

Image of elm tree (birdhouse? attached) showing possible storm damage.

Tree with fallen branches in front of house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Village street (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 40)

View down lane, with houses on either side.

Village street (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Man and woman on a rocky coast
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 96)

Man and woman standing on a spit of rocky land by sea coast, location unidentified.

Man and woman on a rocky coast
Brooks, Burt V.: Woman standing on rocks, overlooking sea
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 138)

Unidentified woman looking out to sea from rocky coast.

Woman standing on rocks, overlooking sea
Portraits (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1899-1910
42 images
Brooks, Burt V.: Barefoot girl standing in field (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 102)

Barefoot girl standing in field.

Barefoot girl standing in field (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Boys seated on a hillside (Greenwich, Mass.): alternate view
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 62b)

Unidentified group of boys

Boys seated on a hillside (Greenwich, Mass.) : alternate view
Brooks, Burt V.: Boys seated on a hillside (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 62)

Unidentified group of boys

Boys seated on a hillside (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Dog asleep on the ground in front of porch (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 5

(no. 136)

View of sleeping dog in front of unidentified porch.

Dog asleep on the ground in front of porch (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of elderly woman in chair (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 103)

Copy print made of full length studio portrait of elderly woman (possibly Charlotte Brooks?) seated in chair. Original image appears to have been a cabinet card.

Portrait of elderly woman in chair (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Emma and Margaret Billings (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1905
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 60)

Studio portrait of the Billings sisters.

Emma and Margaret Billings (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Emma Billings (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 6

(no. 158)

Half-length studio portrait of young Emma Billings.

Emma Billings (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Emma Billings (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1905
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 59)

Studio portrait of young Emma Billings.

Emma Billings (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Family group (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 63)

Unidentified group of two men, two women, and a dog, with four children (one posed in toy wagon) standing by a house.

Family group (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Family portrait (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 99)

Portrait of man, woman, and three children.

Family portrait (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Frederick E. B. Alden and wife (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 45)

Portrait of couple (tentatively identified as Fred and Elizabeth Alden) standing in front of a barn.

Frederick E. B. Alden and wife (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Group of women (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 106)

Portrait of unidentified group of women and children, standing beneath pines.

Group of women (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Group of young men and women, in front of unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.?)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 89)

Group portrait of ten men and four women, all unidentified.

Group of young men and women, in front of unidentified house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Group portrait of four people with cat and dog (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 156)

A young man, two older men, a spaniel, and woman holding a cat, all standing in front of white pines.

Group portrait of four people with cat and dog (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Group portrait of six men (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 109)

Portrait of elderly man and five younger men, all seated, in front of woods.

Group portrait of six men (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Infant girl standing in open doorway (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 101)

Girl and house unidentified.

Infant girl standing in open doorway (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Married couple and their adult daughters (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 70)

Unidentified group, but possibly a couple and five daughters(?).

Married couple and their adult daughters (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Mother and child (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 72)

Studio portrait of mother, holding a rattle, and her infant.

Mother and child (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of a boy among sunflowers (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 154)

Image of a young boy in straw hat, standing among sunflowers taller than he.

Portrait of a boy among sunflowers (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of a young boy with dog (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 6

(no. 164)

Full length portrait of boy, hands in pocket, standing on lawn with a large dog.

Portrait of a young boy with dog (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of a young girl in plaid dress (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 3

(no. 91)

Half-length portrait of young girl with lace collar and plaid dress. Girl also appears in Brooks images 11, 14, 41, and 44.

Portrait of a young girl in plaid dress (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of a young woman with flowers (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 6

(no. 153)

3/4 length studio portrait of young woman holding bouquet of flowers.

Portrait of a young woman with flowers (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of child and dog (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 152)

Image of young child strapped to a bench on a porch and seated next to a dog; mother standing behind a pillar at far left.

Portrait of child and dog (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of mother, children, and cat (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 6

(no. 161)

3/4 length studio portrait of a woman with a boy in boater and tie, and girl holding a cat.

Portrait of mother, children, and cat (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of six children (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 110)

Portrait of six children, presumably related, in front of plant-covered house.

Portrait of six children (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of three children in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 159)

Two boys wearing dresses, women's hats in hand, posed with an infant between.

Portrait of three children in a field (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of two girls (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 6

(no. 160)

Full length studio portrait of two girls. N.B.: the younger girl is wearing the same outfit as one of the boys in Brooks image no. 159.

Portrait of two girls (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Portrait of woman with long hair (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 6

(no. 162)

3/4 length portrait of a woman with exceptionally long hair.

Portrait of woman with long hair (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Three women on rustic bridge (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 163)

Three women standing on a bridge made of birch poles and logs: one woman is reading a book, another embroidering.

Three women on rustic bridge (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Tree house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 48)

Portrait of unidentified woman standing in a treehouse.

Tree house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Unidentified children (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 75)

Group of barefoot children posed in doorway to a barn (?), two older girls wearing capes.

Unidentified children (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Unidentified family (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 73)

Posed portrait of family, possibly representing three or four generations.

Unidentified family (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Woman carving birch tree (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 105)

Close-up portrait of unidentified woman using a pen knife to carve words into a small birch tree.

Woman carving birch tree (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Woman holding a book, standing by staircase (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 107)

Portrait of unidentified woman, wearing an ornate hat, standing in front of an interior staircase.

Woman holding a book, standing by staircase (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Woman, cat, and young boy seated under pine trees (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 4

(no. 104)

Unidentified woman seated on a swing, cat in arms, seated next to young boy on rocking chair beneath the pines.

Woman, cat, and young boy seated under pine trees (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young boy in good suit, standing in front of a barn (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 71)

Stiffly-posed boy in Sunday best.

Young boy in good suit (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young couple, dog, and elderly women seated on steps of a house (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 61)

Unidentified couple, with dog.

Young couple, dog, and elderly women seated on steps of a house (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young woman and child in a tree (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 46)

Portrait of two girls perched in a tree, possibly the daughters of Fred and Elizabeth Alden (Helen M. and Grace S.).

Young woman and child in a tree (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young woman in a tree (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 47)

Portrait of young girl perched in a tree, possibly the daughter of Fred and Elizabeth Alden (Helen M.).

Young woman in a tree (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young woman standing by tree (Greenwich, Mass.?)
ca.1910
18 x 12.5 cm.
Box 3

(no. 88)

Full length portrait of young woman, holding flower.

Young woman standing by tree (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young woman with a hat (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 44)

Portrait of girl in a gingham dress, seated on a log. Note: the same girl appears in images 11, 14, and 41.

Young woman with hat (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Young woman with flowered blouse (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 3

(no. 74)

Studio portrait of young woman in contemplative pose.

Young woman with flowered blouse (Greenwich, Mass.)
Work and industry (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
10 images
Brooks, Burt V.: Billings sisters with milk pails (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 55)

Winter scene of Emma and Margaret Billings with milk pails.

Girls with milk pails (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Buckboard laden with cut wood (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 6

(no. 145)

Buckboard loaded with fire wood in front of unidentified home.

Buckboard laden with cut wood (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Farm buildings (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 113)

Man standing in front of animal enclosures and barn at unidentified farm.

Farm buildings (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Farmer with milk cow (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 132)

Farmer with cow (Greenwich, Mass.)

Farmer with milk cow (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Ice harvesting (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 111)

View of ice harvesting from warming shack.

Ice harvesting (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Men in a wood-cutting camp (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 3

(no. 92)

Group of seven men in the woods in winter, standing in front of shanty. One man plays accordion, another holds a buck saw, and two operate a sharpening stone. See also Brooks image 141.

Men in a wood-cutting camp (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Man with horse team operating in wood lot (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 38)

Unidentified man standing in wagon, hauling wood.

Man with horse team operating in wood lot (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Outbuilding and farm equipment (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 4

(no. 121)

View of shed and farm equipment at unidentified farm.

Outbuilding and farm equipment (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Washing vegetables at a pump (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 17 cm. glass plate negative
Box 2

(no. 50)

Two women rinsing beets and other vegetables.

Washing vegetables at a (Greenwich, Mass.)
Brooks, Burt V.: Wood-cutting camp (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1910
12.5 x 18 cm.
Box 5

(no. 141)

Image of shanty at lumber camp. See also Brooks no. 92.

Wood-cutting camp (Greenwich, Mass.)
Quabbin removal
1928-1934
6 images
Chetwynd: Olean La Plante House (Dana, Mass.)
1928 June 1
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative
Box 3

(no. 80)

View of house taken for MDWC for survey of Quabbin properties (R-433 #689).

Olean La Plante House (Dana, Mass.)
Chetwynd: Mabelle W. Matthews House (Dana, Mass.)
1928 June 1
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative
Box 3

(no. 81)

View of rear of house and outbuildings taken for MDWC for survey of Quabbin properties (R-472 #690).

Mabelle W. Matthews House (Dana, Mass.)
Chetwynd: May Dumont Potter (Potter School: Enfield, Mass.)
1928 May 31
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative
Box 3

(no. 82)

View of school house (R-249 #675).

May Dumont Potter (Potter School: Enfield, Mass.)
Chetwynd: C. G. Russell house (Enfield, Mass.)
1928 Apr. 20
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative
Box 3

(no. 84)

View of barn with inclined entrance (R-268-31 #602).

C. G. Russell house (Enfield, Mass.)
Pike: William B. Bliss heirs house (New Salem, Mass.)
1934 Dec. 3
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative
Box 3

(no. 85)

View of house and grounds (R-509 #1887).

William B. Bliss heirs house (New Salem, Mass.)
Kiln on property of Kennedy (Prescott, Mass.)
1930 Jan. 30
12.5 x 18 cm. gelatin silver prints
Box 3

(no. 86)

View of kiln and out-buildings (R-470 #1206).

Kiln of property of Kennedy, (Prescott, Mass.)
Swift River Valley Historical Society images
ca.1920
8 items
Main Street (North Dana, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

View down Main Street, with laundry drying on a line and windmill in background.

Main Street (North Dana, Mass.)
Cemetery (Enfield, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

View of headstones in Enfield Cemetery.

Cemetery (Enfield, Mass.)
Grange Hall (Enfield, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

View of man and dog standing in front of Grange Hall.

Grange Hall (Enfield, Mass.)
Richardson House (Enfield, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

View of house from front.

Richardson House (Enfield, Mass.)
Smith's Village (Enfield, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

Bird's eye view of Smith's Village.

Smith's Village (Enfield, Mass.)
Smith's Village (Enfield, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

View of pond at Smith's Village.

Smith's Village (Enfield, Mass.)
Camp Quabbin (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

View down row of cabins and tents.

Camp Quabbin (Greenwich, Mass.)
Quabbin Lake (Greenwich, Mass.)
ca.1920
12.5 x 17 cm. gelatin silver negative

Original housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, New Salem, Mass.

View of a man and canoe beside Quabbin Lake.

Quabbin Lake (Greenwich, Mass.)

Administrative information

Access

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Gift of Friends of Quabbin through Gene Theroux, Paul Godfrey, and Les Campbell, June 2014.

Digitized content

All images in the collection have been scanned and are available online through our digital repository, Credo.

Bibliography

Greene, J. R., B.V. Brooks' Pre-Quabbin Photos and Postcards. Athol, Mass. : Highland Press, 2014.

Howe, Donald W., Quabbin: the Lost Valley. Ware Mass. : Quabbin Book House, 1951. Call no. F72.S94 H6 1951

Processing Information

Processed by I. Eliot Wentworth, July 2014.

Language:

English

Copyright and Use (More information )

Cite as: Burt V. Brooks Photograph Collection (PH 060). Special Collections and University Archives, UMass Amherst Libraries.

Search terms

Subjects

  • Agriculture--Massachusetts--Greenwich--Photographs
  • Carriages and carts--Massachusetts--Greenwich--Photographs
  • Children--Massachusetts--Greenwich--Photographs
  • Dana (Mass.)--Photographs
  • Dogs--Photographs
  • Dwellings--Massachusetts--Greenwich--Photographs
  • Enfield (Mass.)--Photographs
  • Greenwich (Mass.)--Photographs
  • Hillside School (Marlborough, Mass.)
  • Horses--Photographs
  • Kilns--Photographs
  • New Salem (Mass.)--Photographs
  • Plowing--Massachusetts--Greenwich--Photographs
  • Prescott (Mass.)--Photographs
  • Quabbin Reservoir Region (Mass.)--Photographs
  • Smith's Village (Enfield, Mass.)--Photographs
  • Swift River Valley (Mass.)--History

Contributors

  • Brooks, Burt V. [main entry]

Genres and formats

  • Dry plate gelatin negatives
  • Gelatin silver negatives
  • Photographs

Link to similar SCUA collections