In early 2000, the Tulare County Historical Society funded a grant project to provide the Annie R. Mitchell History Room with approximately 150 photographic images taken of various nearby locales.
These photographs were made by George David Smith (1871-1935) on glass negatives. Smith was born in Pottawatamie County, but grew up in Visalia. He attended local schools including the Visalia Normal School and also was a graduate of Heald's Business College in San Francisco. After graduation he came back to Visalia and worked in the offices of the County Clerk, County Assessor, and County Surveyor for a total of 24 years. He was a licensed surveyor like his father and uncle.
He did field work but he specialized in map work. He made a hobby of photography. The only pictures he ever took commercially were those of the 1906 flood. He took 33 photos of flood scenes and so many asked for them that he offered them for sale. George Smith was also a talented musician and member of the Visalia Band. For many years he served as business manager of the organization.
The pictures below are sample images from the collection. Click on the image to view a larger reproduction. (KB sizees are for bigger images.)
1.Beautiful example of a Visalia country home, circa 1904 (46 KB)
2. Len Cutler at Mineral King, 1910 (54 KB)
3. Mary Pohot (?) & Lida Peyron (?) (49 KB)
4. 1906 Flood in Visala (44 KB)
5. 1906 Parade at California Hot Springs (62 KB)
6. Ralph Hopping Visiting the General Sherman Tree, 1905 (58 KB)
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