Hollingshead Photography in Woodland
As you look through the pages of Woodland Memories: The Early Years, you may notice that many of the photos were taken by Paul W. Hollingshead. Who was the man behind the camera?
A self-portrait of renowned Woodland photographer Paul W. Hollingshead in 1932. For this photo, Paul had two identical cameras and the squeeze bulb and rubber hose in his hand was connected to the second camera taking this photo.
Courtesy Bill and Edward Hollingshead; photo by Paul W. Hollingshead
Paul W. Hollingshead grew up in a farming family in Wyoming. He had dreams of being a photographer, but it would be many years before they came to fruition.
He enlisted in World War I, then worked as a blacksmith for several years before he was finally able to raise enough money to enroll in the New York Institute of Photography, where he began to hone his craft and met his mentor, Edward Steichen.
A view of the rear of the old Legion Hall taken from the yard of the Hollingshead Photography Studio at 414 First Street, Woodland, 1936. In the foreground is the 1928 Chevrolet that Paul and Vera Hollingshead drove from New York to California. Paul’s eldest son Edward is on the running board.
Courtesy Bill and Edward Hollingshead; Photo by Paul W. Hollingshead
Hollingshead, along with his new wife Vera, moved to Woodland in 1932, where he cornered the photography market as the only all-around portrait and commercial photographer in Yolo County. He raised a family in Woodland and operated the Hollingshead Studio there until 1969. In 2014 Hollingshead was inducted into the New York Institute of Photography Alumni Hall of Fame.
Hollingshead Photography Studio at 414 First Street in Woodland, 1939. Pictured are Paul W. Hollingshead, a visiting first cousin, Eddie Hollingshead (age ten), the visiting cousin’s husband, and Billy Hollingshead (age two). The Hollingsheads moved to Woodland in 1932. The studio was at this location from 1936 to 1969.
Courtesy Bill and Edward Hollingshead; photo by Paul W. Hollingshead
Get a glimpse at Woodland history and see more beautiful, historic photos in The Daily Democrat's new book, Woodland Memories: The Early Years.
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