Waterfront Group Photo circa 1927 ![]() George Bergstrom using his tripod box camera to take a group photo of every Scout in camp at one of the 1927 sessions. |
on South Hill were constructed by the Scouts. It was the new Headquarters and Dispensary building that may have provided space for a makeshift photo darkroom and related equipment allowing for film developing and printing right at camp.
When camp opened in 1929, it was bigger and better than ever.
An above-ground water pipeline had been completed after the
1928 camp season, bringing a fresh water supply to Camp Emerald Bay for the first time. And thanks to George Bergstrom, co-camp director, photography took on greater importance. Bergstrom worked as a Scouting professional for Crescent Bay Council during the late 1920's and 1930's serving alongside F.R. "Uncle Bob" Hill as Camp Director of Emerald Bay during the same years. He was also a semi professional photographer who had made several Camp Emerald Bay promotional films, taught photography merit badge and served as the camp photographer. By 1930, he came up with an idea to create a postcard processing "factory" right in camp, thereby allowing the campers to send pictures of themselves, their tent mates, staff and camp scenes; home within a few days of arrival at their 10-day camp session. |
|
1929 Waterfront Staff |
1929 Junior Staff |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
The waterfront staff was made up of Senior & Junior staff. NOTE: 1st Lifeguard Tower in background on right. Back Row L-R: unknown • George Pardee • unknown • Alan Jackson • Ercell Hart • Mart Bushnell • Bob Ruby • Alan Snyder • Ken Wise • unknown • John Inghram Kneeling L-R: Ray Atherton • Paul Dean • Jack Blanchard • Bob Etts • Ed Butterworth • Bob Anglemeyer Seated L-R: Dick Faucett • unknown |
Junior Staff each led 7 or 8 Scouts assigned to a tent. Through the 1920's-30's, Scouts usually arrived at camp solo and not as troops. Once in camp, tent groupings became a provisional patrol. Back Row L-R: Chuck Morse • Bob Anglemeyer • Ray Atherton • George Pardee • Alan Jackson Front Row L-R: Ed Butterworth • Paul Dean • Bob Ruby • Dick Faucett • Bob DeVilbis |
Authentication of Real Photo Post Cards (RPPC)
A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a continuous-tone photographic image printed on postcard stock. The term recognizes a distinction between the real photo process and the lithographic or offset printing processes employed in the manufacture of most postcard images since the 1950's.
Beginning in 1902 Kodak offered a pre-printed card back that allowed postcards to be made directly from photo negatives. These card backs, soon copied by other photo paper suppliers, had special distinguishing marks and letters in the "place stamp here" block on the reverse. These unique markings signified the particular manufacturer of the photographic card stock paper in the original RPPC. This practice, used throughout the twentieth century, has left historians and collectors with a way of authenticating RPPC's that might otherwise be easily reproduced by today's widely available copying techniques. Each of the cards pictured here can be authenticated by its stamp block on the back. |
1930 Postcard 1 Tent-Mate Patrol |
1930 Postcard 2 Tent-Mate Patrol |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Staff man Bob Anglemeyer on left with unidentified patrol. |
Unidentified patrol and staff man at right. |
1930 Postcard 3 Tent-Mate Patrol |
1930 Postcard 4 Tent-Mate Patrol |
|||
![]() |
|
|
|
![]() |
Staff man Ray Atherton kneeling, leads a patrol of Scouts grouped together in the same tent. Campers names are unknown. |
Staff man Bob Ruby kneeling, leads a patrol of Scouts grouped together in the same tent. Campers names are unknown. |
1930 Postcard 5 Tent-Mate Patrol |
1930 Postcard 6 "Endymion" |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Staff man Paul Dean kneeling on left, leads a patrol of older scouts grouped together in the same tent. Campers names are unknown. |
Although un-numbered, this postcard is attributed to be number 6 in the set. Image is of the "Endymion" yacht belonging to aircraft manufacturer Donald Douglas Sr., and frequently moored in Emerald Bay during the summers. Indian Rock can be seen on the right. |
1930 Postcard 7 Waterfront |
1930 Postcard 8 Tent-Mate Patrol |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Waterfront taken from northern edge of beach. L-R: Two staff lifeguards on floating platform; helmet dive platform with small lifeguard tower; two row boats, also with staff lifeguards; pier extension, and large lifeguard tower at end of pier on right. |
Staff man Ed Butterworth on left with unidentified patrol of older Scouts. |
1930 Postcard 9 Tent-Mate Patrol |
1930 Postcard 10 Swimming off the Dock Extension |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Unidentified patrol and staff man Ray Atherton (seated). |
Swimming requirements were held off the north (left side) of the dock extension. This image was likely taken from atop the lifeguard tower at the end of the pier. |
1930 Postcard 11 Tent-Mate Patrol |
1930 Postcard 12 Waterfront Swimming Area |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Staff man Alan Jackson on right, leads a patrol of scouts grouped together in the same tent. Campers names are unknown. |
Waterfront and swimming area. Dock extension from pier built in 1928 seen on right. Small lifeguard tower in center is built on a floating platform also used for the helmet dive. |
1930 Young Scouts in Camp Group 1 Camp Session Unknown |
1930 Young Scouts in Camp Group 2 Camp Session Unknown |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Staff man Ray Atherton, leads a patrol of very young Scouts grouped together in the same tent. Camp session and campers names are unknown. |
Staff man George Pardee on right, and an unidentified staff man on left, lead a patrol of younger unidentified Scouts. (NOTE: this is the only tent-mate image currently known NOT photographed in front of a camper tent). |
1930 Mixed Provisional Patrol in Camp Camp Session Unknown |
1930 or 1931 Headquarters & Dispensary Health Lodge |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Staff man Chuck Morse (center back) leads a provisional patrol of tent-mates attending at one of the camp sessions. Camper names are unknown. |
The Headquarters & Dispensary built in 1928 was the 3rd permanent structure at Camp Emerald Bay and 1st built on South (staff) Hill behind the eucalyptus tree seen in upper right corner. Sign on flag post says: "Coast Road". |
1930 Garibaldi Damselfish |
|
|
![]() |
The Garibaldi Damselfish, or Garibaldi for short, is the state fish of California. It is bright orange, about 15" long and a frequent sight in the large kelp forests around Catalina Island. They are easily spotted in the kelp from above when rowing or canoeing in Emerald Bay. |
1930 Flying Fish version 1 |
1930 Flying Fish version 2 |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Camera angle is above and slightly forward of the fish. |
This version is shot from directly above. |