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Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia© 2006 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.
Processed by: Rebecca Dobyns
Collection is open to research.
Permission to publish material from the Pete Calos Photograph Collection must be obtained from Prints and Photographs Department, Special Collections Branch, Library of Virginia.
The Pete Calos Photograph Collection, Prints and Photographs Department, Special Collections Branch, Library of Virginia
A gift of Pete Calos to Special Collections, Library of Virginia in 1998, 2006.
Pete Calos is a retired engineer from thirty-two years with Allied Chemical Corporation. Calos cultivated his passion for photography from an early age. He established the first photographic darkroom at George Wythe High School in Danville, and went on to document sports events for the Danville News . He attended V.P.I. Extension program for college prep, and graduated from Virginia Tech in Industrial Engineering in 1954. Later that year he entered the U.S. Army, serving three years, primarily in France.
Being familiar with travelogues from attending presentations at the Sheperd Center in Richmond, after retirement Calos began to write and illustrate his own presentations. Combining his interests in travel and photography Calos has created over sixty presentations on subjects found within Virginia, and several more on his tours of Europe, Russia, China, and the Mediterranean.
The Pete Calos Photograph Collection is comprised of film duplicates of his original 35mm Ecktachrome color slides, and digital scans of original prints stored on compact discs. The images document architectural, environmental, commercial, and popular culture subjects in Virginia between 1977 and 2005. Images were selected, researched, and recorded by amateur photographer, Pete Calos for the purpose of illustrating over sixty slide lecture presentations. The collection holds significant interest for local and architectural historians. These images capture a moment in time, and in many cases represent the only visual document of historical buildings, streets and structures that have significantly changed or are no longer in existence. The collection is organized according to his original order in nine series which derive from his presentations: Bridges, Churches of Petersburg, Colonial Churches, Diners, Historic Churches, Lighthouses, Route One, Small Town U.S.A., W.P.A. Murals and the CD-Rom format series of mixed subjects.
I. Bridges series consists of images of closed, abandoned, deteriorating, and operating bridges located in Virginia. The topic was inspired by an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch , February 2001. The article stated that twenty-eight percent of Virginia's bridges were deficient, and more were destined for destruction. The article inspired Calos to capture twenty bridges slated for demolition in two days. Since that time, many have been torn down. Included in his lectures were his superlative bridge choices; the highest, lowest, longest, shortest, oldest, and newest bridges at the time. Some images date from the mid to late seventies, with the majority taken between Spring and Fall, 2001.
II. Colonial Churches series includes photographs of historically significant churches taken during 2005 in various locations across the state; Hanover Co., Fairfax Co., Hampton, James City Co., King William Co., Lancaster Co., Norfolk, Smithfield Co., Suffolk, Westmoreland Co., and Richmond Co.
III. Churches of Petersburg series documents the various denominations located in the downtown Petersburg area. Calos recorded views of the exterior, and significant interior architectural details during 2005.
IV. Richmond Historic Churches series covers significant churches, predominately in the downtown Richmond area taken (unless specifically noted) during 2002. Calos documented the exterior, and when access was allowed recorded the sanctuary, altar, and noteworthy architectural details.
V. Virginia Diners series include many establishments which have been in operation for fifty or more years. This theme was inspired by The Coney Island Lunch , a cafe diner begun by his father in 1919 in Danville, Virginia. Calos and other family members worked in the cafe which continued as a family business until December 31, 1971 when it became a victim of urban renewal after 52 years of service. This series documents many family run eateries, past and present in existence across the state during the period of 1996 to 2005. Calos has carefully recorded the characteristic architecture, the interior decor, restaurant fixtures, menus, advertisements, cuisine, as well as some portraits of original owners and staff.
VI. Lighthouses records active and historic Virginia lighthouses photographed by Calos from 1995 through 2003.
VII. The Route One series records the visual flavor of bygone hotels, businesses, homes, as well as current attractions along the Virginia section of this eastern seaboard roadway. Also known as U.S. Rt. 1 or Jefferson Davis Highway, the roadway opened in 1926. From 1997 to 2001 Calos recorded select locations of the Virginia portion, from Arlington in the North to Woodbridge in the South.
VIII. The Small Town U.S.A. series records the characteristic appearance of streets, businesses, and buildings that many small towns in Virginia share. The visual appeal of these images in Black and White was originally due to an error in the color film processing. But Calos accepted the gaffe as art by accident , and found the result as a fitting representation for the vintage nature of the subject.
IX. W.P.A. Murals document murals commissioned for Virginia Post Offices by the New Deal, Works Progress Administration's, Section of Fine Arts during 1934-1943. Popularly called "The Section ", it was headed by Edward Bruce, and administered by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. The program operated as incentive to put artisans to work during the Depression years by awarding commissions for murals in public buildings. Calos concentrated on recording existing murals in Post Offices throughout Virginia from 1997 to 2001.
X. The Calos Compact Disc Collection includes subjects captured from 1996 to 2001 during the photographer's travel through counties across Virginia. Subjects are mixed and include; abandoned homes, log cabins, Post Offices, schools, diners, stores, restaurants, bridges, views, hotels, taverns, theatres, barns, churches, cemeteries, courthouses, libraries, laundries, fire stations, railroad stations, service stations, drug stores, barber shops, and banks.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Series I: Bridges Series II: Colonial Churches Series III: Churches of Petersburg Series IV: Richmond Historic Churches Series V: Virginia Diners Series VI: Lighthouses Series VII: Route One Series VIII: Small Town U.S.A. Series IX: W.P.A. Murals Series X: Compact Disc CollectionThe Bridge series was inspired by an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch , February 2001. The article revealed that twenty-eight percent of Virginia's bridges were deficient, and more were destined for destruction, statistics that inspired Calos to act. In documenting as many bridges as he could find, he made sure to record the superlatives; the highest, lowest, longest, shortest, oldest and newest bridges in the state at that time. The 140 color slides date from the mid to late seventies, with the majority taken between Spring and Fall of 2001.
Maintained in original order :
The photographs of Colonial Churches were taken in 2005 to document the historically significant churches of that period in various locations across the state; Hanover Co., Fairfax Co., Hampton, James City Co., King William Co., Lancaster Co., Norfolk, Smithfield Co., Suffolk, Westmoreland Co., and Richmond Co.
Maintained in original order :
Theses photographs document buildings in the downtown Petersburg area, presently owned by a variety of religious groups and denominations. Calos images capture the skyline of downtown, and record significant architectural details of both the churches' interior and exterior during his visits to Petersburg from December of 2003 to March 2004.
Maintained in original order :
Richmond Historic Churches documents significant churches, predominately in the downtown Richmond area taken (unless specifically noted) during 2002. Calos documents the exterior, and when access was allowed - recorded the sanctuary, altar, and noteworthy architectural details.
Maintained in original order :
Virginia Diners document casual eating establishments which are specifically named or bear the characteristics of diners. Some of those shared characteristics are: being open twenty-four hours or late in the evening, offering a constant breakfast menu, or being a factory built restaurant structure transported to a site either complete or in sections with a counter. Most of the diners recorded by Calos have been in business for fifty or more years. Taken during the period of 1996 to 2005, they exhibit these traits by degrees, some reflecting the pure form and others in name only.
The theme for Virginia Diners was inspired by The Coney Island Lunch , a cafe diner begun by his father in 1919 in Danville, Virginia. The cafe continued as a family business until December 31, 1971. The cafe became a victim of urban renewal after 52 years of service.
This series records family run eateries across the state during the period of 1996 to 2005. Calos has carefully recorded the characteristic architecture, the interior decor, restaurant fixtures, menus, advertisements, cuisine, as well as portraits of original owners and staff.
Maintained in original order :
Virginia Lighthouses document active and historically significant Virginia Lighthouses during the period of 1995 through 2003.
Arrangement: Maintained in original order.
L
IGHTHOUSES REPRESENTED IN THIS COLLECTION: Name - Location- Date of First Light Assateague Light - Accomack County - (1867) Cape Henry Light - Virginia Beach - (1792 AND 1881) Chesapeake Light - East Northeast of Cape Henry - (1965) Jones Point Light - Alexandria - (1856) Jordan Point Light - South approach of Benjamin Harrison Bridge, East of Hopewell - (1895) New Point Comfort Light - Mathews County - (1806) Newport News Middle Ground (Shoal) Light - Newport News - (1891) Old Point Comfort Light - Hampton - (1802) Rappahanock Shoal Channel, S. Range Rear - Cheasapeake Bay off Silver Beach, S.W. of Jamesville - (1991) Smith Point Light - Northumberland County, Entrance to Potomac River - (1897) Thimble Shoal Light - Hampton Roads - (1914) Wolf Trap Light - A shoal in the Chesapeake Bay S. of the mouth of the Rappahannock -(1894)The Route One series records hotels, businesses, homes, and attractions along the Virginia section of this eastern seaboard roadway. Also known as U.S. Rt. 1 or Jefferson Davis Highway, the roadway opened in 1926. From 1997 to 2001 Calos recorded select locations of the Virginia portion, from Arlington in the North to Woodbridge in the South.
Maintained in original order :
Small Town, U.S.A. records the characteristic appearance that many small towns in the South share. Calos documents stores, businesses, restaurants, and roadsides along the outskirts of town to the quaint Main Streets downtown. The "vintage" look to these images was due to an processing error in the color film. The resulting change from color to tinted black and white was accidental, but it appealed to Calos' and he accepted the gaffe as art by accident , due to the vintage quality it bestows on the subjects.
Maintained in original order :
The W. P.A. Mural series documents original art work commissioned by the Works Progress Administration's, Section of Fine Arts for public buildings during 1934-1943. Popularly called "The Section ", the operation was headed by Edward Bruce, and administered by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. The program operated as incentive to put artisans to work during the Depression years by awarding commissions for installation of murals in public buildings. Calos concentrated on recording murals still accessible in Post Offices throughout Virginia from 1997 to 2001. It should be noted that several have been removed to new locations since the time of photography.
Arrangement: Maintained in original order.
W
.P.A. MURAL ARTISTS REPRESENTED IN THIS COLLECTION: Artist - Life Dates - Location of Mural Edmund Archer (1904-1986) - Hopewell Auriel Bessemer (1909-1986) - Arlington Sarah Blakeslee - Strasburg Florence Bessom (b.1905) - Staunton Paul Cadmus (1994-1999) - Richmond Parcel Post Building William H. Calfee (1909-1955) - Harrisonburg, Petersburg, Phoebus, and Tazewell Walter Carnelli (1905-1959) - Bassett William Abbott Cheever - Smithfield Alexander B. Clayton (b.1906) - Radford (mural covered) John E. Costigan (1888-1972) - Stuart Carson Davenport (1908-1972) - Chatham John W. de Groot - christiansburg Mary B. Fowler - Newport News, Virginia Beach Customs House Jared French (1905-1987) - Richmond Parcel Post Building Arnold Friedman (1874-1946) - Orange County Roy Hilton (1891-1963) - Rockymount Sheffield Kagy (1907-1989) - Luray Richard Kenah (1907-1982) - Bluefield Edwin S. Lewis - Berryville and Petersburg Herman Maril (1908-1986) - Alta Vista Daniel Olney (b. 1909) - Marion John H.R. Pickett - Virginia Beach Andree Ruellan (b.1905) - Emporia Lenore Thomas (1909-1988) - CovingtonThe Calos Compact Disc Collection includes mixed subjects photographed by Calos from 1996 to 2001 in counties across Virginia. Subjects include; abandoned homes, log cabins, Post Offices, schools, diners, stores, restaurants, bridges, views, hotels, taverns, theatres, barns, churches, cemeteries, courthouses, libraries, laundries, fire stations, railroad stations, service stations, drug stores, barber shops, and banks.
Calos' original 35mm color transparencies were scanned at 300 dpi. A print index is available and the collection may be viewed in the Prints and Photographs Department, in Special Collections Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.