'Body of work' documents Denver
Harry M. Rhoads, behind the steering wheel, poses in a convertible with passenger in front of Westminster University or College, at 3455 West 83rd Avenue in Westminster (Adams County), Colorado. Circa 1895. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail. com
"Body of work" is perhaps the best description for someone like Harry Mellon Rhoads' lifetime image collection where he is documenting what happened in Denver and nearby, during the early 20th Century and beyond.
"In Rhoads’ work we observe a true sense of what life in Denver looked and felt like in the early 1900s. The introduction of the automobile and airplane is a recurring theme in his work and is presented with a kind of miraculous viewpoint that must reflect of how these inventions were seen as they were introduced," says Beaty.
"For almost seventy years, Harry Mellon Rhoads was Denver's very own one-man "maestro paparazzi." Starting in 1900 as photojournalist for the Denver Republican, until his retirement from the Rocky Mountain News in 1969, at almost every important event, Harry's lens would be focused on the action. He captured images of U.S. Presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower, and legends like Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart," according to Randel Metz on January 7, 2015, for Denver Public Library History.
"Harry Mellon Rhoads (who called himself the "fat photographer") was born in Unionville, Berks County, Pennsylvania, on August 28, 1881. He attended East and West High Schools in Denver, and after graduation began his career as a newspaper photographer with the Denver Republican. Until his retirement from the Rocky Mountain News in 1969, Harry continued to work as a newspaper photographer. Harry was a family man. He married twice and was the proud father of two daughters -- Mary Elizabeth and Harriet. The Rhoads collection contains numerous family photographs," wrote Metz.
Spectators watch as former President Theodore Roosevelt rides in an open automobile, with Secret Service Agents, in a motorcade down 17th Street in Denver, Colorado. Circa 1910. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
Two boys fight with boxing gloves and a man with a pocket watch acts as referee, probably in Denver, Colorado. Between 1910 and 1920. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History
A large crowd watches a ski jumper at a ski resort in Colorado, possibly Steamboat Springs. Between 1930 and 1939. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
People watch men open cases of liquor from the Blue Valley Distillery Company during a Prohibition arrest in Colorado. The men use crowbars to open the wooden cases. Circa 1920. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
Charles A. Lindbergh inspects the engine of probably a Ryan B-1, manufactured by the B.F. Mahoney Aircraft Corporation, in Denver, Colorado. Between 1920 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
View of a burning cross on Ruby Hill, in Denver, Colorado; a man in Ku Klux Klan uniform and hood is to the side. Between 1920 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History
President Woodrow Wilson sits surrounded by a group of men at the Denver Press Club, Denver, Colorado. Between 1910 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
View of a bear in the crux of a tree, Colorado. Between 1910 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
View of a fire at McPhee and McGinty building and firemen in Denver, Colorado. May 23, 1935. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
"For almost seventy years, Harry Mellon Rhoads was Denver's very own one-man "maestro paparazzi." Starting in 1900 as photojournalist for the Denver Republican, until his retirement from the Rocky Mountain News in 1969, at almost every important event, Harry's lens would be focused on the action. He captured images of U.S. Presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower, and legends like Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart," according to Randel Metz on January 7, 2015, for Denver Public Library History.
"Harry Mellon Rhoads (who called himself the "fat photographer") was born in Unionville, Berks County, Pennsylvania, on August 28, 1881. He attended East and West High Schools in Denver, and after graduation began his career as a newspaper photographer with the Denver Republican. Until his retirement from the Rocky Mountain News in 1969, Harry continued to work as a newspaper photographer. Harry was a family man. He married twice and was the proud father of two daughters -- Mary Elizabeth and Harriet. The Rhoads collection contains numerous family photographs," wrote Metz.
Spectators watch as former President Theodore Roosevelt rides in an open automobile, with Secret Service Agents, in a motorcade down 17th Street in Denver, Colorado. Circa 1910. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
Two boys fight with boxing gloves and a man with a pocket watch acts as referee, probably in Denver, Colorado. Between 1910 and 1920. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History
A large crowd watches a ski jumper at a ski resort in Colorado, possibly Steamboat Springs. Between 1930 and 1939. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
People watch men open cases of liquor from the Blue Valley Distillery Company during a Prohibition arrest in Colorado. The men use crowbars to open the wooden cases. Circa 1920. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
Charles A. Lindbergh inspects the engine of probably a Ryan B-1, manufactured by the B.F. Mahoney Aircraft Corporation, in Denver, Colorado. Between 1920 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
View of a burning cross on Ruby Hill, in Denver, Colorado; a man in Ku Klux Klan uniform and hood is to the side. Between 1920 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History
Collection
President Woodrow Wilson sits surrounded by a group of men at the Denver Press Club, Denver, Colorado. Between 1910 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
View of a bear in the crux of a tree, Colorado. Between 1910 and 1930. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
View of a fire at McPhee and McGinty building and firemen in Denver, Colorado. May 23, 1935. (Harry Mellon Rhoads/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection
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