Maynard L. Parker negatives, photographs, and other material

Maynard L. Parker negatives, photographs, and other material consists of 58,093 black-and-white negatives, color transparencies, black-and-white prints, and color prints; 39 presentation albums (spiral bound and mounted books of photographs created for clients); and 17 boxes of office records, dated 1930-1974. Created primarily by Maynard Parker, the archive documents the residential and non-residential work of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, artists, builders, real estate developers, and clients associated with these fields, foremost among them the magazine House Beautiful. Also included in the collection are photographs taken by other individuals, such as architects Frank L. Anderson and Cliff May, and photographers André Kertész, Fred R. Dapprich, and Parker's assistant, Charles E. Yerkes.

Parker's documentation of the work of architects and interior designers is extensive, and provides a comprehensive overview of the projects of many nationally-recognized figures as well as many lesser known firms and individuals, especially those working in and around California, Arizona, and Texas. See Architect/Designer/Builder Index for a complete list of individuals and firms represented in the archive.

Parker's commissions for House Beautiful are well documented in the archive. Included is a comprehensive overview of the work of architects, landscape architects, and interior designers covered by, and promoted in, the magazine. Also included are examples of party and holiday decorations, decorative accessories, and housewares in domestic settings. Parker's non-residential work for the magazine documents home and garden exhibitions, hotels, and furniture in showrooms. Primary among these projects is the extensive documentation of the Arts of Daily Living Exhibition held at the 1954 Los Angeles County Fair. Parker also extensively documented House Beautiful's annual Pace Setter House series, residential work for a number of the magazine's editors and contributing staff, and residences across the country and in Mexico.

Parker's projects created outside the scope of his House Beautiful commissions document both residential and non-residential work created for specific clients. See Client Index for a complete list of names and project numbers. Many projects do not have readily identifiable clients. These include the homes of many entertainers, movie directors, businessmen, writers and journalists, as well as model homes and housing developments including La Veta Woods in Orange, CA; a Kaiser Community Homes development; Lakewood Plaza in Long Beach, CA; Marlow-Burns & Company developments; and Olivewood Housing Project in National City, CA; as well as commercial buildings (retail and office spaces), hotels, restaurants, military bases, furniture showrooms, wallpaper, and jewelry.

Geographically, Parker's photography covers much of the continental United States, Hawaii, and parts of Mexico and Canada. It is especially strong in depictions of residential and non-residential projects in California (specifically the greater Los Angeles area), Arizona (especially Phoenix and Tucson), and Texas, but also includes projects in at least 28 other states.

Parker's office records consist of correspondence, notes, tear sheets, printed ephemera, logs, date books, and financial records created and received by Parker, Charles E. Yerkes, his photographic assistant, and Annie Parker, his wife and office assistant. These records describe the day-to-day business operations of Parker's photographic studio. The correspondence, primarily business in nature, consists of requests for commissions, instructions to Parker from clients, and other information about assignments. One significant aspect of these records is a folder of letters addressed to Parker from House Beautiful editor Elizabeth Gordon, dated 1942-1944, which details their business relationship and working methods.