Janet M. Dixon Photographs, 1940s MSS-051

Size: 3 inches

Provenance: Janet M. Dixon's photograph collection was donated to the University of Toledo Libraries in approximately 1950 by her former husband, Professor James G. Southworth who taught English at the University from 1934 to 1966.

Access: Open

Copyright: The publication rights to this collection are assumed to rest with Mrs. Dixon's heirs or assigns subject to provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976. Researchers bear full responsibility to acquire necessary permission to publish any photos from this collection, though the Canaday Center may intervene in this process at its own discretion.

Completed by: Barbara A. Shirk April 1992 Converted by Patrick Cook Nov. 2011

Introduction

The Janet M. Dixon collection consists of 54 photographs (black and white; some sepia) which were taken by Mrs. Dixon m the 1940s. The photos primarily show men, women, and children of Mexico and Guatemala in everyday situations. Included in the collection are scenes of the countryside and buildings, etc.

The photos would be useful for researchers in photography, art history, sociology, anthropology, and other areas as well.

There are no restrictions on the use of the collection.

Biography

There is very little known about Janet M. Dixon. She is the former wife of the late James G. Southworth who taught English at the University of Toledo from 1934-1966.

Mrs. Dixon resided in Chicago, Illinois at 1500 Lake Shore Drive, and was married to Alan Dixon. She entered at least one of her photographs, "Playing Mother (San Francisco Alto)" in DeMet's Amateur Photo Contest [Chicago - c. 1940s].

Scope and Content Note

The photographs in Janet M. Dixon's collection were taken in the 1940s. There are a total of 54 (9 unmatted and 45 matted photos). They range in tone from black and white to sepia and size varies from 51 x 41 cm. and smaller. The majority of the photos are of men, women, and children of Mexico and Guatemala going about their daffy routines. Some of these include shopping m the marketplace, taking animals to market, bathing in the lake, feeding children, attending a funeral, socializing ha the village square, and weaving. There are also scenic photos in the collection such as cathedrals, an elaborately carved sacrificial altar, plants growing in a field, Lake Atitlan in the moonlight, remains of buildings with mountains in the background; some of these were taken through stone arches for a more dramatic effect.

The photos of the people reveal much about them and their lifestyles and can almost be considered character studies. For example, the weather-beaten faces of some of the older people seem to be an indication of the hardships they may have endured and, their hand-woven clothing styles and fabric designs speak highly of their resourcefulness and talent.

Inventory

Box	Folder	Description
1		Photographs
			Unmatted
	1			Capuchin Convent - Antigua
	2			Untitled (woman and child)
	3			San Antonio Palopo
	4			Untitled (two women and two children)
	5			Mass Meeting - San Pedro
	6			House of the Lions - Antigua
	7			Untitled (three young girls)
	8			Market Day - San Francisco Alto
	9			Sacrificial Altar - Queraqui (AD 536)
			Matted
	10			San Francisco Alto
	11			Women From Chiquimulilla (taken at Totomcapan)
	12			Chichicastenango
	13			Market Day - San Francisco Alto
	14			Untitled (small child eating)
	15			Untitled (woman with ctfild on back and two men)
	16			San Juan Chamelco
	17			Sacatepequez - San Pedro
	18			Playing "Mother" - San Francisco Alto
	19			Tucuru
	20			Untitled (young woman holding child and older woman with hand on face)
	21			San Juan Chamelco
	22			Stela H. - Queraqui
	23			Chichicastenango
	24			San Cristobal
	25			Chichicastenango
	26			Antigua
	27			Lake Atitlan
2			Matted
	1			Sacatepequez - San Pedro
	2			Mexico
	3			Tucuru
	4			San Juan Chamelco
	5			San Martina Chili Verde
	6			Untitled (woman with headdress)
	7			Tucuru
	8			Chichicastenango
	9			The Gumbore
	10			Funeral - Chichmastenango
	11			On Lake Atitlan - San Antonio Palopo
	12			San Juan Chamelco
	13			San Cristobal
	14			San Antonio Aquas Calientes (near Antigua)
	15			Chichicastenango
	16			La Recollection - Antigua
	17			San Augustine - Antigua
	18			Cathedral - Antigua
	19			Memed - Antigua
	20			Francescan Monastery
	21			Lake Atltlml
	22			Lake Atiflan
	23			Rio Polochic
	24			Animal Market - Smÿ Francisco Alto
	25			Untitled (cathedral)
	26			San Pedro Sacatepequez
	27			Tucuru