Marvin Boland’s all seeing panoramic camera was busy in Tacoma during the first half of the 20th Century, scanning the city in full power and expansion and recording its people at work and play. His complicated optical contraption got lugged up to the most confounding positions to create sweeping horizontal images that force a sense of movement and grand scale. Its like Cinerama in black and white without moving.

Here’s another gallery of panoramics, sometimes called cylindrographs or head turners. Marvin Boland’s spectacular legacy of images is shared between the Tacoma Public Library and the Washington State Historical Society. These are from WSHS and can be viewed in amazing high resolution at their on line collections site. search under “Boland”

http://collections.washingtonhistory.org/search.aspx

 

Stadium Bowl pageants

Downtown Views

Hand Tinted Pastorals

Groups