Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library P.O. Box 400110 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110 URL: https://small.library.virginia.edu/
Eric Willersdorf, Student Accessioning Archivist Assistant
Repository
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Identification
MSS 11567
Title
Gitchell's Studio collection (accession 2017-0077) 1972-2016 1990-2014
The University of Virginia holds some of the copyrights in this collection. Please inquire about permissions for reuse. Visit
our Permissions and Publishing page for more information about use of Special Collections materials. The library can provide
copyright information upon request, but users are responsible for making their own determination about lawful use of collections
materials.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is unprocessed but available for use.
Preferred Citation
MSS 11567, Gitchell Studio collection, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was a gift from James Carpenter to the Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia on 14 April
2018.
Gitchell's Studio was first established in 1907, when brothers John and Frank Gitchell purchased "New Era Photography", a
studio on East Main Street in Charlottesville. The brothers changed the name to "Gitchell's Studio" and began to serve the
area with their photography expertise. The Gitchell brothers quickly became known for their high-quality products and attention
to detail, beginning to rival the much older and larger Holsinger Studio firm by the early 1920s. John Gitchell enrolled at
the Effingham College of Photography in Illinois before returning to Charlottesville. John and Frank Gitchell married sisters,
Allie and Mary Omohundro, respectively. The four operated the business in Charlottesville until 1934, when John and Allie
relocated to Harrisonburg, opening their own Gitchell's Studi" there. Frank continued operations in Charlottesville, with
his son William "Bill" Gitchell succeeding his father in managing the photography studio. In 1988, after over forty years
of supervision of the studio, Bill Gitchell sold the studio to James Carpenter, the chief photojournalist for the "The Daily
Progress" of Charlottesville. Both the Charlottesville's Gitchell's Studio and Harrisonburg Gitchell's Photography are still
in operation, separate from one another since 1934.
James G. Carpenter (1950), is a Charlotesville native. Born in 1950 to William and Emily Carpenter, he attended Lane High School Charlottesville
where he began his photographic career. Carpenter landed a job as a staff photographer for the Daily Progress right after
high school in 1968. By the time he was twenty-one, he was the chief photographer at the newspaper. In July, he joined the
Army Reserve and began active duty the following year. He served for twenty years with the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring with
the rank of master sergeant. Jim earned his Master's Degree in Photography through the Professional Photographers of America
(PPA)in 2000. As a staff photographer, Carpenter was twice honored for his photo journalism work by the Virginia Associated
Press by naming it "Photo of the Year." In addition, his work received awards from the Virginia Press Association for twenty
consecuetive years. In 2016, he semi-retired and closed down Gitchell's Studio store front but continues Gitchell's Studio
from his home.
Source
"History of Gitchell's Studio." Gitchell's Studio , https://www.gitchellsstudio.com/history-of-gitchells-studio. Accessed 2 May 2025.
"Jim Carpenter, Photographer." Marshaling May Days: A Digital Exhibition UVA School of Law. https://maydays.law.virginia.edu/oral-histories/jim-carpenter-photographer.
Accessed 2 May 2025.
Maurer, David A. "Photographer Jim Carpenter will see what develops during semi-retirement phase." Daily Progress . (Charlotesville, VA), December 3, 2016.
This collection contains an estimated nine hundred thousand printed photographs, negatives, and slides captured by professional
photographers at Gitchell's Studio in Charlottesville between 1972 and 2016. The collection provides provides a photographic
history of the Charlottesville, Virginia including the University of Virginia and includes printed photographs, negatives,
slides, and photographs saved on CD-Rs and DVD-Rs. The collection is organized by year and event. Most of the content is commissioned
photographs paid for by Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents or businesses. The subject matter of the photographs
spans wedding portraits, personal portraits, family portraits, corporate events, commercial scenes, sporting events and graduations
for the University of Virginia and area high schools, church events, University of Virginia sports, and the Dogwood Festival.
This guide only describes accession 2017-0077 (addition 1) of the collection and does not include a description of the original
deposit.
The description of more materials (the original deposit) of MSS 11567 Gitchell's Studio Collection can be found here https://search.lib.virginia.edu/sources/uva_library/items/u3180093
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