NEW CALEDONIA COMMUNITY ARCHIVES

CHRISTOPHER MELLON PHOTOGRAPHS, 1947-1967

Processed by: Gilbert Blair
Completed: 16 January 1985

INTRODUCTION:

Christopher Mellon (b. 1922), a prominent New Caledonia professional photographer, donated his collection of photographic prints, negatives, and related files, dating from 1947 to 1967, to the New Caledonia Community Archives in February 1984. Mr. Mellon has agreed to donate his remaining photographs, from 1968 on, upon his retirement in 1990.

Negatives, Prints, Files, and Registers: ca. 3,000 items.

This material is unrestricted for research use only; copyright remains with Christopher Mellon for his lifetime, and copies may not be made without written permission from Mr. Mellon.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

Christopher James Mellon was born in New Caledonia in 1922. Trained at the Midwest Institute of Photography in 1944-45 as a portrait photographer, Mr. Mellon returned to New Caledonia in 1947 and formed the Christopher Mellon Studios. Heremainsaprominent photographer today and has photographed such events as the New Caledonia Pioneer Days Celebrations, every year since 1957, the opening of the City Museum, in 1974, and the arrival of various dignitaries to the city, including prime ministers, premiers, and royalty.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTES:

This collection includes approx. 2,500 negatives, 500 prints, and the photographer's organizational files and registers.

The material is kept in its original order, and the registers are available for item identification of images. Only significant photographs have been identified individually; subject index points direct the researcher back to the collection registers. Other photographs will be catalogued as time and funds permit.

SERIES:

*  *  *