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Mary Norie Banks photograph collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: PG 123

Content Description

Mounted and unmounted color and black and white photgraphs, including ortraits, international street scenes, scenics, stills, and abstracts. The photographs document Banks' travels across Europe, people and places around Moscow and the Palouse, and people of the Nez Perce Tribe. Mounted photographs were titled by Banks, the unmounted prints are mostly duplicates of the mounted photos and frequently untitled although occassionally have more information about the subject handwritten on the back. Some images show racist or discriminatory depictions.

Dates

  • Creation: 1963-1975

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

Mary Norie was born 30 December 1904 in Emporium, Pennsylvania. Early in her life, the family moved to western Washington. Mary graduated from the University of Washington with B.A. and M.A. degrees in English. In 1928, she married William Carr Banks, an instructor at the University of Idaho, and lived primarily in Moscow, ID for the rest of her life. Before moving to Moscow, Mary was a trained concert pianist, continuing her interest in learning she received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Idaho in 1951. She frequently taught local children piano, and wrote and published her own piano compositions.

Beyond teaching piano, Mary taught elementary school for one year before teaching English and Literature at Washington State University from 1957-1967. After retirement, Mary focused on a lifetime interest in photography, exhibiting and selling her photographs. She also published a book of her husband's letters after his death, as well as multiple books of her own letters and short stories. In the fall of 2000, she was honored by the mayor of Moscow and the Moscow Arts Commission with a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award. Mary was an active member of the community, participating in numerous groups and clubs and supporter of many humanitarian and liberal political causes.

Extent

6 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Photographs taken by Mary Norie Banks of the Palouse, Nez Perce and European people and scenes.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials received from Monte Elder via Linda Pall in 2003 (MA 2003-05), Linda Pall in 2004 (MA 2004-03), and Allison Munch-Rotolo in 2004 (MA 2004-12).

Bibliography

Mary Banks, 96, Moscow Resident, Obituary, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 25 June 2001 https://dnews.com/local/mary-banks-96-moscow-resident/article_e6c8aeec-5962-5942-9ac7-6064597e1355.html.
Title
Guide to Mary Norie Banks photograph collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by Amy Thompson and Baylee Towne
Date
2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository