Mary Lou Lockard Houser

The collection consists of a series of matted portraits and prints photographed by Walter C. Douglas in his home studio between 1996 and 2002. While the majority of the photos are portraits, a small number are landscape, structure, and architectural detail shots of historic Santa Barbara city and county buildings.

The portraits are primarily of Santa Barbara citizens who have been active and influential in the work of preserving Santa Barbara's history, and many work in connection with the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.

The collection also consists of corresponding oral history interviews with some of the portrait subjects. Subjects were selected for portrait sittings and interviews based on their connection with Santa Barbara historic preservation or a connection with prominent nineteenth century Santa Barbara citizens. Several of the interviewees are descendants of major landholding families from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; others are or were notable figures involved in a variety of civic activities from the mid-twentieth century forward.

Walter C. Douglas' project represents nearly a decade of work preserving the stories and images of these Santa Barbara citizens. In Mr. Douglas' own words, his project accomplishes the documentation of the last generation of Santa Barbara pioneers.