Fred Harvey Collection

Browse this Collection

Volume:

Approximately 1,700 black-and-white photographs, color photographs, color transparencies, and black-and-white negatives; approximately 3,300 color slides

Views include:

These images were photographed by and for the Fred Harvey Company, both when it was owned by the Harvey family and after it had been sold to Amfac in 1968. Fred Harvey restaurants, hotels,newsstands, gift shops, other business enterprises, and employees are represented, including some of the famous "Harvey Girls," women whom Harvey employed as waitresses. Locations within Arizona include the Grand Canyon (El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Hermit's Rest, Desert View Watchtower, Moqui Lodge, Auto Cabins, Auto Lodge, Yavapai Lodge, Hopi House, the railroad depot, tour buses and carriages, roads), the Petrified Forest (Painted Desert Oasis), Seligman (Harvey House), Williams (Fray Marcos), and Winslow (La Posada). Also included are photographs from California, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico (including the Alvarado and Sunport in Albuquerque; Harvey Houses in Belen and Deming; El Ortiz in Lamy; Santa Fe stations/Harvey hotels in Rincon and San Marcial; La Fonda in Santa Fe), Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. There are several photographs of Harvey family members, as well as promotional photographs from the motion picture The Harvey Girls, and special Fred Harvey merchandise. The color slides are selections from training presentations, which have accompanying audiotapes, shown to Amfac/Harvey employees and cover everything from proper grooming to sandwich making to selling Native American crafts.

Biographic Note:

Working in concert with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, English-born immigrant Fred Harvey began establishing his highly successful "Harvey Houses" in 1876, the first being located in Topeka, Kansas. By offering go od food served promptly--in sharp contrast to many other early Western eateries--Harvey enjoyed tremendous success. The famous "Harvey Girls," carefully-trained, well-groomed young women who were hired as waitresses, further increased customer traffic. Before long, Harvey was operating restaurants, hotels, and newsstands in increasing numbers along the A.T.& S.F. route.

After Harvey's death in 1901, his sons, Ford and Byron, continued to operate the now substantial family business, along with John Frederick Huckel, Herman Schweizer, and David Benjamin. Noted architect Mary Jane Colter was hired to design several buildings for the Harvey Company, including the Bright Angel Lodge, Desert View Watchtower, Phantom Ranch, Hopi House, Hermit's Rest and Lookout Studio at the Grand Canyon, as well as La Fonda in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and La Posada in Winslow, Arizona. "Harveycars," replete with tour guides, transported growing numbers of tourists to scenic attractions. Fine Native American crafts became a hallmark for the Harvey retail shops, many of which also employed regional artisans to demonstrate their skills in making a variety of items.

With the onset of the Depression, the Fred Harvey Company adapted to the changing preferences of travellers, who opted for dining-car meals rather than those at restaurants. World War II brought a brief resurgence of business as troops were transported cross-country. After the War, the company continued to open and operate restaurants and other businesses nationwide. Several national parks, in addition to Grand Canyon, became home to Fred Harvey eateries and shops.

In 1968, the Hawaiian firm Amfac purchased the Fred Harvey Company and began to apply the company's expertise in the hospitality industry to its own chain of hotels and restaurants. Additional restaurants, hotels, and retail shops were built or bought, some with specific themes, others catering to travelers. JMB Realty, an American corporation now located in Denver, Colorado, purchased Amfac in 1988.

Related Material:

Fred Harvey Manuscript Collection MS #280

Cline Library
Special Collections and Archives Department
Northern Arizona University