Pete Calos Photograph Collection, 1977-2005

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Pete Calos, Photographer
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Pete Calos Photograph Collection is comprised of film duplicates of his original 35mm Ecktachrome color slides, and digital scans of original prints stored on compact discs. The images document architectural, environmental, commercial, and popular culture subjects in Virginia between 1977 and 2005. Images were selected, researched, and recorded by amateur photographer, Pete Calos for the purpose of illustrating over sixty slide lecture presentations. The collection holds significant interest for local and architectural historians. These images capture a moment in time, and in many cases represent the only visual document of historical buildings, streets and structures that have significantly changed or are no longer in existence. The collection is organized according to his original order in nine series which derive from his presentations: Bridges, Churches of Petersburg, Colonial Churches, Diners, Historic Churches, Lighthouses, Route One, Small Town U.S.A., W.P.A. Murals and the CD-Rom format series of mixed subjects.

I. Bridges series consists of images of closed, abandoned, deteriorating, and operating bridges located in Virginia. The topic was inspired by an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch, February 2001. The article stated that twenty-eight percent of Virginia's bridges were deficient, and more were destined for destruction. The article inspired Calos to capture twenty bridges slated for demolition in two days. Since that time, many have been torn down. Included in his lectures were his superlative bridge choices; the highest, lowest, longest, shortest, oldest, and newest bridges at the time. Some images date from the mid to late seventies, with the majority taken between Spring and Fall, 2001.

II. Colonial Churches series includes photographs of historically significant churches taken during 2005 in various locations across the state; Hanover Co., Fairfax Co., Hampton, James City Co., King William Co., Lancaster Co., Norfolk, Smithfield Co., Suffolk, Westmoreland Co., and Richmond Co.

III. Churches of Petersburg series documents the various denominations located in the downtown Petersburg area. Calos recorded views of the exterior, and significant interior architectural details during 2005.

IV. Richmond Historic Churches series covers significant churches, predominately in the downtown Richmond area taken (unless specifically noted) during 2002. Calos documented the exterior, and when access was allowed recorded the sanctuary, altar, and noteworthy architectural details.

V. Virginia Diners series include many establishments which have been in operation for fifty or more years. This theme was inspired by The Coney Island Lunch, a cafe diner begun by his father in 1919 in Danville, Virginia. Calos and other family members worked in the cafe which continued as a family business until December 31, 1971 when it became a victim of urban renewal after 52 years of service. This series documents many family run eateries, past and present in existence across the state during the period of 1996 to 2005. Calos has carefully recorded the characteristic architecture, the interior decor, restaurant fixtures, menus, advertisements, cuisine, as well as some portraits of original owners and staff.

VI. Lighthouses records active and historic Virginia lighthouses photographed by Calos from 1995 through 2003.

VII. The Route One series records the visual flavor of bygone hotels, businesses, homes, as well as current attractions along the Virginia section of this eastern seaboard roadway. Also known as U.S. Rt. 1 or Jefferson Davis Highway, the roadway opened in 1926. From 1997 to 2001 Calos recorded select locations of the Virginia portion, from Arlington in the North to Woodbridge in the South.

VIII. The Small Town U.S.A. series records the characteristic appearance of streets, businesses, and buildings that many small towns in Virginia share. The visual appeal of these images in Black and White was originally due to an error in the color film processing. But Calos accepted the gaffe as art by accident, and found the result as a fitting representation for the vintage nature of the subject.

IX. W.P.A. Murals document murals commissioned for Virginia Post Offices by the New Deal, Works Progress Administration's, Section of Fine Arts during 1934-1943. Popularly called "The Section", it was headed by Edward Bruce, and administered by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. The program operated as incentive to put artisans to work during the Depression years by awarding commissions for murals in public buildings. Calos concentrated on recording existing murals in Post Offices throughout Virginia from 1997 to 2001.

X. The Calos Compact Disc Collection includes subjects captured from 1996 to 2001 during the photographer's travel through counties across Virginia. Subjects are mixed and include; abandoned homes, log cabins, Post Offices, schools, diners, stores, restaurants, bridges, views, hotels, taverns, theatres, barns, churches, cemeteries, courthouses, libraries, laundries, fire stations, railroad stations, service stations, drug stores, barber shops, and banks.

Biographical / historical:

Pete Calos is a retired engineer from thirty-two years with Allied Chemical Corporation. Calos cultivated his passion for photography from an early age. He established the first photographic darkroom at George Wythe High School in Danville, and went on to document sports events for the Danville News. He attended V.P.I. Extension program for college prep, and graduated from Virginia Tech in Industrial Engineering in 1954. Later that year he entered the U.S. Army, serving three years, primarily in France.

Being familiar with travelogues from attending presentations at the Sheperd Center in Richmond, after retirement Calos began to write and illustrate his own presentations. Combining his interests in travel and photography Calos has created over sixty presentations on subjects found within Virginia, and several more on his tours of Europe, Russia, China, and the Mediterranean.

Acquisition information:
A gift of Pete Calos to Special Collections, Library of Virginia in 1998, 2006.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I: Bridges
  • Series II: Colonial Churches
  • Series III: Churches of Petersburg
  • Series IV: Richmond Historic Churches
  • Series V: Virginia Diners
  • Series VI: Lighthouses
  • Series VII: Route One
  • Series VIII: Small Town U.S.A.
  • Series IX: W.P.A. Murals
  • Series X: Compact Disc Collection
Physical location:
Prints and Photographs, Special Collections
Physical description:
884 Slides and 25 Compact Discs