Idaho State Archives Historic Photographs
"Ada Theater for Electric Product
Co. 1937"
Photo Credit: R. Harold Sigler 62-20 16007
Experience Idaho’s visual history through the extensive photograph collections available at the Idaho State Archives, a division of the Idaho State Historical Society. Images date from the Territorial period to present day. The collections offer a variety of subjects, including ethnic, mining, military, railroads, and geographic locations. Noteworthy Idaho photographers are featured, such as Bisbee, Sigler, and Fuller.
Access to on-line indexes, digital image galleries and photographs from the collection are available online and at the Image Center located in the Research Center of the Idaho State Archives. Research Center staff is happy to provide assistance for locating and ordering photographs. Please check often for new collections.
Digitized Collections
Browse all digitized collections. You can also select a specific photographer or Subject below. New photographs and collections are added regularly.
Everett “Shorty” Fuller
Everett "Shorty" Fuller was a freelance photographer in the Boise Valley during the 1930s and 1940s. Photos depict candid shots, and major events of the 30s and 40s in rural and urban areas of Boise Valley.
Leo J. "Scoop" Leeburn
Leo J. "Scoop" Leeburn was a famous Boise area photographer that captured many iconic Boise images . Leeburn, started his photo journalism career in 1943, took pictures up until his death in 2002 at the age of 81. His photos appeared in The Idaho Statesman and Leeburn has been labeled Boise’s, “Unofficial photographer-at-large,” and “A Boise institution.“ His photographs show Boiseans' life at work and thier activities. The Boise Urban Renewal Project was also documented by Leeburn. His work has been featured in many exhibits.
J.A. Hanson
J. A. Hanson was a professional photographer with studios in Moscow (in partnership with Henry Erichson), 1890-1892, and Grangeville, 1892-1910. His images capture rarely seen early images of Idaho.
Bob Lorimer
Bob Lorimer was a writer, columnist and photographer in the Boise Valley during the 1960s and 1970s. Photographs include various subject of daily life in Boise Valley.
Roland Onffroy
Roland Onffroy photographed all of Idaho in the 1940s.
Leonard J Howard
Leonard J Howard documented the important period between 1899 and 1939. Howard traveled throughout Idaho and created a visual history of the roads, construction, and what life was like in Idaho during this time period.
The Idaho Civilian Conservation Corps
The Idaho CCC collection captures the Idaho experience of the public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 17 to 23. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it provided unskilled manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments.
R. Harold Sigler
The Boise photographer R. Harold Sigler is known for his portraits serving as the official photographer for Boise High School. The Sigler photograph collection includes not only his portraits, but encompasses at least 30,000 individual subjects of urban and rural landscapes, public buildings, churches, businesses and homes, athletic events, parades, and theatrical productions. Sigler photographs offer a visual recording of Boise and South Western towns of Idaho.
Image Catalog for the Idaho Statehouse
Learn about the Idaho State Archives involvement with the Idaho Capitol Commission and view a selection of images catalog chosen specifically for tenants of Idaho's Capitol Building.
Mining in Idaho
Photographs, maps, oral history interviews, documents and more, all pertaining to the history of mining in Idaho.
Did you know that you can purchase prints of historic maps or photographs?
Own a piece of Idaho History! Reproductions make authentic décor and creative gifts. The Idaho State Archives’ collections include nearly one million photographs, maps and documents. Images from the Idaho State Archives are used in all types of publications, business reports and products, educational exhibitions, family histories, office décor, and interior design. Reproductions from the collection can be found in the hearing rooms of the State Capitol, where historic images representing a variety of time periods and subjects can be viewed.
Consider Idaho’s visual history for personal, professional and commercial use. Fees for research services of photographs, maps and documents directly support the preservation and access to Idaho’s historical archives for current and future generations! For more information contact (208) 334-2620 or by e-mail.