History 21 The Podcast - 1.25 William Nelson Accident Scene Photographs
Before photographing an accident or crime scene became a standard part of law enforcement in Anoka County, William Nelson took up his camera in 1961 to document the scenes as a volunteer. In 2010, Nelson donated his collection to the museum and recounted his time as unofficial photographer.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
William Nelson’s shadow becoming part of the accident scene he is documenting in Coon Rapids 6/13/65
William Nelson Accident Scene Photographs
In 1961, William Nelson took up his camera in his local area of Ham Lake (Anoka County, MN) and started to record the aftermath of accident scenes. He took the black and white negatives he created back to his home to develop and offered them free of charge to local law enforcement. Before an official Crime Scene lab in the county, Nelson was often the only one capturing these scenes in film. In order to support his self-appointed volunteer position, he sold images to insurance agencies or lawyers as requested.
In 2010, William Nelson donated his entire collection of accident scene images to the Anoka County Historical Society. The collection includes negatives, and the booklets he used to catalog the images’ information: when and where it was taken, and the event. The collection includes 6,768 separate film negatives and captures 735 distinct accident scenes, mostly involving automobiles.
The images original intent was to document the how and why of each accident scene, but have taken an added role in the ACHS collection of capturing the streets, signs, and raw lives of people in Anoka County.
5/11/63 accident Hwy 65 & Osborne. 6:15 PM. Two car collision. Walter Freeman of 895 Mississippi, Fridley; Coral (?) R Jankard of 4033 Madison, Columbia Heights; and Thomas Emerson, 7686 Knollwood. William Nelson returned the next day after the accident scene was cleaned to get more images of the location in better light.
6/13/65 accident in Coon Rapids on Highway 10 (Coon Rapids Blvd) near the Coon Rapids Drive-In Theater. 7 PM. Since 1965 this portion of Coon Rapids Blvd has been shifted, and this road today is Coon Rapids Blvd Extension. After the higway change the entrance to the drive-in was on the Extension. A Ford and a Pontiac. A clear image of the Drive-In sign listing its double feature: "Woman of Straw" and "Secret Invasion."
6/27/63 accident at Mississippi Blvd NW and "Marshall" in Coon Rapids. 4:45 PM Marshall Highway becomes East River Road and turns into Coon Rapids Blvd. A delivery truck labeled Wards, and Connolly Contracting Company, and a car. Coon Rapids Police on scene.
1/9/66 accident in Blaine at County J (85th Av) & Xylite, 1:50 AM. One car, a Chevrolet, hit a power pole. The street signs and the pole holding them look damaged as well. A sticker from Anoka Electirc Coop (forerunner of Connexus) offers a $25 reward, presumably for reporting anyone who causes damage to their property. Blaine police are on scene, as well as a tow truck from Olson's.
Accident scene. Rollover at 61st and Central in April, 1961. Fridley Police car on the scene.
06/18/1964, sign accident at 111th and University. Pure Oil. Several photos of George's Pure Oil Service station ("Let George Do it"). Signs for Royal Crown Cola and S&H Green Stamps. Near a residential neighborhood, and several houses are shown. Used tires stacked near building. Parts of hand-painted sign are lying near building and near fence. Injured person is bein put on a stretcher. Bicycle is lying on the grass near a part of the sign. Coon Rapids police car.
Anoka County Library Minute
Further Reading:
Hello, listeners! My name is Diana Neuerburg, I’m a librarian at the Northtown Library, and I’m here to tell you about some awesome resources we have related to this episode’s topics. These resources cover photography and forensics. If you are interested in either, there is something here for you.
Discover the techniques and tools used by forensic anthropologists to learn about victims of crimes/accidents as well as who or what was responsible for their demise. Silent Witness used real-world case studies and photographs to guide readers through not only the history of forensic anthropology, but the skills needed to perform the job.
Complete Photo Guide: How to take better pictures by Heather Perry (771 PER)
This National Geographic publication covers a myriad of secrets and skills needed for anyone to take better photographs – no matter the subject. Basic photography skills are covered as well as more advanced topics. Learn about lighting, aperture, smartphone photography, digital editing, archiving, and more. Bonus: the book includes an illustrated timeline of photography which tracks the progression of the art form throughout history.
The Salt of the Earth by Julian Ribeiro Salgado (DVD 770 SAL)
This documentary tells the story of Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, who gave up financial security working as an economist with the World Bank to travel the world documenting the lives of “salt of the earth”-type people. He photographed devastation and suffering caused by drought, civil war, and more, bringing social issues to the attention of many through his black and white photography.
Strange Days, Dangerous Nights: photos from the speed graphic era by Larry Millett (Q070.49 MIL)
Not for the faint of heart, this book of photos from the St. Paul Pioneer Press and St. Paul Dispatch archives shows how the Speed Graphic camera was utilized during the 40s, 50s, and 60s to sell newspapers. Photos of the era were “blunt, powerful, and immediate as a left hook.”
This Brilliant Darkness: a book of strangers by Jeff Sharlet (818 SHA)
A stark photo-journal of the people the author crossed paths with throughout a two-year period spent traveling. A journalist by trade, the author took to taking snapshots of strangers he met on his travels, often feeling more connection to this side project than to the journalism he was assigned.
This BBC television series has been in production for over 20 years! Catch up on all 23 series of this crime drama focusing on a forensic pathology team investigating various crimes.
American Sherlock: murder, forensics, and the birth of American CSI by Kate Dawson (921 HEI DAW)
Read about the birth of modern criminal investigation and the man responsible. Edward Oscar Heinrich, known as the “American Sherlock” was one of the U.S.’s first expert witnesses, relying on technologies and techniques he pioneered in his own lab to investigate and solve thousands of cases in his 40-year career.
The Measure of Malice: scientific detection stories edited by Martin Edwards (MYSTERY MEA)
A collection of 14 short stories from well-known writers to lesser-known and published from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. These bite-size tales illustrate in fun fiction form how crime solving has evolved over the decades depicted.
Blood, powder, and residue: how crime labs translate evidence into proof by Beth Bechky (363.25 BEC)
A book detailing the complex daily challenges facing real-life forensic scientists. It’s not all like you see on CSI. The author spent 18 months doing fieldwork in a crime lab and discovered that a tension exists between serving justice while also staying true to scientific ideals.
This book defines and answers questions about a variety of topics relating to forensics. Starting with the crime scene, and moving to the lab and then court, readers get a thorough sense of what each stage entails. Anyone interested in the work performed following an accident or crime would get a wealth of knowledge from this resource.
LinkedIn Learning course: Photography Foundations: Black and White by Ben Long (eResource)
With a library card, you can access an online resource called LinkedIn Learning. Navigate to anokacountylibrary.org and, from the Books and More menu option, select Resources & Databases. There are many courses available via LinkedIn Learning on photography, but this black and white course may transport you back in time and give a sense of what considerations photographers take into account.