Oscar V. Lange
Encyclopedia
Oscar Victor Lange was a leading photographer and occasional landscape painter in the San Francisco Bay Area
of California
during the late 19th century. His work is typically credited as "O.V. Lange".
Lange was born on June 6, 1853 in Hoboken, New Jersey
to German immigrants Albert Clement and Emma (Leischhardt) Fahrenberg. His father was a portrait painter. The Fahrenbergs were constantly on the move, showing up in New Orleans
during the 1860 census and in Texas
for the 1870 census. In the 1870s, Oscar moved to San Francisco
and adopted the surname "Lange" while working with Ernest W. Newth making stereographs. In the 1880s, he opened his own studio and gallery on Market Street, moving to Montgomery Street by the 1890s. His residence by this time was across the Bay in Berkeley, California
.
Lange's most widely-photographed subjects were architectural and included structures in San Francisco, Oakland
, the campus of the University of California, Berkeley
, and the downtown section of Berkeley. He also photographed the workers of the Central Pacific
and Southern Pacific
railroad shops in Sacramento, California
. Although not a member of the faculty of the University of California, he did work on a number of projects for the University including some astronomical photography at the Lick Observatory
. He was friends with the noted architect Bernard Maybeck
who served as one of the pall bearers at his funeral.
Lange never married. He died in Berkeley on December 9, 1913 from tuberculosis
.
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during the late 19th century. His work is typically credited as "O.V. Lange".
Lange was born on June 6, 1853 in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
to German immigrants Albert Clement and Emma (Leischhardt) Fahrenberg. His father was a portrait painter. The Fahrenbergs were constantly on the move, showing up in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
during the 1860 census and in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for the 1870 census. In the 1870s, Oscar moved to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and adopted the surname "Lange" while working with Ernest W. Newth making stereographs. In the 1880s, he opened his own studio and gallery on Market Street, moving to Montgomery Street by the 1890s. His residence by this time was across the Bay in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
.
Lange's most widely-photographed subjects were architectural and included structures in San Francisco, Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, the campus of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and the downtown section of Berkeley. He also photographed the workers of the Central Pacific
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
and Southern Pacific
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
railroad shops in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. Although not a member of the faculty of the University of California, he did work on a number of projects for the University including some astronomical photography at the Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory
The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA...
. He was friends with the noted architect Bernard Maybeck
Bernard Maybeck
Bernard Ralph Maybeck was a architect in the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th century. He was a professor at University of California, Berkeley...
who served as one of the pall bearers at his funeral.
Lange never married. He died in Berkeley on December 9, 1913 from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.