Princeton University’s early 20th Century album of portraits in the mugshot style of boxers from San Francisco’s The Olympic Club (founded 1860) is a treasure trove.
In her story on the album, Princeton’s Julie Mellby, tells us that the city was a mecca for boxing, earning the nickname “The Cradle of Fistic Stars”. She adds: ‘It is curious that the use of photographic mug shots also began in San Francisco, where Chief of Police James Curtis established the practice in 1857.’
Via Princeton
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