Shirlie Montgomery Girl Photographer: October 2022

Shirlie Alice Montgomery June 9, 1918 – November 5, 2012

Shirlie Alice Montgomery was born on Chapman Street in San Jose on June 9, 1918. She was an only child. To her friends and neighbors she was a treasure trove of history. Shirlie remembered it all. She remembered the Great Depression as a child, the Second World War as a young woman, and eventually the transformation of the Santa Clara Valley from a moderately sized agricultural town to the hustle and bustle of modern Silicon Valley. The majority of her memories were supported by the thousands of photographs in her collection.

She was the surviving grandniece of San Jose’s forefather T.S. Montgomery. Shirlie lived a colorful life but professionally she photographed it with a 4X5 Speed Graphic in B&W. She was a celebrated photographer that shot Hollywood stars, U.S. Presidents and pro wrestlers. Although Shirlie did work for the S. F. Examiner and the San Jose Mercury, her works remain some of the best representations of pro wrestling from the 40’s thru the 60’s. When asked about her penchant for shooting professional wrestlers she would answer “I always liked the big boys.” Such stories Shirlie had!

She will never be forgotten. God rest her soul. (Obituary by Joe Holt, neighbor and friend.)

Monday, October 10, 2022

Valley Memories: Curiosities & Treasures from History San José’s Collection features Shirlie Montgomery

The current exhibit at History San Jose's Clyde Arbuckle Gallery in the Pacific Hotel is a treasure of old San Jose. Titled: "Valley Memories: Curiosities & Treasures from History San Jose's Collection." It features memorabilia from many aspects of life in San Jose through the years. One vignette is about HSJ's photograph collection ... which houses Shirlie Montgomery's collection among others. The information panel features a photo and a quote by Shirlie. This is a fine exhibit ... head over to HSJ and spend some time investigating the many historical houses and vignettes.

https://historysanjose.org/exhibits-activities/museum-exhibits/hotel-gallery/

From HSJ's website (https://historysanjose.org/):

History San José manages one of the largest collections of regional history artifacts in California, preserving the Santa Clara Valley’s collective memory. Originated in 1949 as a temporary exhibition inside a replica State House building in downtown San Jose, the City’s historic collection has grown over the decades thanks to its original curator, Clyde Arbuckle, and the thousands of Valley residents and businesses who have donated to the San Jose Historical Museum and History San Jose. The collection now represents not only the Valley’s innovative spirit – from Native American baskets and tools, to agricultural equipment, to locally-pioneered pre-silicon chip technologies – but also the everyday lives and interests of its citizens.

As History San José approaches the museum’s 75th anniversary in 2024, we are taking this opportunity to highlight the breadth of the collection, and engage visitors to History Park with a selection of the familiar – and not-so-familiar – artifacts usually kept behind locked doors in our warehouse. From vintage motorcycles, radios and cameras, to games, sports jerseys, fashion and food products, there will be something to interest everyone – and hopefully spark a memory…or two!