The Gerald L. French Photograph Collection documents the San Jose State College West Coast Nature School held in Death Valley in 1958, as part of the week of "short courses" San Jose State College offered. The early field school took place in Big Basin in 1931. Several San Jose State College natural science professors lead the program, which became known as Field Studies in Natural History. The program is focused on the study of geology, history, and the flora and fauna of the region. The Field Studies in Natural History program remains an active and popular study program today at SJSU. French, a San Jose State College student (B.S. 1960), attended the program in 1958. He documented the activities, events, and the participants. The collection consists of 42 black and white ink jet contact prints, 4x5 negatives, and 27 color slides. Images of note from the Death Valley region include views of Titus Canyon, the Borax Works, Scotty's Castle, and Ubehebe crater.

Once graduated from San Jose State College in 1960 with a degree in Journalism, French worked in various news stations and transportation systems before opening his own photography studio. His assignment through his career has taken him around the world to photograph agriculture of different states and countries, festivals, architecture, landmarks, landscapes, politicians, and individuals ranging from 1958 to 2011, with the bulk of the collection being taken between 1958 and 1989.