About the Northwest Photography Archive

The mission of the Northwest Photography Archive is to expand awareness of and access to the cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest through the publication of historically and artistically significant photographs.

For more than 150 years, photographers have been chronicling the land, people, and events of the Pacific Northwest. The resulting visual record is a wealth of compelling images, both artistic and documentary. Unfortunately, these photographs — scattered in public and private collections throughout the region and beyond — are rarely seen, and their existence is largely unknown. The purpose of the Northwest Photography Archive is to restore this valuable cultural resource to public view by publishing the finest of the Northwest's historical and contemporary photographs in book form. The Archive makes its books widely available by selling them at cost and by collaborating with the Oregon State Library to donate copies to public libraries in Oregon and Washington. The book series, published in cooperation with Oregon State University Press, is the core project of an organization that will also offer an online digital archive, curated exhibitions at museums, schools and libraries, and education programs.

The Northwest Photography Archive's Inaugural Book: Wild Beauty

The Archive's first book is entitled Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, 1867 –1957. Countless artists have found great inspiration in the Gorge; in particular, for nearly a century and a half it has been a magnet for superb photographers who have framed and interpreted the way we see the Gorge and have in turn had their artistic vision shaped by working in this compelling landscape. Yet, until now, many of these photographs were unpublished and unknown to the public. Wild Beauty brings many of the images made by the legendary photographer Carleton Watkins and his successors out of obscurity. A major exhibition of Gorge photography curated by co-author Terry Toedtemeier and based on the book drew huge crowds at the Portland Art Museum during its run from October 2008 through January 2009.

The Northwest Photography Archive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information about Wild Beauty and other Archive projects, refer to this website for future updates. Contact us with any questions.

phone: 503-231-6360
fax: 503-233-6794
email: info@northwestphotography.org
web: www.northwestphotography.org

John Laursen
executive director
john@northwestphotography.org

Marci LeBrun
administrator
503-231-6360
info@northwestphotography.org

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