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 will make 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 Board of Directors
Michael Powell, President
Meredith Savery, Secretary/Treasurer
Dr. Baron Barnett
Bob Conklin
John Laursen
Terry Toedtemeier

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 and is now available. 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 Yet many of these photographs remain unpublished and are unknown to the public.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 Northwest photography based on the book and curated by co-author Terry Toedtemeier, will be on view at the Portland Art Museum from October 4 through January 11, 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. You can also contact the Northwest Photography Archive by calling our office at 503-231-6360, or sending an email to info@northwestphotography.org.