Overview of the Collection
Biographical NoteRussell (1829-1902) grew up in New York and was a painter and a teacher before moving to New York City in 1859 to learn the new art of photography. During the civil war he became a military railroad photographer for the Union Army. After the war he returned to New York City but in 1868 he was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad to photograph the building of the transcontinental railroad. Between 1868 and 1870 he took over 800 glass-plate negatives and thousands of stereoview negatives. In 1870 Russell returned to New York City where he spent the rest of his career working as an artist and photographer for Leslie's Illustrated. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden (1829-1887) was a pioneer geologist and the head of various geological and geographical surveys in the West from 1867 to 1886. Hayden was raised in New York and graduated with an M.D. from the Albany Medical School in 1853. During the civil war he was a surgeon, but before the war, he spent most of his time in the West exploring and studying geology. Content DescriptionCollection consists of the book Sun Pictures of Rocky Mountain Scenery, with a Description of the Geographical and Geological Features, and some Account of the Resources of the Great West; Containing Thirty Photographic Views Along the Line of the Pacific Rail Road, from Omaha to Sacramento, which was published in 1870 by F.V. Hayden. This book is stored in the vault, but copy negatives and contact prints of the images are available for researcher use. Hayden was in charge of the United States Geographical and Geological Survey and he wanted to capitalize on interest in visual images of the West and to promote the study of geology. Hayden explains in the book: "The pictures have been arranged so as to commence with the first range of mountains west of Cheyenne, and to continue thence to the Salt Lake Valley with the view that the book may be used as a guide by those who will avail themselves of the grand opportunities for geological study..." This book comes with thirty albumen photographs taken by photographer Andrew Joseph Russell that illustrate not only geological, but also man-made structures in Wyoming, Utah, and California. Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access : Restrictions
Open to public research. Restrictions on Use : CopyrightIt is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright. Permission to publish material from the 'Sun Pictures of Rocky Mountain Scenery' photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head. Alternative Forms Available :View selected digitized images from the 'Sun Pictures of Rocky Mountain Scenery' photograph collection Preferred Citation :'Sun Pictures of Rocky Mountain Scenery' photograph collection, 1868-1870. (P0019). Utah State University. Special Collections & Archives Department. Administrative InformationDetailed Description of the CollectionSubjects
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