Collection Overview
American Environmental Photographs, 1891-1936 contains 4,500 photographs that document the natural environment, ecology and plant communities in the United States between 1891 and 1936. A group of American botanists photographed dunes, bogs, forests, deserts, individual plants, and landscape features including the Grand Canyon, Lake Superior, and the Sierra Nevada. Their work provided an overview of important natural landscapes across the nation and influenced the development of modern ecological studies. Comparing early and later photographs in the collection reveals human-made and natural changes in the landscape.
In a hurry? Save or print these Collection Connections as a single file.
You may go directly to the collection, America's First Look into the Camera: Daguerreotype Portraits and Views, 1839-1862, in American Memory.
Special Features
These online exhibits provide context and additional information about this collection.
Historical Eras
These historical era(s) are best represented in the collection although they may not be all-encompassing.
- Development of the Industrial United States, 1876-1915
- Emergence of Modern America, 1890-1930
Related Collections and Exhibits
These collections and exhibits contain thematically-related primary and secondary sources. Also browse the Collection Finder for more related material on the American Memory Web site.
- American Landscape and Architectural Design, 1850-1920
- Built in America: Historic Building and Engineering, 1933-Present
- Mapping the National Parks
- Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991
- Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920
Other Resources
Recommended additional sources of information.
There are currently no other resources for this collection
Search Tips
Specific guidance for searching this collection.
Search for photographs using the keyword search or by browsing the Subject Index and Geographic Location Index. For help with search words, go to a Synonym List
For help with search strategies, see Finding Items in American Memory.
Last Updated: 06/29/2009