Early image of Bureau photographer taking photos on the plains.(Click here for a full size image) |
 hotographs
seen on the Glimpse the Past pages are a result of documentation of Reclamation Projects since the agency began in the
early 1900's. Photographs were commonly used in the early years to document the benefits of Reclamation projects. onstruction techniques and the
resulting structures were often on the cutting edge of technology and were recorded on film by a resident photographer
or an engineer with some photographic experience. As Reclamation matured, construction photography evolved to document
the performance of contractors. This served to limit the opportunity for additional payment claims against the agency
by contractors as well as to ensure their performance. The photos also served as a source of information about the site
and construction of project facilities
for their future operation and maintenance. As a result, many
of the images taken by Reclamation are technical in nature and
are not suitable for public display. |
 Typical early images showed crops, homesteads, and the need for project improvements such as this photo of produce for sale taken in 1914. (Click here for a full size image) |
 A view showing the geologic material at the site of Foss Dam, Oklahoma. (Click here for a full size image) |
 |
hotographers
often used bulky equipment and processed film and prints under
primitive conditions. One primary consideration for the photographs
taken was the ability to store them for long periods without deterioration.
For that reason black and white images were common until the 1980's.
Large format (4 by 5 inches or larger) film and cameras were used
by most photographers. Roll film cameras were rare and were usually
reserved for less experienced personnel that took photographs only
as a part of their duties. |
| Typical equipment used by Reclamation photographers once included the Speed Graphic camera. (Click here for a full size image) | |
 Image taken from July, 1949 Kodachrome 8 by 10 inch transparency of the construction of Boysen Dam, Wyoming. This is one of the earliest color images taken in the Great Plains Region. (Click here for a full size image) |
 This image is of a family waiting for delivery of water by Reclamation to their Idaho farm in 1940. (Click here for a full size image) |
 ome
Reclamation images are quite well known. Some projects created
large numbers of images that span their entire history. Most of
these images in the Great Plains Region now reside in the collections
of the National Archives and local historical societies. |
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