Seneca Ray Stoddard

Jeffrey L. Horrell

ISBN 10: 081560498X / ISBN 13: 9780815604983

Published by Syracuse University Press, US, 2024

About this Item

Seneca Ray Stoddard's photographic and literary work paralleled the era of exploration of this region as well as the early years of photography. It was during his lifetime-as a result of the changing perceptions of the wilderness-that the area first attracted artists, tourists, and summer residents.Jeffrey L. Horrell's book explores the nature of this Adirondack pioneer's work and examines how it influenced and was influenced by the changing attitudes toward wilderness in the last half of the nineteenth century. It is the first complete volume to provide an in-depth study of both Stoddard's writing and photography. Through his photographs and publishing ventures, Stoddard moved from recording the wilderness landscape to defending it against the logging industry and other developers.Stoddard was instrumental in creating the modern perception of the ""forever wild"" landscape of the Adirondacks. Although there had been a well-established tradition of guidebooks for American tourist regions, Stoddard's practice of including illustrations based on photographs represented a new departure. Horrell shows how Stoddard's work reflected matters of class and power on the emerging tourist industry and its effect on the popular literature of the day.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780815604983

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Seneca Ray Stoddard
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press, US
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 081560498X
• ISBN 13: 9780815604983
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 272 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Seneca Ray Stoddard’s photographic and literary work paralleled the era of exploration of this region as well as the early years of photography. It was during his lifetime—as a result of the changing perceptions of the wilderness—that the area first attracted artists, tourists, and summer residents.

Jeffrey L. Horrell’s book explores the nature of this Adirondack pioneer’s work and examines how it influenced and was influenced by the changing attitudes toward wilderness in the last half of the nineteenth century. It is the first complete volume to provide an in-depth study of both Stoddard’s writing and photography. Through his photographs and publishing ventures, Stoddard moved from recording the wilderness landscape to defending it against the logging industry and other developers.

Stoddard was instrumental in creating the modern perception of the "forever wild" landscape of the Adirondacks. Although there had been a well-established tradition of guidebooks for American tourist regions, Stoddard’s practice of including illustrations based on photographs represented a new departure. Horrell shows how Stoddard’s work reflected matters of class and power on the emerging tourist industry and its effect on the popular literature of the day.

About the Author

Jeffrey L. Horrell is Dean of Libraries Emeritus at Dartmouth College. He received his PhD in Humanities from Syracuse University with a concentration in the history of photography.