Hoover Dam: The Photographs of Ben Glaha [Paperback]

Barbara Vilander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Hoover Dam was constructed during one of the most depressed economic climates in American history, in a remote desert canyon where temperatures ranged from single to triple digits. In order to visually document the project, the Bureau of Reclamation assigned employee Ben Glaha to photograph all aspects of the dam's construction. Glaha's photographs were used in press releases, periodicals, books, pamphlets, and slide shows to demonstrate that the dam was structurally sound and that government funds were being used wisely. Hoover Dam: The Photographs of Ben Glaha is the first detailed examination of Glaha's images of the project, some of which have never before been published. Glaha photographed every aspect of the construction process—from details of how the dam was assembled to the overall progress as the dam rose from the bottom of the dry riverbed. Glaha not only provided the Bureau with the photographs it required, he also employed his own artistic abilities to produce images of the dam that were exhibited in museums and galleries as works of art. Because Glaha was able to create a selection of Hoover Dam photographs worthy of exhibition, he was unique among government documentary photographers. Art historian Barbara Vilander's text places Glaha's efforts within the historical context of western landscape exploration and development and reveals how his particular qualifications led to his selection as the project photographer. Vilander then examines the many publications and venues in which the Bureau used Glaha's photographs to create support for the project. She also discusses how Glaha was recognized in his own era as an influential artist and teacher, and compares his work with that of other contemporary landscape photographers addressing western water management. Glaha's Hoover Dam images were widely published, although in accordance with Bureau policy he was not usually given personal credit and therefore his name remains largely unknown. Vilander's book corrects that oversight by giving Glaha the technical and artistic credit he is due within the context of one of the most ambitious projects in American history.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Hoover Dam was constructed during one of the most depressed economic climates in American history, in a remote desert canyon where temperatures ranged from single to triple digits. In order to visually document the project, the Bureau of Reclamation assigned employee Ben Glaha to photograph all aspects of the dam's construction. Glaha's photographs were used in press releases, periodicals, books, pamphlets, and slide shows to demonstrate that the dam was structurally sound and that government funds were being used wisely. Hoover Dam: The Photographs of Ben Glaha is the first detailed examination of Glaha's images of the project, some of which have never before been published. Glaha photographed every aspect of the construction process—from details of how the dam was assembled to the overall progress as the dam rose from the bottom of the dry riverbed. Glaha not only provided the Bureau with the photographs it required, he also employed his own artistic abilities to produce images of the dam that were exhibited in museums and galleries as works of art. Because Glaha was able to create a selection of Hoover Dam photographs worthy of exhibition, he was unique among government documentary photographers. Art historian Barbara Vilander's text places Glaha's efforts within the historical context of western landscape exploration and development and reveals how his particular qualifications led to his selection as the project photographer. Vilander then examines the many publications and venues in which the Bureau used Glaha's photographs to create support for the project. She also discusses how Glaha was recognized in his own era as an influential artist and teacher, and compares his work with that of other contemporary landscape photographers addressing western water management. Glaha's Hoover Dam images were widely published, although in accordance with Bureau policy he was not usually given personal credit and therefore his name remains largely unknown. Vilander's book corrects that oversight by giving Glaha the technical and artistic credit he is due within the context of one of the most ambitious projects in American history. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: University of Arizona Press (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816516952
• ISBN-13: 978-0816516957
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,214,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hooverville, August 24, 2008

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoover Dam: The Photographs of Ben Glaha (Paperback)

The Amazon Editorial Reviews above will give you a good idea of this book's contents but what isn't said is that this is not a photo book of Ben Glaha's work. His fifty shots included are really an adjunct to Barbara Vilander's excellent text. She clearly has done a lot of research into the dam's construction by the Six Companies and how Glaha photographed all aspects of this activity. Her coverage extents to placing the photos in the context of the Machine Aesthetic (chapter four) and use of the photos by the Bureau of Reclamation (chapter five: The Photographs as Propaganda).

Though the text is interesting I was disappointed that the book's production is quite bland. Glaha's photos (and others) are presented on the page with far too much surrounding white space and they have been scanned as ordinary photos as you would see in a picture book so that light areas merge into the whiteness of the paper, dark parts of so many photos nearly turn to black. Overall there is a feeling of grayness as I look through the book's images.

Glaha's work really needs proper scanning, quality paper and printing as duotones in a photo book format to bring out the creative and information aspects that are inherent in his photos. With the existing text such a book could look quite stunning.

If you are interested in all aspects of the dam's construction the best book I've found is The Story of the Hoover Dam, a remarkable record originally published in various issues of Compressed Air Magazine, 1931-1935. It has plenty of maps, diagrams and photos some of which were taken by Glaha. It is quite technical though. Click on the link to the book to see some spreads I've uploaded.


***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.