Over Time: Palo Alto, 1947-1980 (General History: California) [Paperback]

Ben Hatfield (Author), Barry Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2008

Adrian Hatfield was one of many happy veterans returning to Palo Alto after World War II, but this flying ace and Stanford student (class of 1938) would spend the next 33 years photographing every inch of Palo Alto and vicinity. Presented here for the first time in published form is the aerial photography of Adrian Hatfield, founder of Hatfield Aerial Survey in 1947. The astounding visual archives that he created during his long career documents the evolution of a small town surrounded by dairies, farms, and apricot orchards to a tech-industry giant that finds its roots firmly attached to Stanford University. Working closely with developers such as Joseph Eichler, Hatfield witnessed, recorded, and helped build the community that is Palo Alto today.

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About the Author

This photographic adventure is narrated by Adrian's son, Ben Hatfield, who was trained by his father to record the bird's-eye view with the large Fairchild F-56 wide-angle lens camera. On chilly mornings in a doorless cockpit, young Ben scouted the graded circles on the earth that would soon sprout thousands of new homes. Once using his experiences for his classroom show and tell, Ben now guides readers through the aerial world that his family knew like their own backyard Palo Alto, over time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (August 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738546917
• ISBN-13: 978-0738546919
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,141,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming Collection of Old Palo Alto Photographs, July 19, 2011

By 

Dr. Bojan Tunguz (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Over Time: Palo Alto, 1947-1980 (General History: California) (Paperback)

Palo Alto is one of the nicest and most charming towns that I know. It's a collection of impeccably maintained residential areas and vibrant downtown that boasts an incredible collection of fine dining venues. It also plays the role of the hometown for the nearby Stanford University, which served as the initial motivation for the development of this town. Palo Alto is close to many great hiking parks, as well as a short driving distance from the Pacific coast. All of this, including a year-round balmy weather, makes Palo Alto in many ways an ideal place to live.

"Palo Alto Over Time 1947-1980" is a great collection of photographs and historical texts that cover the post-war boom that created what we now think as Silicon Valley. All of the photographs are in black and white, which gives this book a certain patina of authenticity. Nonetheless, black and white photographs don't quite capture all the charm and beauty of Palo Alto. Even if you are familiar with Palo Alto, this book can serve as a good introduction to the historical developments that made this city what it is today. The book is great addition to any history buff's library, as well as for anyone who is interested in this part of America.