Images of the San Juans Revised
The Ruth and Marvin Gregory photograph Collection was affectionately put together by two people whose love for the San Juan Mountains was evident. Ruth and San Juan historian P. David Smith picked their favorites from over ten thousand prints. All of the photographs are interesting and unique and most have never been published. To Marvin and Ruth, the photos all told a story. They are all made even more touching and provocative by the fact that Ruth and Marvin's story is told throughout this book. Ruth's family is now in its seventh generation in Colorado , her grandfather having been one of the very first settlers in the San Juans. Ruth or her family actually lived the life seen in many of the photographs from this book. Their friend, San Juan historian P. David Smith, with tenderness, humor and wonder, has supplied the extended captions which set the photographs in context. Here, in words and over 290 photographs, is the exciting mosaic of events and themes which record the life, landscape and times of the early San Juans.
- Published
- 1997
- ISBN
- 978-1-890437-12-1
- Pages
- 288
- Category
- History
- Place
- The San Juans
- Publisher
- Western Reflections
- Listed at
- $32.32
Publication details from Open Library. The price shown is the last one on record and is historic, not a current offer.
- Direct from us info@westernreflectionspublishing.com or (336) 565-6915. We pack and post from Lake City.
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About this book
Images of the San Juans Revised is a photograph book built from the Ruth and Marvin Gregory photograph collection. The description says the two put it together out of love for the San Juan Mountains. Ruth and San Juan historian P. David Smith picked their favorites from over ten thousand prints, and most of the photographs have never been published.
Ruth's own story runs through the book. Her family is in its seventh generation in Colorado, and her grandfather was one of the very first settlers in the San Juans. She or her family lived the life seen in many of the photographs. P. David Smith, a friend of the couple, wrote the extended captions that set each photograph in context, with what the description calls tenderness, humor and wonder.
The description says the book holds over 290 photographs, and our record lists 288 pages. The record gives this edition as 1997 from Western Reflections, and the catalogue is the only source we have for those figures. The subjects are photograph collections and pictorial works, which fits a book meant to be looked at as much as read. The publisher's old store page credited the book to P. David Smith and subtitled it Historical Selections from the Ruth and Marvin Gregory Photograph Collection.
Who it is for
This book is for people who love the San Juan Mountains and want to see how life there looked in the early days. It suits readers of Colorado family history, since Ruth Gregory's own family appears in many of the pictures. Collectors of regional photography and local libraries will find the captions useful for placing each image.
Ways to use this book
Matching a photograph to a place on the ground
Pick a few pictures from the book and read about their towns on the county historical society sites before you drive. Check each society's website for seasonal dates, since small museums in the high country often close for winter.
Digging into your own family's mountain history
Ruth's family is described as seven generations in Colorado. If yours has a San Juan connection, the newspaper archive linked by the Silverton society is one place to look for a surname, and the Ouray society archives are another.
Giving a photograph book as a gift
A large picture book suits a reader who loves a particular range. Add a note with the nearest historical society's address, so the recipient can see where the images were made.
Go deeper
The photographs in this book come from the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. Local historical societies and a state encyclopedia can show you more of the same country, and help you match a picture to a place.
San Juan County Historical Society
Runs the Mining Heritage Center and 1902 jail in Silverton. Its website links its archive and says you can peruse Silverton newspapers from 1874 to today.
Ouray County Historical Society and Museum
The society says it works to keep the history of Ouray County and the San Juan Mountains alive through archives, exhibits, programs and events.
San Juan Mountains, Colorado Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia article on the range, with captioned photographs of peaks and old mine structures near Silverton.
Good to know
What does the book contain?
Is it a history or a photo book?
Who chose the photographs?
Where can I buy it?
Have a book of your own?
This is the kind of book the house publishes: regional history, biography, memoir and the stories that belong to a place. Send us yours and a person will read it.