American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Small Folio leatherette album containing 71 silver gelatin photographs, each 8 x 6 1/4 in., mounted recto/verso on black pages; none identified, but scenes from Harvey’s extensive operation on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, n.d. but probably around 1920. Several are copyrighted within the negative “FH”, and we presume all were taken by an official Harvey photographer. Included are views of the Harvey hotel “El Tovar,” several of the gift shop, photographs of Navajo basket makers and weavers, a number of views of “Hopi House” on the south rim of the canyon and its inhabitants, tourists gazing at the canyon posed atop mules and horses, and more. The album also includes a number of images of Canyon de Chelle, and views of White House and other ruins.

An exceptional album documenting the efforts by the Harvey organization to popularize the American Southwest, and the Grand Canyon in particular as a tourist destination. After the Grand Canyon was designated a National Park in 1919, the Harvey Organization turned to Mary Colter (1869-1958), a company decorator and architect to design various buildings in the new attraction. This album, probably made not long after Harvey opened their Grand Canyon business in 1920 was likely made as a promotional piece.