Andrew J. Russell

Andrew Joseph Russell (1830 – 1902)

One of a handful of landscape photographers who shaped our perception of the American West in the 19th century, A. J. Russell’s work stands alongside of Carleton Watkins, Eadweard Muybridge and Timothy O’Sullivan in its aesthetic power and technical virtuosity. A large group of Russell’s original glass-plate negatives are preserved in the Collection of the Oakland Museum of California.

A painter as well as photographer, Russell worked for Matthew Brady before documenting the U.S. Military Railroad as a captain during the Civil War. After the war, he secured a position as official photographer for the Union Pacific Railroad in its massive endeavor to construct a transcontinental railroad. His photographs, culminating in the iconic “Joining of the Rails” at Promontory, Utah, capture the majestic scale of western lands, the gritty enterprise of railroad building, frontier boom towns, and the effect of railroads on Native Americans.

Russell’s photographs brought the railroad, and the American West, to a mass audience. Disseminated internationally as stereo views and engravings in newspapers, and filtered through Hollywood films and even advertising, Russell’s visual style continues to influence our image of western history and mythology.

In 1969 the Oakland Museum acquired nearly 650 collodion “wet plate” negatives in both stereo and “imperial” (10 X 13 inch) formats. The original glass camera negatives were made in the field by Russell himself, making the collection unique, among major 19th century landscape photographers. The Museum also holds one of the few surviving copies of The Great West Illustrated, an album of vintage albumen prints by Russell, as well as mounted stereo views and more than 100 glass lantern slides.

Russell’s photographs illuminate powerful themes in American history: westward expansion and Manifest Destiny, the displacement of native peoples, attitudes toward landscape and the natural environment, technological history (both engineering and photographic), and the important role of art and photography in shaping and expressing cultural concerns.

For the first time, high-resolution digital scans of the original glass-plate negatives are now available for online viewing. These scans are highly detailed and rich in searchable content.

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Cut No. 4, West of Dale Creek Bridge Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 No 32 Cut No 4 west of Dale Creek Bridge, (Scratched on negative)	Reed's Rock, Sherman Summit of U.P.R.R. Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 17 Reed's Rock Sherman Summit of U.P.R.R. (Scratched on negative)"Reed's Rock was presumably named after Samuel Reed, Union Pacific Surveyor. It was dismantled in 1882, cut into blocks, and used...
Commisioners at Fort Sanders Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 No 38 Commissioners at Fort Sanders (Scratched on Negative).	California U.P.R.R. Stable or Corral, Salt Lake City Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 169 California U.P.R.R. Stable or Correll (sic) Salt Lake City (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass...
Salt Lake City No. 3, Panoramic View Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: Image Description: (163) Salt Lake City, No 3, Panoramic View Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass negative, 10"X13 ". Sub. Cat.: Transportation --...	Sentinel Rock, Weber Valley Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: No 182 Sentinel Rock Weber Valley (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Buildings in front of rock. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass...
City Creek Canyon Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: No 157 City Creek Cannon The Water used by Citizens of Salt Lake City (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. See also 69.459.1971. Physical Description...	Brigham's Bath House, Hot Sulphur Springs, Salt Lake City Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: No 156 Brigham's Bath House Hot Sulphur Springs Salt Lake City (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion...
Mountains of Green River Valley Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 77 No Mountains of Green River Valley (Scratched on negative).	Employees of U.P.R.R. at Laramie City Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 No 49 Employees of U.P.R.R. at Laramie City (Scratched on negative).
Construction Train at End of Track, General Casement's Outfit, General in Foreground Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 59 No Construction Train at End of Track Gen Casement's Outfit Gen in Foreground (Scratched on negative)."Russell's wagon with darkroom box on back (right side). Corner of dark cloth pulled back...	Dale Creek Bridge from Above, No. 2 Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 24 Dale Creek Bridge from Above No 2 (Scratched on negative). Snow in gulch below bridge.
The Old Saw Mill, Parley's Park Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 146 The Old Saw Mill Parleys Park (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass negative, 10"X13". Sub. Cat...	Group of Officials Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 161 No 2 Group of Officials (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Group posing in front of corral. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass...
Pony Engine Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Pony Engine. Engine number 3 of the Union Pacific Railroad with three men in and near the cab and one man in front.	Snow and Timber Line, Uinta Mountains Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 90 Snow and Timber Line Uintah Mountains (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass negative, 10"X13"....
Cashier's Office, Echo City Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 127 Cashier's Office Echo City (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Men posing outside building. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass...	Bromley's Residence, Echo City Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 126 Bromley's Residence Echo City (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass negative, 10"X13". Sub. Cat...
Looking Down Temple Street, Salt Lake Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 168 Looking Down Temple Street Salt Lake (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass negative, 10"X13 "....	Interior of Dining Room at Laramie, No. 1 Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 (48b) Interior of Dining Room at Laramie No 1. Tables set.
Ripple Lake, White Pine Canyon, Parley's Park Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 147 Ripple Lake White Pine Cannon Parleys Park (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. See also 69.459.1963. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate"...	Front View of Laramie Shops Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 No 42 Front View of Laramie Shops.
Group at O.C. Smith, Echo City Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: 237 Group at O.C. Smith Echo City (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate" collodion glass negative, 10"X13 ". Sub...	Bishop Snyder's Residence, Parley's Park, Utah Andrew J. Russell circa 1868 Photograph. Title: No 152 Bishop Snyder's Residence Parleys Park Utah (Scratched on negative) Image Description: See title. Family on porch. Physical Description: "Imperial Plate"...