Magnificent Intentions: John Wood, First Federal Photographer (1856-1863)

Despite his prolific career as the first US federal photographer, John Wood has been largely forgotten. With 160 stunning, high-resolution images, Magnificent Intentions establishes Wood as a leader among American photographers of the time and provides historical context for his overlooked work and legacy, which includes:

The first inauguration photo, from James Buchanan's inauguration in 1857

Newly uncovered evidence that Wood was the photographer who documented Abraham Lincoln's first inauguration in 1861, the only surviving photograph of that historic event

Hundreds of photographs of the construction of public buildings in DC, most notably the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Aqueduct

Pioneering innovations in the use of photography to duplicate maps and plans during the Civil War

The first panoramic photos of Washington, DC

Adrienne Lundgren, senior photograph conservator at the Library of Congress, explores how Wood's life shaped his photographic eye and examines innovative techniques that made him a pioneer among his contemporaries, including his use of uncommonly large format plates and his experimentation with the dry collodion process. The book includes an enriching foreword from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, and not only celebrates the artistic and technical merit of Wood's photos, but also chronicles the fascinating evolution of early photography and the federal government's use of the medium to shape public understanding of the American experience. Written by Adrienne Lundgren. Hardcover; 216 pages.

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