Monday, August 31, 2015

Table of Contents - A. A. Forbes

A. A. Forbes Web Portal
Please Read! Click on a topic link below. Read that topic. Click on the last link at the bottom "Go to A. A. Forbes home" to return to this TABLE OF CONTENTS page and repeat the process until you have read everything on this site about A. A. Forbes. 
Above: Unpublished mid-life self-portrait photo of Forbes. Date unknown. Photo courtesy of Bailly / Tureson.

Who was A. A. Forbes, and why does his lens matter? Imagine it is the late 1800s and you are standing on the edge of two million acres as 50,000 people charge forward to claim their future. Andrew Alexander Forbes wasn't just there—he was a cowboy-photographer capturing the dust and grit of the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush.

From the saddles of the Texas plains to the remote, narrow canyons of Havasupai Falls, Forbes spent his life documenting a vanishing frontier. His journey eventually led him to the Eastern Sierra, where he captured the seldom seen high-altitude engineering marvel of the Saline Valley Salt Tram and the many majestic views of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. We are fortunate that his travels finally brought him to Bishop, California, where he operated the Forbes Studio on West Line Street from 1902 to 1916. If you love Western history, the evolution of photography, or the untold stories of the Eastern Sierra, you are in the right place.

Our research into the prolific photographic life of A. A. is ongoing, and we solicit your input and help in this endeaver. We encourage you to make comments on any given Forbes topic, as it helps us in our research and the quality of the site. Thank-you!

New: Month Year! Newly added section.
Updated: Month Year! Substantial new material.

Introduction:

Individual  Works of A. A. Forbes
     New: June 2015! Matlock Lake, Calif.
     New: August 2015! Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889

Forbes Younger Days (Birth in 1862 to 1902)

"Forbes Studio" Bishop, Calif. (1902 to 1916)

Forbes Post Studio to Passing (1916-1921)

Forbes Post Studio to Passing (1921-1955?)
     Wife Mary runs the Studio

Forbes Research Documents

Misc. Forbes

Presentations
Above: A. A. Forbes first became famous for his images captured as a cowboy photographer in the 1880's. The above photo was taken by Forbes on April 22, 1889 at the Oklahoma Land Rush. About 50,000 land seekers raced off to grab their share of the 2,000,000 acres being given away.
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Oklahoma Land Rush of April 22, 1889

Click to enlarge photos.

I recently ran into these photos of the Oklahoma Land Rush. Forbes gained early fame for his capturing of these images on April 22, 1889. He took these while he was in his transition period from cowboy to pioneer photographer.

Two Oklahoma Land Rush Photographs, "The Start" No. 149 and No. 150 by A. A. Forbes ca 1889. The Oklahoma land rush of 1889 was as much a celebration as it was an attempt to settle the region, considered some of the best unoccupied public land in the country. The rush started at high noon on April 22, 1889 with an estimated 50,000 people lined up for their piece of the available two million acres, and countless thousands more looking on. 

Description of the 2 photos from the auction house, Heritage Auctions: Here we have two nearly identical images by A.A. Forbes, each taken as the land rush began and the first of the 50,000 set off to stake their claims. Images measure approximately 7.5" x 4" and are affixed to slightly larger mounts, one of which bears Forbes' ink stamp on verso. Although one image is less exposed than the other, both are in fine condition.

These 2 photos appear to have been sold at auction in 2008. You can find the links to these 2 photos above by clicking here. Auction house info below:

 Heritage Auctions
3500 Maple Ave., 17th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75219-3941
877-HERITAGE (437-4824)
(214) 528-3500
Fax: (214) 409-1425
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