Smoke Over Oklahoma: The Railroad Photographs of Preston George
Oklahoma was in the throes of the Great Depression when Preston George acquired a cheap Kodak folding camera and took his first photographs of steam locomotives. As depression gave way to world war, George kept taking pictures, now with a Graflex camera that could capture moving trains. In this first book devoted solely to George's work, his black-and-white photographs constitute a striking visual documentary of steam-driven railroading in its brief but glorious heyday in the American Southwest. The pictures also form a remarkable artistic accomplishment in their own right. Prominent among the magnificent action images collected here are the engines that were George's passion--steam locomotives pulling long freights or strings of gleaming passenger cars through open country. But along with the fireworks of the heavier steam engines slogging through the mountains near the Arkansas border on the Kansas City Southern or climbing Raton Pass in New Mexico on the Santa Fe, George's photographs also record humbler fare, such as the short trains of the Frisco and Katy piloted by ancient light steamers, and the final years of that state's interurban lines. Augustus J. Veenendaal Jr.'s brief history of railroads in the Sooner State puts these images into perspective, as does a reminiscence by George's daughter Burnis on his life and his pursuit of railroad photography. With over 150 images and a wealth of historical and biographical information, this volume makes accessible to an audience beyond the most avid railfans the extent of Preston George's extraordinary achievement.
Author: Augustus J. Veenendaal
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Published: 01/17/2017
Pages: 208
Weight: 1.94lbs
Size: 8.10h x 11.10w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780806155685
About the Author
Veenendaal, Augustus J.: - Augustus J. Veenendaal Jr. is retired as Senior Research Scholar at the Institute of Netherlands History in The Hague and the author of numerous works on U.S. and European railroad history, including Slow Train to Paradise: How Dutch Investment Helped Build American Railroads and American Railroads in the Nineteenth Century.Blackburn, Bob L.: - Bob L. Blackburn is Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City.Argo, Burnis George: - Writer Burnis George Argo is the daughter of Preston George.
Shipping Information
Orders are typically processed and shipped within 2-3 business days.
We are currently not shipping internationally.
We are not resposible for any delays due to the carrier due to location, time of year, and weather.
Customer Support
Please contact info@boscpapersupply.com with any questions or concerns. We typically respond within 24 hours.
FAQ’s
Do you accept returns?
Yes, please contact info@boscpapersupply.com within 21 days of purchase to exchange or refund your order.
Item(s) must be unused and returned in the same condition that you received it.
Only regular priced items may be exchanged or returned, sale items are final.
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item unless approved otherwise by our customer service rep. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
What happens if I receive a damaged item?
We take great care in packaging your order and if we make a mistake, we want to correct it immediately. Please notify us as soon as possible at info@boscpapersupply.com to resolve the issue.
Can I order books through Bosc?
Yes, please email info@boscpapersupply.com with the title of the book you are wanting to order and we will let you know if we are able to order it for you.
Contact Us
Email us at info@boscpapersupply.com for any questions, comments, or suggestions.