Preserving the Photographic Negatives of Harrison R. Crandall, Official Photographer of the Grand Teton National Park

Abstract

A long time ago, in 1922 to be exact, a man and his young bride packed all their possessions into a Model T Ford truck, and navigated the primitive road eastward across Teton Pass. Harrison and Hildegard Crandall were undertaking an adventure to live out their American dream. They intended to raise a family in Jackson Hole, and interpret their âideal landscapeââthe Teton countryâin oil paintings and photographs. Like so many energetic Americans before them, the Crandall family had the fortitude and perseverance to make their dreams come true. There were many tough years of dry homesteading in Jackson Hole, building and running an art business during the Great Depression, and weathering the controversies of frontier life during turbulent times. Nonetheless, the Crandall family successfully operated their art studio for 34 years near Jenny Lake in the Grand Teton National Park. They also operated a studio in the shadow of Jackson Lake Dam at the old village of Moran. Today, we can celebrate the Crandall family legacy by studying Harrisonâs many fine paintings and photographs that are found in collections and homes far and wide.