WHAT IS AMERICA RESTORED?

In addition to being a photographer myself, I am also a photo history buff, particularly American photography. I’ve always wanted some of these images on my walls, but the files that are available at public institutions are solely “archival”, meaning an accurate record of the object as it exists. “Accurate record” includes dust, pinholes, fingerprints, defects, and the ravages of time.

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While you can order prints from the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and other public institutions, they are generally not archival prints like they used to make when they had a real darkrooms. They are usually inexpensive digital prints not meant to last (the NYPL is an exception, but the images are not restored). To remedy this, I have begun digitally restoring images, by hand… spotting, repairing, and adding a little artistic interpretation (adjusting contrast, etc.). These are the first few, with many more to come. Now you can own a museum quality restoration print for your home or office. These photographs are being offered as pigmented ink prints only in image sizes of 7.5x9.5", 9.5x12", 11x14" and 15x19".

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All of the images available are curated from publicy-funded institutions, such as The Library of Congress, and state and regional libraries. All are from government (taxpayer-funded) initiatives, such as the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information (FSA/OWI) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. As they are publicly-funded there are no restrictions on their reproduction.

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These images look great on any wall, home or office, and make wonderful gifts.