Significance of Photography

Consider for a moment your own family photographs which document the history of your family. I am sure you feel these family photographs are important to safe-keep in order to pass on to your children and grandchildren. When looking at photographs we quickly realize how photographs document in a unique way a moment in time not easily expressed through words. It is for this reason and others we recognize the importance of photography to history.

The Photographers

There were numerous photographers who took pictures of Lyndon Johnson in various capacities and at different times over his long career in politics. I typically separate LBJ photographs into four categories; 1) Freelance photography, 2) Press photography, 3) Congressional photography, and 4) White House photography. There also exists some overlap in the categories. An example would be that some freelance photographers took Press assignments from time to time. A comprehensive review with guidelines to recognizing contemporary prints from original photographs is available in my LBJ Signature Study Book titled Lyndon B. Johnson: Reflections in History. For the collector, having a good knowledge of this subject is imperative to both collecting photographs and to authenticating the autographs that may be on them.

Below are a few sample photographs from my personal collection. There are many photographs that I will not be able to display due to copyright laws. To learn more about the photo-history of Lyndon Johnson and the photographers who captured the history on film, be sure to obtain a copy of my LBJ Signature Study Book available through this website.

Additional information can also be obtained through the LBJ Library and Museum website -

Click here to visit the LBJ Library and Museum Website