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Publication Date

4-1-2021

Document Type

Article

First Page

65

Last Page

71

Abstract

In 1921, Guy Gannett, son of successful Maine publisher William H. Gannett, purchased two competing Portland newspapers, the Herald and the Daily Press, merging them under the Portland Press Herald title. He followed in 1925 with the purchase the Portland Evening Express, which allowed him to combine two passions: photography and aviation.

While photography was not a new medium, it was not until after the mid 1920s when newspapers began to widely feature photographs. Guy Gannett was an innovator in the field, highlighting local interest stories with heavy illustration. Further, technological advancements during World War I improved the ability to photograph from airplanes, and the modern aerial photograph was born.

Gannett harnessed the new technology to capture major events and scenes throughout Maine. Geographic features, natural disasters, and celebrations were all better documented through aerial photography and helped to sell newspapers. Today, the images allow us to glimpse at the past through one of the most significant media influences in Maine.

The following is an excerpt from Eye in the Sky, an online exhibition through the Maine Memory Network’s web portal dedicated to the Maine Historical Society’s Portland Press Herald glass negative collection. The collection, which includes over 19,000 glass negatives dating from 1911 to circa 1940, was recently digitized in full in with the support of an Insti tute of Museum and Library Services, Collections Stewardship Grant. The collection is mag nificent testament to early 20th century Maine and considered one of the premier collections at MHS

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