Samuel Gottscho facts for kids
Samuel Herman Gottscho was a famous American photographer. He took amazing pictures of buildings, beautiful landscapes, and nature. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1875.
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Samuel Gottscho: Early Life and Photography Journey
Samuel Gottscho got his first camera in 1896. He took his very first photo at Coney Island. For many years, he took pictures as a hobby. He loved photographing houses, gardens, and natural scenes. He really enjoyed being outdoors and capturing the beauty of the countryside.
From Hobby to Career: Gottscho's Photography
Gottscho saw many amazing architectural photos. These pictures inspired him to make his own work even better. He decided to learn more from architects and landscape designers. For 23 years, Gottscho worked as a salesman. He sold lace and fabric.
When he was 50 years old, Gottscho changed careers. He became a professional photographer. This meant he took photos for businesses and clients. In 1935, his son-in-law, William Schleisner, joined his photography business.
Gottscho's Work in Magazines and Newspapers
Gottscho's photos started appearing in popular magazines. His pictures were often on the covers of American Architect and Architecture and Architectural Record. His portraits and building photos were also regularly featured in the New York Times.
He took many pictures of private homes. These homes were often in the suburbs of New York and Connecticut. These photos often appeared in home decoration magazines. From the early 1940s to the late 1960s, he also wrote articles for the Times. These articles were about wildflowers and included his beautiful photos.
Later Years and Legacy
Gottscho believed he created some of his best work when he was 70 years old. In 1967, he received a special award. The New York Botanical Garden gave him their Distinguished Service Medal. This was for his amazing photos of plants and nature. He passed away in 1971 in Jamaica, Queens, New York.
Where to Find Gottscho's Photos
Today, many of Gottscho's photos are kept in special collections. About 29,000 of his images are at the United States Library of Congress. This collection is called the Gottscho-Schleisner collection.
The Museum of the City of New York also has over 40,000 of his photos. In 2005, they had an exhibition of his work. It was called "The Mythic City: Photographs of New York by Samuel H. Gottscho, 1925-1940." Another large collection of his work is at the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University.
