Turner, Leslie L., photographer

Album of New Hampshire Covered Bridge Photographs' [October 1937 Architectural Survey]

A meticulously compiled photographic survey documenting 23 New Hampshire covered bridges during the interwar period. This unique vernacular archive, created by Leslie L. Turner, provides high-fidelity architectural evidence of historic timber infrastructure, much of which was later altered or lost.

KEY FEATURES 
+++ Visuals: Contains 23 mounted silver-gelatin photographs, 15 of which are professionally hand-colored in watercolor, providing a rare polychrome record of the New England landscape in 1937. 
+++ Binding: Original black string-tied softcover album with a window-mounted front photograph. 
+++ Content: Each photograph is precisely captioned with specific bridge locations and dates (October 1937), documenting structures across the state including historic spans that pre-date modern steel-and-concrete replacements. 
+++ Associated Names: Compiled by Leslie L. Turner of Lynnfield Centre, Massachusetts, whose work reflects the disciplined survey style of the 1930s. 
+++ Rarity: Uncommon as a complete, single-subject documentary album; most vernacular photography of this period is fragmented or uncaptioned. 
+++ Imprint: Private photographic survey by the artist/compiler. 
+++ Specs: 11.5 inches wide by 8.25 inches tall / 23 mounted photographs.

CONDITION Very Good -- Light handling wear to the wrappers with a small corner tear to the front window opening. Internally clean and well-preserved; photographs are sharp with strong contrast and delicate hand-coloring.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- 
Leslie L. Turner’s work stands as a vital record of New Hampshire’s built environment during the late Depression era. Captured shortly before the onset of World War II, these images document the state’s transportation infrastructure at a moment when traditional timber framing was still the vernacular standard but facing obsolescence.

The inclusion of hand-colored prints elevates this from a mere amateur scrapbook to a deliberate artistic and documentary project. For historians of civil engineering and New England preservation, Turner’s consistent style and precise dating provide an essential baseline for studying the evolution and survival of the American covered bridge.

SUBJECTS: New Hampshire Covered Bridges, Civil Engineering History, Timber Framing, Silver-Gelatin Photography, Hand-Colored Prints, 1930s Infrastructure, New England Architecture, Photographic Album, Architectural Documentation, Vernacular Photography, Americana.

Item #21309

Price: $285.00