Call Number:

PH-00502

Collection Name:

What Majestic Word: In Memory of Russell Varian. Portfolio IV

Creator:

No. of Items:

1 portfolio (15 photographs)

Span Dates:

1963

Description:

Limited edition published portfolio, entitled What Majestic Word: In Memory of Russell Varian. Portfolio IV (San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1963), containing 15 gelatin silver prints by Ansel Adams (American, 1902-1984), two copies of a title page/text insert, and one copy of a biographical sketch of Russell Harrison Varian (American, 1898-1959) written by his wife, Dorothy Varian (American, 1907-1992). The portfolio is "[a]n expression of Russell Varian's appreciation of mountains and wilderness as interpreted by photographs by Ansel Adams." It was "[p]ublished as a memorial to Russell Harrison Varian, scientist and humanitarian who loved the wilderness, the mountains, meadows and seashore...Proceeds from this portfolio [went] toward the establishment of the Castle Rock area, on the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains, as a California state park. This was a project Russell Varian had begun just before his death in 1959." Limited to an edition of 260, this copy is number 233. Also included is the official announcement of the portfolio that was published by the Varian Foundation in conjunction with the Sierra Club.

Each photograph is mounted on 2-ply mat board, and inserted into an individual paper folder. Printed in the upper left portion of each folder is a quote from Russell Varian’s writings. Printed in the center of each folder is the image number written in Roman numerals, and printed in the lower right portion of each folder is a quote from the poetry of his father, John Osborne Varian (Irish-American, 1863-1931). The photographs are a mixture of landscapes and details of natural objects in California and Alaska parks and wilderness areas.

Location(s):

f TR 650 A2 HRC-P Box 1 (975:0031:0001-0007)
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f TR 650 A2 HRC-P Box 2 (975:0031:0008-0015)
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See Also:

Ansel Adams Photography Collection: Additional photographs by Adams can be found in the Ansel Adams Photography Collection (PH-00039).

Sierra Club Outing 1929: An additional portfolio by Adams, entitled Sierra Club Outing 1929, can also be found in the collection (PH-00501).

Mabel Dodge Luhan Literary File Photography Collection: An additional photograph by Ansel Adams (958:0079:0002) can be found in the Mabel Dodge Luhan Literary File Photography Collection (PH-02864).