Great Moments in Time

It is amazing how some great moments in history were captured by photographers who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Many of those memorable events from The New York Times Photo Archives will be on display, January 22-March 21, in an exhibit called "Great Moments in Time" at the Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield.

"How many photos are we talking about," asked museum Curator Jeff Nickell. "Well, let me just say they arrived in four 200 pound crates."

Among the treasures in those crates are Alexander Gardner's famous 1862 photograph of Abraham Lincoln visiting the Antietam battle site during the Civil War. Prominently displayed will be Jesse Owens' immortal sprint to gold at the 1936 Olympics; candid shots of Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan; the Wright Brothers historic 1903 first flight; the 1937 explosion of the Hindenburg; the 1963 Civil Rights March and Cesar Chavez' 1969 UFW demonstration.

"These photographs are immensely important to the history of this country," Nickell said. "When you look at them, there is a complete story in each photograph. Their importance is magnified by the fact that if those photographers had not been present to take the picture we might never have known of specific events in history."

Great Moments in Time provides a retrospective of our times since the use of photography in newspapers began. Besides enjoying these world-shaking works of art, visitors have the opportunity to purchase prints and half of what they spend supports the museum's programming efforts. Catalogs of The New York Times Photo Archives can be purchased for $8. For serious collectors, individual prints, most in 11 x 14 format, some with signatures and estate stamps, will be on sale ranging in price from $140 to as much as $3,000.

"I have many favorites," Nickell said. "Everyone likes the photo of artist Claude Monet perched on a bridge over the gardens that were so many times the subjects of his paintings. But for me, a real mind-blower is one that features Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, President Warren G. Harding and Harvey Firestone all posed together at one time. All those great minds in one picture. Wow!"

In addition to the Times' archives, visitors will also be able to gaze upon memorable photos from the museum's The Bakersfield Californian Archive. On display will be President Truman's whistle stop tour of Bakersfield, as well as pictures of famous Kern County personalities: educator Grace Van Dyke Bird, Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford, opera singer Lawrence Tibbett, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, Mayor Don Hart and others.

"The two exhibits offer the opportunity for some great comparisons," Nickell said. "In The Californian exhibit there is that great shot of Truman's whistle stop tour in Bakersfield and in The Times exhibit that famous photo of Truman on election night holding up the newspaper that incorrectly proclaimed Dewey the Presidential winner."

The museum is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Admission prices are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors 60 years and older and students ages 13-18, $5 for students ages 6-12 and $4 for children ages 3-5. Children under age 3 are admitted free.

For more information, call the museum at (661) 852-5000.
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