Book Description
Whether you think of it as the ultimate in time-lapse photography or a reality show begun decades before its time, this 30-year photographic look at one middle-class family from Louisville, Kentucky, is Americana at its most evocative—at once moving, modest, and quietly magnificent. Conceived in the 20th century and carried forward into the 21st, this remarkable collection peers into every aspect of one particular family’s life to produce an album that is instantly recognizable to anyone who has ever shared the American experience.

A gifted photojournalist whose 250 discerning images speak for themselves in eloquent black and white, Pam Spaulding started to record the simple, unscripted "real life" events of the McGarveys immediately after the birth of the couple’s first baby in 1977 and ended with the wedding of the second of their three children in 2007. From the death of a beloved dog to Dad McGarvey struggling to assemble a toy aircraft carrier in the wee hours of Christmas, these are scenes that all of us know yet rediscover with astonishing force. From proud young parents to their kids squabbling in the backseat of the family car to the next generation of newlyweds, it’s all here—love, humor, intimacy, tragedy, loyalty.

Look Inside An American Family

Click on thumbnails for larger images

	Morgan holds hands with his grandfather and "best friend," Elmer Morgan. August 1986		Judy dresses Sara for her fourth birthday party, which featured a Cinderella theme including a neighbor playing the fairy godmother. May 1987		David, center, says the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time in kindergarten. Three of his classmates in the picture will stay with him through eighth grade. September 1982
	Two decades later, Morgan supports his grand father as they climb the stairs. June 2007		Sara finds her prom dress in one day of shopping with her mother. March 2001		The family welcomes David home from a tour in Iraq. John, who rarely shows emotion, held back tears when the crowd at the airport broke into applause. November 2006

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שם הספר
American Photojournalism: Motivations and Meanings (Medill Visions of the American Press)