Photographs from the Chicago Daily News, 1902-1933
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Historical Analysis and Interpretation
Search on Alton B. Parker for a series of 61 photographs taken to illustrate the life of the 1904 Democratic presidential candidate in his home town of Esopus, New York. Parker ran against President Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican incumbent from Oyster Bay of New York's affluent Long Island.
Room with books, chairs and a small desk at Judge
Alton B. Parker's home in Esopus, New York
Young girl holding a large American
flag near Judge Alton B. Parker's
home in Esopus, New York
- Why would Parker or members of his campaign staff have wanted to take photographs of the presidential candidate in his home town of Esopus?
- What kind of impression do you get of Esopus from these photographs?
- How might knowing that Parker was from this town impact your impression of him?
- Who appears with Parker in these photographs?
- How does Parker's association with these people reflect upon the candidate?
- In what kinds of places and activities, is Parker portrayed?
- How do these places and activities reflect upon the candidate?
- What is your impression of Parker's house?
- How does this impact your impression of the presidential candidate?
Assume the role of Parker's campaign manager and select twelve of these photographs to portray an image of the candidate that will appeal to the public and help him win the election.
- What are your goals in portraying your candidate through photographs?
- What messages do you want to send the public through these photographs?
- Which images best convey these messages and why?
- How effective are photographs in influencing the public's perception of a presidential candidate?