Dorothea Lange's 'Death of a Valley' Photos of Submerged Town Digitized by UC
The University of California has launched a digital archive featuring a series of poignant photographs by Dorothea Lange and Pirkle Jones, documenting the submerged town of Monticello, now beneath Lake Berryessa. Captured between 1956 and 1957 for an unutilized Life magazine feature, these compelling images portray the devastating changes brought on by the construction of the Monticello Dam. Titled "Death of a Valley," the collection emphasizes the consequences of modernization, including deforestation and the destruction of structures. This project, including letters and blueprints, is now accessible online through the UC Santa Cruz Library.
Key facts
- Dorothea Lange and Pirkle Jones photographed Monticello, California, from 1956 to 1957.
- The town now lies beneath Lake Berryessa.
- The photos were originally sold to Life magazine but the story was pulled.
- The project 'Death of a Valley' was published by Aperture magazine.
- Exhibited at San Francisco Museum of Art and Art Institute of Chicago.
- Many photos were unseen until this digitization.
- The Monticello Dam is 270 feet tall.
- Archive includes notes, blueprints, and letters.
Entities
Artists
- Dorothea Lange
- Pirkle Jones
Institutions
- University of California
- UC Santa Cruz
- Life magazine
- Aperture magazine
- San Francisco Museum of Art
- Art Institute of Chicago
- UC Santa Cruz Library
Locations
- Monticello
- Lake Berryessa
- California
- United States