Anne Morgan: Photography, Philanthropy, and Advocacy

Here is an inspiring story of Anne Morgan (1873–1952), the youngest daughter of financier J. P. Morgan, and her pioneering use of photography to advance her social work and philanthropic mission.

Time and again, Morgan used photographs to muster support for her relief efforts and charitable activities. The thousands of photos she commissioned during World War I stand as her enduring achievement. But it is the press images showing her social advocacy, the snapshots chronicling her private life, and the studio portraits displaying her poise, stature, and fascination with dressing up in costumes and uniforms that illuminate the context of her public work. Together, these offer an intriguing view of her world during the early and mid-20th century, when the photographic image emerged as one of the most pervasive means of mass communication.

Coauthored by Guggenheim Fellow Alan Govenar and UCLA professor emerita Mary Niles Maack, Anne Morgan is a must-have addition to any library, whether personal or public.