Natchez - Joan W. Gandy

In its earliest days, Natchez, Mississippi, attracted entrepreneurial people who saw potential for future enterprises.

In fact, by the 1850s, Natchez boasted more millionaires per capita than any other small town in the country. This wealth, and the energy that came along with it, created a vibrant and bustling early environment in Natchez. The city streets served as the stage on which the action took place, and where the drama of real life in a young and hopeful America unfolded. Natchez: City Streets Revisited captures through vintage photography the images of this unique period in the city's history. Included are the early businesses that prospered in Natchez, as well as the grand homes of the pioneering families who brought prosperity to Natchez. This visual journey is possible due to the skill, craftsmanship, and foresight of the city's early photographers--Henry D. Gurney, Henry C. Norman, and his son, Earl Norman. Henry Norman trained under Gurney and went on to become Natchez's most sought-after portrait artist. In addition to portraiture, he photographed everyday life in Natchez, strolling the brick sidewalks of the city to document elaborate new storefronts and merchandise displayed on curbs. Earl Norman carried on his father's tradition and continued to photograph the city and its people in his own highly acclaimed collection.

Dr. Thomas H. Gandy has spent the last four decades working with the thousands of glass-plate negatives these legendary photographers left behind. The result is a collection that he and his wife, Joan W. Gandy, have showcased the world round. A writer, editor, and publisher for more than twenty-five years, Joan W. Gandy brings the stories behind these images to life in an engaging narrative. Together with its companion volume, Natchez: Landmarks, Lifestyles, and Leisure, this book is a must-read and a must-see for Natchez residents, fans of early American photography, and anyone captivated by the nostalgia of yesteryear.