Don't miss this timely read an NPR "Books We Love": "Deeply researched biography told in
sharply attentive black-and-white comics." Legendary cartoonist Bill Griffith brings a personal
touch to this illustrated history of his great-grandfather William Henry Jackson-a pioneering
photographer of the American West whose work led to Yellowstone becoming the first National
Park and was a major influence on Ansel Adams. In his new graphic biography legendary
cartoonist Bill Griffith creator of Zippy the Pinhead tells the story of his namesake and
great-grandfather William Henry Jackson who was one of the first photographers of the
American West. Jackson's photography spurred Americans to move westward inspiring
photographers such as Ansel Adams and playing a role in the creation of our national parks
including Yellowstone. Using his unique approach to graphic novel biography which Kirkus hails
as setting a "standard" for the medium Griffith explores every aspect of his
great-grandfather's life and legacy which he pulls from family letters diaries and anecdotes
primary sources and the archives of the New York Public Library and the Library of Congress
as well as from the more than 25 books written about Jackson and his work. Like all of
Griffith's biographies Photographic Memory is a thoroughly researched sharply observant
character study written from a place of love which explores photography in an illustrated
medium. Not an easy trick to pull off-unless you are Bill Griffith.
