Lowell Thomas in Plane (Photograph Album Belonging to James McBey)
OwnerOwned by
James McBey
(Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)
SitterSitter is
Lowell Thomas
(Woodington, Ohio, USA, 1892 - 1981)
Date1918
Object NamePhotograph
Mediumphotograph
ClassificationsMcBey
Dimensions17.7 x 12.6cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1983 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.
Copyright© Aberdeen City Council (McBey Collection)
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG000686.229
About MeBlack and white photograph depicting American writer, broadcaster and traveller, Lowell Thomas, posing with the gun in a plane. Thomas travelled with Harry Chase to film the war in Jerusalem in 1917, arriving just in time to film British troops, led by General Edmund Allenby, marching into Jerusalem on 11 December 1917. Shortly after this, Thomas famously filmed T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), showing the footage to audiences worldwide, yielding mixed feelings from Lawrence.
This photograph was taken during that time, which was also when James McBey was serving as Official War Artist in Egypt, having begun this on 26 May 1917. The photograph is kept within a hardback photograph album, with faux leather overlay, along with a series of other related images.
This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this photograph.
