Rowe, Abbie, 1905-1967

Abbie Rowe was a photographer for the National Park Service in Washington D.C., and had unprecedented access to the official activities of five Presidents from 1941 through 1967. He was born on August 23, 1905 in Strasburg, Virginia. He was first hired in 1930 with the Bureau of Public Roads, and went on to become a noted photographer for the National Capital Parks of the National Park Service. Many of his photographs documented public buildings and roads in and around the nation's capital. In December 1941, he received an assignment. At the request of President Roosevelt, the National Park Service assigned him to provide photographic coverage of the President's activities, particularly those that occurred away from the White House. Gradually, his duties were expanded to include the documentation of events that took place within the White House. By the Truman administration, he was called upon to document the President at many official ceremonies, and his work continued through the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Administrations. Rowe died in April 1967.

From the description of Rowe, Abbie, 1905-1967 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10611536