Arthur E. Scott
Encyclopedia
Arthur E. "Scotty" Scott (March 14, 1917 - December 2, 1976) was the United States Senate
's first photo-historian. He was a professional photographer in Washington, D.C.
from 1934 to 1976.
, Scott spent most of his life in Washington, D.C. In 1925 his family moved to the capital, where they owned and operated a rooming house. Scott began his press career in 1930, at the age of thirteen, as a copyboy for a Hearst
newspaper, the Washington Times-Herald. By 1934, he had signed on as a full-time photographer for Hearst's International News Photos (INP), covering Capitol Hill and the White House
. He remained a press photographer for the next twenty-one years, working for both INP and Wide World Photos. Scott served as the president of the White House News Photographers Association in 1945. He was also a charter member and regional director of the National Press Photographers Association
, as well as a founding member of the "One More Club" during the Truman administration.
has been a subject of photography since 1846, the United States Congress
's first forays into institutional photography did not take place for another century, when the political parties began hiring and paying their own photographers. In 1955, Arizona
Republican Senator Barry Goldwater
, himself an amateur photographer, hired Arthur Scott to work for the Republican Senatorial Committee. Thereafter, he worked in a variety of Republican offices, including the Republican Senatorial Committee (June 1955 to October 1962) and the Republican Policy Committee (October 1962 to November 1974). He snapped formal and informal poses of senators in committee, with constituents, with celebrities, and performing other senatorial duties. He also took many shots of the Capitol in every season and under various stages of reconstruction.
In 1975, the Senate created the Historical Office and commissioned it to collect, maintain, and make available items relating to the Senate's history. A key part of the office was to be a photo historian, who would build a collection of graphic representations of the Senate. In August 1975, Scott assumed the post of photo historian.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
's first photo-historian. He was a professional photographer in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1934 to 1976.
Early life and career
Born in Montpelier, VermontMontpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, Scott spent most of his life in Washington, D.C. In 1925 his family moved to the capital, where they owned and operated a rooming house. Scott began his press career in 1930, at the age of thirteen, as a copyboy for a Hearst
Hearst
Hearst may refer to:People* Amanda Hearst* Garrison Hearst, NFL running back* George Hearst* George Randolph Hearst, Jr.* Hunter Hearst Helmsley, WWE professional wrestler* John Randolph Hearst* Lydia Hearst-Shaw* Michael Hearst* Millicent Hearst...
newspaper, the Washington Times-Herald. By 1934, he had signed on as a full-time photographer for Hearst's International News Photos (INP), covering Capitol Hill and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. He remained a press photographer for the next twenty-one years, working for both INP and Wide World Photos. Scott served as the president of the White House News Photographers Association in 1945. He was also a charter member and regional director of the National Press Photographers Association
National Press Photographers Association
NPPA is the acronym for the National Press Photographers Association, founded in 1947. The organization is based in Durham, North Carolina and its mostly made up of still photographers, television videographers, editors, and students in the journalism field...
, as well as a founding member of the "One More Club" during the Truman administration.
Senate work
Although the CapitolUnited States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
has been a subject of photography since 1846, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
's first forays into institutional photography did not take place for another century, when the political parties began hiring and paying their own photographers. In 1955, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
Republican Senator Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
, himself an amateur photographer, hired Arthur Scott to work for the Republican Senatorial Committee. Thereafter, he worked in a variety of Republican offices, including the Republican Senatorial Committee (June 1955 to October 1962) and the Republican Policy Committee (October 1962 to November 1974). He snapped formal and informal poses of senators in committee, with constituents, with celebrities, and performing other senatorial duties. He also took many shots of the Capitol in every season and under various stages of reconstruction.
In 1975, the Senate created the Historical Office and commissioned it to collect, maintain, and make available items relating to the Senate's history. A key part of the office was to be a photo historian, who would build a collection of graphic representations of the Senate. In August 1975, Scott assumed the post of photo historian.