Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/70624
1958 1959 1958 1960 1962 1961 1963 1962 1963 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY AND THE U.S. CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY The historic first official photograph of the Senate in session, taken by George F.Mobley September 24, 1963 FIRST OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN SESSION In 1963, the United States Capitol Historical Society (USCHS) and the Naonal Geographic Society (NGS) requested permission to take the first formal portrait of the Senate in session. The photo- graph was for publicaon in the first edion ofWe, the People, an illustrated guidebook on Congress and the Capitol. The photograph was taken just before a historic vote on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. NGS photog- rapher GeorgeMobley set up three giant reflectors containing 21 large flashbulbs that had to be changed each me a picture was taken. Six exposures were taken; on one of those a bulb exploded and showered glass onto Representave Fred Schwengel, the founding president of the USCHS. Note that the senators posed seated at their desks facing the podiumwith their backs to the camera. In subsequent years when the official Senate in session portraits were taken, the senators turned to face the camera. SUMMER 2012SUMMER 2012 THE CAPITOL DOME 5