A. Aubrey Bodine’s 1934 photograph of the Beaverdam Marble Company, now available for viewing and purchase through his official website, offers a window into a pivotal moment in Maryland’s architectural history. The image captures the marble quarry that supplied stone for the new Arts and Sciences Building at the University of Maryland, College Park. This photograph is part of Bodine’s extensive body of work documenting Maryland’s people, industries, and landscapes during his 47-year career with the Baltimore Sunday Sun.
Bodine, regarded as one of the finest pictorialists of the twentieth century, combined documentary precision with artistic composition. His photograph of the Beaverdam Marble Company is no exception, showcasing his ability to elevate industrial scenes into works of art. The image is available for reprint and note card orders on his website at www.aaubreybodine.com, where more than 6,000 of his photographs are cataloged.
The marble from Beaverdam Marble Company was used in the construction of the University of Maryland’s Arts and Sciences Building, which remains a landmark on the College Park campus. This connection underscores the historical significance of Bodine’s work, linking his artistry to the built environment of Maryland’s educational institutions. The photograph not only documents a specific quarry but also represents the broader narrative of Maryland’s industrial heritage and its role in supporting academic infrastructure.
Bodine’s techniques, which included manipulating negatives with dyes, intensifiers, and even scraping, allowed him to create images that transcended mere documentation. His rationale, as he stated, was that “like the painter, he worked from the model and selected those features which suited his sense of mood, proportion, and design.” This approach is evident in the Beaverdam Marble Company photograph, where light and shadow accentuate the texture of the stone and the scale of the operation.
For those interested in exploring Bodine’s legacy further, a biography written by his editor and closest friend, Harold A. Williams, is available on the website at www.aaubreybodine.com. The biography, titled A Legend In His Time, provides insight into Bodine’s life and career. Additionally, the website offers access to thousands of his photographs, which can be ordered as reprints or note cards. This image of the Beaverdam Marble Company serves as a reminder of the enduring value of Bodine’s work in preserving Maryland’s history through the lens of his camera.
