Knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay's history is key to understanding the present day landscapes, cultures and commercial fisheries. The working waterfronts, shorelines and communities of both Smith and Tangier have gone through dramatic changes since they were first became permanent settlements in the 1680's. To help illustrate the history of the islands for my book, I curated photographs from the collections of six photographers to include in the introduction of ISLAND LIFE.

Photography came to the islands in the late 1800's and early 1900's - a time when access to film and developing equipment was difficult, especially in remote areas. Island photographers Virginia 'Ma Ginny' Evans from Smith and Vernon Bradshaw from Tangier had extensive collections of work from the 1930's to the 1960's. Visiting photographer A. Aubrey Bodine has an extensive portfolio from the 1950's that shows both islands just after the peaks in population that I was fortunate enough to have access to. The Tangier History museum has an extensive collection of photographs that chronicle the history of the island up until the present day. The historic photographs will provide a great deal of context to the reader when setting the scene in the first few pages of the book.

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www.jayflemingphotography.com/shop/islandlifepreorder

'Fishing-up' on Tangier when peeler crabs were placed into 'overboard floats' for shedding, c. 1959 photograph by A. Aubrey Bodine — 'Fishing-up' on Tangier when peeler crabs were placed into 'overboard floats' for shedding, c. 1959

photograph by A. Aubrey Bodine

Tangier Island buy boats loaded with oysters, c. 1960's Photograph by Vernon Bradshaw — Tangier Island buy boats loaded with oysters, c. 1960's

Photograph by Vernon Bradshaw

The waterfront at Mailboat Harbor on Tangier Island, c. 1949 Photograph by D.B. Field, courtesy of the Tangier History Museum — The waterfront at Mailboat Harbor on Tangier Island, c. 1949

Photograph by D.B. Field, courtesy of the Tangier History Museum

Crab Scraping barcat on the railway at Tangier's Mailboat Harbor, c. 1959 photograph by A. Aubrey Bodine — Crab Scraping barcat on the railway at Tangier's Mailboat Harbor, c. 1959

photograph by A. Aubrey Bodine

Applying bottom paint to a skiff at Heistin' Bridge, c. late 1950s Photograph courtesy Tangier History Museum — Applying bottom paint to a skiff at Heistin' Bridge, c. late 1950s

Photograph courtesy Tangier History Museum

Students and their teacher pose in front of the schoolhouse in Canaan, a former community on Uppards, c. 1920s. Photograph courtesy of Tangier History Museum — Students and their teacher pose in front of the schoolhouse in Canaan, a former community on Uppards, c. 1920s.

Photograph courtesy of Tangier History Museum

Kids playing on Caleb Jones Road in Ewell, Maryland, c. 1945 photograph by A. Aubrey Bodine — Kids playing on Caleb Jones Road in Ewell, Maryland, c. 1945

photograph by A. Aubrey Bodine