Public Image: The U.S. Steel Photography Exhibit at Baker Library

From 1930 to 1960, U.S. Steel commissioned photographers to document the inner workings of the company as part of a national public relations campaign. In the current age of converging public relations, marketing, and social media, U.S. Steel stands out as an illustrative case study in its innovative use of photography to galvanize public opinion. The U.S. Steel photo collection at Baker Library represents a stunning of body photographs intended to convey the image of a corporation working in the best interests of its stockholders, employees, the public—and the nation.