July 6 – October 28, 2024, the Berkshire County Historical Society at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead will be presenting a new exhibit featuring the photography of Arthur Palme (1884-1949). Palme is best known for his photography showcasing the natural beauty of the Berkshires. His work was featured in the Berkshire Eagle, and he was one of the first contributors to the long-running “Our Berkshires” column in that paper. He wrote extensively on a variety of topics relating to photography, and his writing was published both locally and nationally. He developed a high-speed technique he called “speedlight photography,” and published a book about it in 1946 which received national recognition.
This exhibit will look at the full range of his work, both professional and personal. It will explore his photography, along with other aspects of his life: after emigrating to the Berkshires from Austria, he began a life-long career at General Electric in 1914. An engineer in the power transformer division, his scientific knowledge had a strong influence on his photographic work, merging with his interest in the natural world.
The exhibit is open during regular museum hours and is free of charge; sponsored by The Feigenbaum Foundation.
Top Image: The Palme Family, circa. 1920. Collection of the Berkshire County Historical Society
Bottom Image: Upper Dam above Wahconah Falls, Dalton, 1941. Collection of the Berkshire County Historical Society