Timeline

1908

Born in Whittier, CA

1928 - 1933

Began as a freelance photographer in San Francisco in the late 1920s

1937 - 1938

Bristol and Steinbeck traveled together to California labor camps, during which Bristol took photos and Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath

1937

Began contributing to Life magazine as a freelancer, and was hired soon after

Proposed his idea for a Life magazine picture story with Steinbeck on dust bowl migrants in California's Central Valley. Life turned down the idea.

1940

Time magazine published some of Bristol's photos in conjunction with the popularity of The Grapes of Wrath

1941

Began documenting the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor

1956

Largely abandoned photography after his wife's suicide

1996

A book of his work, entitled "Horace Bristol: An American View," was published

1997

Died in Ojai, CA