Creative America. Photographs by Magnum.

Ridge Press, 1962. Hardcover, very good with protected very good dust jacket. Presumably first edition, no later printings indicated.  Edited by Jerry Mason with texts by: John F. Kennedy; Dwight D. Eisenhower; Harry Truman; James Baldwin; Robert Frost; Mark Van Doren, et al. Photographs in black and white and in color by Magnum photographers: Bruce Davidson; Burt Glinn; Ernst Haas; Constantine Manos; Eve Arnold; Elliot Erwitt; Wayne Miller; Henri Cartier-Bresson; Dennis Stock; Dan Budnik; Inge Morath; Erich Hartmann; and Marc Riboud. Typographical error noted at bottom of rear paste down near spine. Summary:

Creative America (1962), produced by Ridge Press in association with the Magnum Photos agency, is a high-concept visual and literary anthology that attempts to define the "creative spark" of the United States during the optimistic peak of the Kennedy era. The book was published as a benefit for the National Cultural Center (now the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts).

Core Themes and Content

The Magnum Lens: The book features the work of the world’s premier photojournalists, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ernst Haas, Burt Glinn, and Inge Morath. Rather than focusing on politics or hard news, these photographers capture Americans in the act of creation—from scientists in labs to jazz musicians in smoky clubs.

Literary Counterpoint: Each photographic section is paired with essays by major American thinkers and writers, including John F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, Robert Frost, and Mark Van Doren. This "duet" between image and text creates a multidisciplinary portrait of the national character.

The Diversity of Creation: The "Creative America" depicted is broad; it encompasses the high-tech engineering of the space race, the gritty improvisation of the Method acting studios, and the quiet, solitary work of rural craftsmen.

Visual and Technical Style

The "Golden Age" of Photojournalism: The book is a masterclass in the mid-century "Life Magazine" style—candid, 35mm photography that prioritizes the "Decisive Moment" over studio lighting.

Cinematic Sequencing: Edited by Jerry Mason, the book uses sophisticated layout techniques (full-bleed spreads and rhythmic pacing) to create a "motion picture" feel that honors the energy of a nation in flux.