Taos Pueblo, the first book of Ansel Adams’ photographs will soon joining the de Young Museum’s permanent collection. Donated by Thomas Weisel, it has been described as “the greatest pictorial representation of the American West” by critics. Consisting of 12 gelatin silver prints, the book was recently on display at the de Young Museum’s tenth anniversary gala along with other pledged gifts.

The book is the result of a trip that Adams and his wife made to New Mexico in the spring of 1929.  They spent almost two months with writer Mary Hunter Austin, who collaborated with Adams on a book about the area around Santa Fe.  With the help of Austin’s friend, Santa Fe arts patron Mabel Dodge Luhan, Adams was able to get permission by the Taos tribe to photograph in and around the relatively unknown Taos Pueblo.

Also included in the book is an iconic image of the San Francisco de Asis Mission church, which Adams was captivated by.

Along with Taos Pueblo, the de Young museum received nine other gifts.  Eight of the 10 recently donated works were available for viewing during the gala, and include gifts from Dede Wilsey, David Fraze, George and Marie Hecksher, and Thomas Weisel and Janet Barnes.

The ten gifts were:

• “Frida With Olmeca Figurine, Coyoacán” by Nickolas Muray, 1939. Color carbro print.
• “Taos Pueblos” by Ansel Adams and Mary Austin, 1930.  12 gelatin silver prints.
• “Squid,” from the series “The Waves,” by Frank Stella, 1985-1989.  Color screen print, lithograph and linoleum block with hand-coloring, marbling and collage.
• “Seven Yorkshire Landscape Videos” by David Hockney, 2011. 18 digital videos synchronized and presented on 18 55-inch NEC screens to make up a single artwork.
• “The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011, 25 April 2011” by David Hockney, 2011. iPad drawing printed on paper.
• “Still Life With Trees and Mountain” by Selden Connor Gile, 1919. Oil on canvas.
• “Tulip Culture” by George Hitchcock, 1889. Oil on canvas.
• “Court Jester (Queen Elizabeth II and Ronald Reagan, de Young Museum, San Francisco, March 3, 1983)” by Diana Walker, 1983. Color coupler print.
• A pair of cachepots with landscape scenes, circa 1810. France, Old Paris porcelain.
• An Oscar de la Renta evening dress, late 20th century.

Find out more about the donations here.