White House Photographer Joe O’Donnell Dies in Nashville

Former White House photographer Joe O’Donnell died today in Nashville.

O’Donnell was the official photographer for presidents from Harry Truman through Lyndon Johnson.

He retired in 1968 and moved to Nashville.

The Pennsylvania native was also one of the first military personnel to visit and take pictures of Hiroshima after the devastation of the atomic bomb.

Since the mid-nineties The Arts Company, a Nashville gallery, has displayed his work alongside his personal recollections.

Owner and director of the gallery, Anne Brown says much of O’Donnell’s work was iconic like John John’s salute at the time of John F. Kennedy’s funeral. But while his pictures received a lot of recognition the photographer did not.

“Through him we all remember the world, you know, and I think he was very proud of that. He certainly deserved more recognition than he got. It’s amazing how when people die they’re recognized.”

The Arts Company will hold a memorial exhibit with O’Donnell and his wife Kimiko’s work around October 6.

Click here to see samples of O’Donnell’s work.