Book signing: Photographer Michael Francis

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West welcomes photographer Michael Francis to sign copies of the books Yellowstone Collectibles and Found Photos of Yellowstone. The event is free. The Center’s Points West Market will have copies of both books, from Riverbend Publishing, for sale.

Found Photos of Yellowstone: Yellowstone’s History in Tourist and Employee Photos

By Amy Grisak; photographs from Michael H. Francis, Francis Historical Collections; forward by Lee Whittlesey

From the publisher: Found Photos of Yellowstone showcases more than 200 photographs made by park visitors and employees from 1880 to 1940. These candid snapshots reveal hidden moments in the park’s history, including never-before-seen views of lodging, transportation, recreation, wildlife, and summer jobs. The photos were “found” by long-time Yellowstone photographer Michael Francis, who has collected more than 11,000 historic Yellowstone images. These remarkable images demonstrate how much Yellowstone has changed—and yet remains the same Wonderland as that witnessed by visitors and employees more than a century ago.

Yellowstone Collectibles: An Illustrated Introduction to the Park’s Historic Souvenirs, Books, Art, and Memorabilia

By Michael H. Francis and Bobby Reynolds

From the publisher: Yellowstone Collectibles is about the myriad of Yellowstone National Park collectibles and souvenirs, from rare historic pieces to modern memorabilia. More than 250 items are featured, from 19th-century horseshoes dipped in the park’s thermal springs to beautiful hand-painted Limoges porcelain. Informative text, written by experts in their fields, explains the numerous types of collectibles, their features and characteristics, and their importance. These items and their descriptions reveal reams of forgotten park history—history that you can hold in your hand.

Michael Francis is a recently retired wildlife photographer based out of Billings, Montana. He has 35 single-photographer books to his credit, all published by Riverbend Publishing.

Mike worked in Yellowstone National Park for 15 seasons and during that time became interested in park history and collectibles, such as the many souvenirs found in the general stores and gift shops. Since 1974 he has collected thousands of historic images of the park, most of which have never been seen by the public.