History Books / Y

A definitive photographic history of the world under Covid-19., this book reveals in pictures the story of humankind's resilience, resourcefulness, and sense of purpose in the face of a global Pandemics documented by the photographers of Agence France Presse.

The Year That Changed Our World is a definitive, visual history of the Covid-19 Pandemic. With more than 450 photographs, this ambitious publication traces the arc of the Pandemic from early 2020 through to the vaccine breakthroughs of Spring 2021.

Here, the talented photographers of Agence France Presse document the deep, human stories of the Pandemic. Active in more than 150 countries, these capture all sides of the Covid-19 story as experienced by people throughout the globe. Organized into six chronological parts, and braided together with thematic breakout sections, including topics such as protests, sports, and politics, The Year That Changed Our World is a comprehensive time capsule. These images show the extraordinary efforts to understand, control, and cope with a previously unknown virus alongside the human stories of our lives at home: playing, caring, watching, and sharing, both together and at a distance.

Edited by Marielle Eudes, Director of Photography at Agence France Presse, and featuring, texts, quotes and insights from a range of contributors and public figures, The Year That Changed Our World is a photographic testament to humankind's resilience in the face of the pandemic. The book's arresting imagery provides a visual record for us and for future generations to better understand the world during the time of Covid-19.

August 18, 2020, marked the centennial of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In 1920, women wearing yellow roses stood shoulder to shoulder in Tennessee, awaiting the roll call of men who would cast their votes for or against a woman’s right to a voice in government.

Though this movement won rights for some women—an achievement to be acknowledged and celebrated—the struggle did not end there. Due to states’ laws and prohibitive policies, many women of color were unable to exercise their rights after the Nineteenth Amendment. It was not until much later that all American women were given the same privilege.

In A Yellow Rose Project: Responses, Reflections, and Reactions to the Nineteenth Amendment, editors Meg Griffiths and Frances Jakubek have invited 106 female photographers to look back upon this part of history from various perspectives. The goal of this collaboration is to provide a focal point and physical platform for female image makers in light of the centennial, providing an artistic bridge connecting the past, present, and future.

Opening with essays by Lisa Volpe, curator of photography at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Shannon Perich, curator in the photographic history collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History; Christina Bejarano, professor of political science at Texas Woman’s University; and Rachel Michelle Gunter, public historian, this work affords readers a multifaceted perspective, celebrating progress made and assessing all that remains to be done.