The inauguration of the Statue of Liberty in 1886 Photograph: Library of Congress

Some of the renowned documentarian’s finest images of the US and its people are included in the book Our America: A Photographic History. “I’ve needed 45 years of telling stories in American history, of delving deeply into lives and moments, places and huge events,” he added

An early photograph of the US Capitol, a daguerrotype, by John Plumbe.

In 1845, John Plumbe established a daguerreotype studio in Washington, D.C. The earliest known image of the US Capitol is one of three perspectives by Plumbe. The Capitol is located at the crossroads of Pennsylvania, Constitution, and Independence Avenues. Construction on the Capitol’s first structure started in 1791 and took 34 years to complete. It was a relatively simple structure when Plumbe took the 1840s shot of it, before significant extensions had started, but one that had previously undergone changes by at least four architects.

Photograph: Library of Congress

A harvest of death, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania taken by Timothy O’Sullivan in July 1863

Timothy O’Sullivan captured this image of the harvest of death at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in July 1863. “It was, indeed, a ‘harvest of death,'” he said in the caption. “Such an image delivers a helpful moral: it portrays the bleak tragedy and reality of war, in contrast to its pomp. Here are the horrible specifics! Let them contribute to averting the country from suffering another such catastrophe.

Photograph: Library of Congress

A picture of the fourth company of Black soldiers at Fort Lincoln. It was the 1863 militia act that allowed black men to become part of the army, although this was segregated. Around 180,000 Black men fought in the Union Army and 20,000 in the Union Navy.

a photo of the Black troops from the fourth company at Fort Lincoln. Black males were able to join the army thanks to the 1863 Militia Act, however it was still a segregated organization. In the Union Army, there were around 180,000 Black soldiers, while the Union Navy had 20,000.

Photograph: Library of Congress

A portrait of Abraham Lincoln

Ten weeks before his death, on February 5, 1865, Alexander Gardner took one of the president’s last pictures. The first US president to employ photography for political reasons was Abraham Lincoln. Scottish photographer Gardner immigrated to America in 1856.

Photograph: Library of Congress

Two girls standing together on beach, each with their left foot raised, circa 1897

Two girls standing together on beach, each with their left foot raised, circa 1897.

Photograph: Library of Congress

A photo depicting the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty

Alexander Gardner painted one of Abraham Lincoln’s last pictures on February 5, 1865, ten weeks before his death. Lincoln was the first US president to use political photography. Scottish photographer Gardner immigrated to America in 1856.

Photograph: Library of Congress

A black and white photo of Mesa Verde Cliff Palace.

The biggest cliff home in Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park is called Mesa Verde Cliff Palace. It includes more than 150 different rooms. Gustaf Nordenskiöld captured this image in the 1890s.

Photograph: Mesa Verde National Park Archives

A black and white photo showing a subterranean shot of Lexington Avenue

An underground view of the City Hall-circling Lexington Avenue station in the early 1900s. In 1904, the New York City subway system debuted. The Nation described it as “a slight transit improvement” at the time.

Photograph: Library of Congress

Black and white image of children going through Whitman Street dump.

In November 1912, children were seen walking through the Whitman Street landfill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Lewis Wickes Hine, a sociologist and investigative photographer, took the picture. The first child labor legislation in the United States were made possible thanks to his images.

Photograph: Shorpy.com/Library of Congress

A man playing a violin in the street in West Memphis, Arkansas.

1935 photograph of a blind street musician in West Memphis, Arkansas. Ben Shahn, along with Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange, was one of the photographers working for the Resettlement Administration at the time the picture was shot.

Photograph: 1935/Library of congress

A photograph known as Boy and Car taken in New York City, 1949.

A photograph known as Boy and Car taken in New York City, 1949 by Jerome Liebling. He grew up as a child of the great depression which led him to “figure out where the pain was, to show things that people wouldn’t see unless I was showing them”.

Photograph: Jerome Liebling

Thanks to The Guardian whose reporting provided the original basis for this story.