June 7th, 2008

Review Santa Fe follow up:

Eleven out of twelve reviewers raved about the Bethlehem Steel photos and print sales are pending.

April 22nd, 2008

The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission will present "The Real Steel" a photographic exhibit by Peter Treiber at the Bethlehem City Hall Rotunda from May 1st through May 28th. The exhibit will feature 25 large photos from the new book, Inside Bethlehem Steel: The Final Quarter Century. An artist's reception, book signing and sale will be held on Sunday, May 4th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the rotunda with the co-authors, Peter Treiber and Elizabeth Kovach.

Inside Bethlehem Steel: The Final Quarter Century is a visual tour of the formerly second-largest domestic steel company's last years as it struggled for survival. Through the photographs of Peter B. Treiber and text of Elizabeth A. "Bette" Kovach, the book celebrates the majesty and might of the late steelmaker and chronicles the long decline of the company that literally built, transported and defended America for nearly 99 years.

April 1st, 2008

Center, formerly known as the Santa Fe Center for Photography has invited Peter Treiber to present his Bethlehem Steel photography at the "Review Santa Fe" in June 2008.

Review Santa Fe, JUNE 5-7, 2008

"Review Santa Fe is a two-day conference for photographers who have created a significant project or series and are seeking wider recognition. Up to 100 photographers meet with esteemed curators, editors, art directors, publishers, gallery and agency reps, and alternative market professionals. This juried portfolio review event consists of two days of portfolio reviews with renowned photography professionals, a night of portfolio sharing open to the public and more."

February, 2008

Inside Bethlehem Steel: The Final Quarter Century
Chronicles the Final Years of a Celebrated American Industrial Icon

More than 90 full-color photos and supporting text now available in hardback

BETHLEHEM, PA., February 7, 2008 -- Two steel industry communications veterans have collaborated to produce a stunning photographic journey with insightful text on the final 25 years of Bethlehem Steel Corporation, their former employer.

Inside Bethlehem Steel: The Final Quarter Century is a visual tour of the formerly second-largest domestic steel company's last years as it struggled for survival. Through the photographs of Peter B. Treiber and text of Elizabeth A. "Bette" Kovach, the book celebrates the majesty and might of the late steelmaker and chronicles the long decline of the company that literally built, transported and defended America for nearly 99 years.

Treiber and Kovach were both employees of Bethlehem Steel Corporation's public affairs department in its corporate headquarters in Bethlehem, Pa. Treiber was a staff photographer from 1977 until 1983 and then contracted to photograph the company's facilities and products for its highest-end uses of marketing communications. Kovach worked in corporate and employee communications positions from 1976 until the company's sale of assets in May 2003, serving as the last director of corporate communications and spokesperson.

"Bethlehem Steel was a dangerously beautiful place," said Treiber, now proprietor of Peter Treiber Photography (www.ptphoto.com) "The texture of the surfaces fluctuated widely from the rough and tumble to the shiny and smooth. Sometimes brilliantly lighted by the furnace's fire and sometimes dark and dingy, it was always a challenge to work in those conditions."

For Kovach, it was a journey of life experiences. "The challenges were plentiful as the company slowly, painfully found itself in a long downward spiral. But there was enormous pride in our work and a constant hope that the company would persevere." Kovach is now proprietor of BK Communications, Inc. (www.bk-communications.com)

Inside Bethlehem Steel: The Final Quarter Century showcases Treiber's photography in the mines, shipyards, fully integrated steelmaking operations and finishing facilities of the late steelmaker. Kovach's text provides insight into the operations, history, challenges and employee commitment that enabled Bethlehem Steel to nearly celebrate its centennial as American industrial icon.

"Our intent is to celebrate the work and accomplishments through photography and text of the millions of people who worked for Bethlehem Steel from 1904 until 2003. This book is not a decade-by-decade history of the company but instead a glimpse of the company in its last years as it struggled mightily to survive," said Kovach.

Added Treiber, "The memory of this late company deserves to be preserved as a testimony to American ingenuity and hard work. We do not offer an opinion of what went wrong with Bethlehem but instead through our photos and words offer a view of Bethlehem Steel as it continued to serve its customers and improve its facilities during its last years. We purposefully chose to celebrate the legacy of a company that gave so much to so many people."

Inside Bethlehem Steel: The Final Quarter Century is a leather-bound book measuring 12 inches by nine inches with 92 photographs and accompanying text spanning 140 pages. Nearly all photographs are full color and all were made between 1977 and 2000 when the mills were in full operation.

The book sells for $49.99 through local books stores with specific information available at www.ptphoto.com

For further information:
Peter B. Treiber peter@ptphoto.com 610-867-3303
Elizabeth A. Kovach eakovach@aol.com 610-216-1769

For on-line information or to order books: www.insidebethlehemsteel.com

Get PDF

Reviewers Comments

What the reviewers are saying about Inside Bethlehem Steel: The Final Quarter Century:

"…enlightening read for everyone concerned about the fate of big industry in America and a must addition to every library. Bette Kovach's insightful perspective and the spectacular photographs of Peter Treiber constitute a work that will not be forgotten."

---John Strohmeyer, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Crisis in
Bethlehem: Big Steel's Battle to Survive, was editor of The Bethlehem Globe-Times for 28 years.

"…Treiber…and Kovach have teamed up to create a visually stunning portrait … depicting the final decades of an iconic company that literally built our nation."

---Nancy Gravatt, Vice President, Communications, American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

"What this book does perhaps most successfully is retain the history and heritage of Bethlehem Steel, creating an image not of rusting, hulking, idle operations, but of a company, and an industry, that was pulsing with excitement, built on the backs of hard workers who gave their all, only to find little left for them at the end of 99 years."

---Scott Robertson, Chief Correspondent, Steel, American Metal Market

"The most stunning visual history I've ever seen. Peter Treiber captures the beauty and power of the steelmaking process and portrays it as fine art. Art that describes one of man's most ennobling efforts, the creation of basic materials for the betterment of human life."

---Ed Riccio, President, BethForge (1989-1995)