Jessie Tarbox Beals was essentially the first female news photographer. She is responsible for the majority of photos from the Olympics and created more than 5,000 photographic plates. She was 33 years old at the time and moved to St. Louis from Buffalo to photograph all aspects of the Olympics/World's Fair. To gain access, she had to plead with the press for a permit. Beals worked the 7 months the fair was open, 7 days a week from early morning to late at night.
Beals became somewhat of a celebrity at the World's Fair. When Roosevelt visited the Fair, Beals photographed him the entire day, creating 32 pictures. She even ordered Roosevelt to halt and pose at one point. Beals was also seen running and jumping into the basket of a hot hair balloon when it was about to take off because she wanted to get a bird's-eye shot.
Jessie Tarbox Beals
Roosevelt photographed by Beals
Photography of the 1904 Olympics by Beals