Obama's Personal Touches to the Oval Office

Juxtaposed
Obama's bookshelf features both natural and technical objects. Two pieces of pottery by contemporary Native American sculptors stand on one shelf, while patent models occupy the top and bottom shelves. On the top shelf lies Henry Williams' 1877 patent model for his feathering paddle-wheel for steamboats; the bottom shelf holds John A. Peer's 1874 patent model for a gear-cutting machine.

• Obama's First Year in Office