Is it possible to overwrite an entire iPhoto library with one photo?

I was doing a routine download of a photo from my e-mail to my iPhoto library and pressed the "save to iPhoto".
I then went into iPhoto (I have version 08) and all of my event folders appeared...then suddenly gray boxes started appearing and everything disappeared.
When I went in to open iPhoto again I received a message to the effect of cannot find. We have created a new iPhoto but cannot find any of the photos in our library anywhere in searching our hard drive. Have tried all the search functions (including putting in jpg names of actual photos) and nothing is turning up. When I go into the data files - the photos are not in there. Is it possible to have somehow wiped out our entire collection of about 3000 photos? Unfortunately we did not have a back-up hard drive.....
I tried following some of the advice posted for iPhoto losses and gray boxes appearing...however none of them work.
Am finding it hard to believe that could have wiped out our entire collection by saving one photo? Was using iPhoto and saving a photo from the e-mail in the way I have been doing for months.
Any advice tips would be greatly appreciated?!
In disbelief over the possibility of entirely wiping out our collection!

dmck;
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
We have created a new iPhoto
Do you mean you create a new iPhoto Library? How did you go about doing so? There is a possibility that you could have created a new library and overwritten the old one, thus the one library with only one photo in it. It's iffy but might have been accomplished.
Happy New Year
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

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