Ransom Center acquires archives of renowned photographer

"We learn from the past, in order to understand the present. The past is our foundation..." These are the words of the famed photographer Arnold Newman, words that may have influenced his children's choice of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas as the home for the complete archives of his work. Newman expressed his interest in the Ransom Center before his death in June 2006. His family chose to continue his relationship with the center by agreeing to a purchase/donation of the collection with the Photography department.

Arnold Newman is a key figure in photography of the 20th century. Newman's stylistic trademark is his use of environmental portraiture, pictures taken in a subject's personal or professional surroundings.

Even more famous than Newman himself are his subjects. During an interview with Dr. David Coleman, curator of photography at the Ransom Center, I was able to look at one of Newman's sitting books, a record of all of his subjects and the dates the images were taken. Listed were the names of some of the most famous people of the 20th century - John F.Kennedy, Isaac Stern, Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt and Henry Rousse - and this was just one page.

Some of Newman's other famous portraits include the composer Igor Stravinsky sitting at his grand piano with the lid in the shape of a music note and Truman Capote lounging on his couch in the exact position he was in when Newman showed up for the shoot.

Included in the archive are all of Newman's negatives, contact sheets, transparencies, slides, and business records as well as over 2,000 prints, including examples of color work and a collage of Pop artist Andy Warhol. Some early sketchbooks, photographic albums and awards won by Newman are also included in the collection.

As a teaching tool, the archive is very significant to faculty and students at UT. Through the archive, photographers and journalists can gain a more intimate look at Newman's creative process. Students can see the choices Newman made, from the portrait's setting, the selection and cropping of the image, all the way to the final, developed photograph.

Because Newman was also a businessman, he owned the copyright to all of his images; students can also see how a successful freelance photographer can also succeed at managing his career.

The archive also synchronizes with existing archives and holdings at the Ransom Center.

"He took a number of portraits of some of the writers . . . and photographers whose work we have here in the [Ransom] collection," said Dr. Coleman. Some of Newman's colleagues and peers, like Eliot Elisofon of LIFE Magazine, also have archives featured at the Ransom Center.

Furthermore, Director of the Ransom Center Thomas F. Stanley said, "With this acquisition we add to our collections not only the works and papers of a renowned photographer, but also important, revealing images of many of the 20th century's most celebrated figures in culture and science."

The prints will be accessible as soon possible, but according to Dr. Coleman, the process of cataloging an archive is a long and difficult one. In turn, the archive itself will not be available for viewing for a few years. Until then we can simply celebrate the acquisition and wait in anticipation for a public opening and perhaps an exhibit of the collection.