Re: Eastman House gum prints
Judy, the NYPL has tons of photo stuff, I have found, by searching worldcat. But when I asked about photocopying some stuff, they never replied to my email. So you are lucky to live there and harass them in person. However, GEH has more than I could ever need.I suppose it's obnoxious to wax sentimental about "the olden days," but my early experience at NYPL was amazing, as I only half realized at the time. It was probably 1979, before photography got "crooked" (NYC was only interested in fashion photography and Life magazine-type journalism. "Alternative photography" rolled in from elsewhere... and took its time about it.) So it was a while before NYC understood that photographs and old photo publications had any value beyond the documentary (Strand still had bargains!), also before Keepers of Light, et al. I think KOL was in print, but who knew about it? Bea Nettles' "Breaking the Rules" was finally mentioned in Popular Photography... Otherwise, nada. When I wanted to learn old processes, someone directed me to the New York Public Library ANNEX, which was so far west on 43rd Street it was practically in Illinois (sharing space with the patent library). You could just walk in and fill out a slip, and get IN YOUR OWN HANDS original authentic issues of old photo newspapers in German, English, whatever... and books, annuals, manuals, formularies, etc. many with actual photographs tipped in ! Of course some folks understood the value of those tip-ins before the library did and they began to disappear. At some point the library caught on, and replaced them with facsimiles, but by then many were lost. Also, before long, for reasons perhaps known, but not to me, the photo annex & its publications were moved to the main branch at 42nd St & 5th Ave. I suspect that those 110-year-old newspapers are no longer in circulation, other than in awful microfiche.... Anyway, it's not the same. (Tho the library taketh away and the library giveth. The publications room at 42nd Street has an incredible data base of the NY Times, almost every word from every issue, including the ads, practically back to the ark.) I would figure, Chris, that "security" isn't a problem at GEH where visitors are well vetted? (Do you get to handle the original publications?) But then again last year the papers were full of a story about the map expert who filched antique maps from Yale and Harvard libraries, among others, then got caught. (A librarian found a scalpel blade on the floor, which rang alarm bells, as it were.) I've also felt that their "bag check" upon departure is a joke... were I so inclined, I could....ummmm. Maybe it's my honest face ? Anyway, your adventures are very much enjoyed vicariously. I add my thanks to the multitude. Judy
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