Neil Polen Photographs
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Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Neil F. Polen (1945-1997) was a New York City bookseller and photographer. The Neil Polen Photographs include contact sheets, negatives, and prints by Polen dating from 1978 to 1991. The majority of the photographs in the collection were taken in the downtown neighborhoods of New York City, with some photographs in Albany, N.Y., and Haiti. In addition to individual portraits, the photographs depict architecture and cityscapes in New York City.
Abstract
The collection primarily contains photographs of downtown New York City neighborhoods, with a specific focus on the Chelsea neighborhood. These photographs include candid and posed portraits, cityscapes, architecture, grafitti, and signage. There are also photographs of locales outside of New York City, including Albany, N.Y., and Haiti.
Biographical Note
Neil F. Polen (1945-1997) was a New York City bookseller and photographer. Polen was born in Albany, N.Y. on January 1, 1945. Between January 11, 1962 and March 5, 1964 he was a Seaman in the United States Navy. Polen died in Miami, FL on May 25, 1997. He is buried in Mishkan Tefilah Cemetery in West Roxbury, MA.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by format: contact sheets and negatives; and prints.
Scope and Content
The Neil Polen Photographs include contact sheets, negatives, and prints by Polen dating from 1978 to 1991.
The collection primarily contains photographs of downtown New York City neighborhoods, with a specific focus on the Chelsea neighborhood. These photographs include candid and posed portraits, cityscapes, architecture, grafitti, and signage. There are also photographs of locales outside of New York City, including Albany, N.Y., and Haiti.
This collection includes two types of photographic material: negatives and contact sheets and printed photographs. The contact sheets and negatives are original envelopes which may have information on the individuals photographed--names or general descriptions--as well as the location of the photograph. Contact sheets also bear notations by Polen about editorial changes to the images. One set of contact sheets depicts Andy Warhol shortly before his death.
The prints includes a selection of phographs printed from the negatives. While most prints are not accompanied by any identifying information, some have notations and inscriptions on the verso.
The collection does not include any biographical information about Polen, literature by or about him, or information about gallery showings of his work.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Neil Polen Papers; MSS 090; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of William Polen, 1997.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection prior to 2021 are unknown. In 2021 materials were removed from record cartons and rehoused in manuscript boxes.
