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Holly Schepisi and Paul Garfinkel collection of photographs

Call Number

PR 381

Date

1945-1985, inclusive

Creator

Garfinkel, Paul C.

Extent

2 Linear feet in 2 boxes

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

This collection, assembled and donated by Holly Schepisi and Paul Garfinkel, consists of photographs from three discrete photographers/photo agencies: the Black Star Agency's images of prominent people and events (1975-1984); André de Dienes' portraits of Marilyn Monroe (1945-1953); and photojournalist Ken Regan's images of the ABC-TV newsroom (1981-1983) and the Kennedy family (1971-1985).

Biographical / Historical

The Black Star Agency was founded in 1935 by German Jewish refugees Kurt Safranski, Ernest Mayer and Kurt Kornfeld, who fled Berlin during the Nazi regime. They were innovators in Germany's picture press and publishing world, and brought with them a wealth of knowledge about photography and photojournalism. Their New York-based agency commissioned and brokered the use of photographs that documented important events, people of note, and human interest stories. One of their first major clients was Henry Luce's Life magazine, founded in 1936. In 1964, the company was sold to Howard Chapnick, a photographer who had joined the agency after his service in WWII. He led the agency for the next 25 years.

Ken Regan (d. 2012) worked for over five decades documenting pop culture, sports, foreign conflicts, and other current events. Credited with over 200 magazine covers, Regan was most well-known for a discretion and professionalism which earned him intimate shooting access to famous politicians, musicians, and other celebrities. Regan also covered major events for magazines such as Time, Sports Illustrated, Life, and Newsweek. In the 1970s he founded Camera 5, an agency of 15 photographers who covered wars, riots and demonstrations, and other national and international hard news and human interest stories.

André de Dienes (1913-1985) was a Hungarian American fashion photographer best known for his early portraits of the actress Marilyn Monroe.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series by photographer:

Series I: Black Star Agency photographs

Series II: André de Dienes photographs

Series III: Ken Regan photographs

Each series is organized alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Contents

This collection, assembled and donated by Holly Schepisi and Paul Garfinkel, consists of photographs from three discrete photographers/photo agencies.

The first set of photographs is from the Black Star Agency, and contains images of prominent people and events of the 1970s and 1980s. Photos include actors such as Farrah Fawcett, Richard Gere, and Diane Keaton; political figures including President Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, and Menachem Begin; and royals including Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Princess Caroline of Monaco.

A second set of photos are portraits of Marilyn Monroe dated 1945-1953, taken by André de Dienes. These portraits are accompanied by certificates of authenticity from the curator and manager of the de Dienes archive.

The final set are photographs by photojournalist Ken Regan, including behind the scenes images of ABC News broadcasts, 1981-1983, and photographs of the extended Kennedy family at work, at political and social events, and at the family compound, 1971-1985. Most of these images are of Ted Kennedy, though there are also photos of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, John F. Kennedy Jr., Caroline Kennedy, Joe Kennedy Jr., and Pat Lawford.

Access Restrictions

Open to qualified researchers by appointment only.

Use Restrictions

Permission to reproduce any Department of Prints, Photographs and Architectural Collections holdings through publication must be obtained from: Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 270. Fax: (212) 579-8794.

Preferred Citation

The collection should be cited as: Holly Schepisi and Paul Garfinkel Collection of Photographs, PR 381, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, New-York Historical Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Holly Schepisi and Paul Garfinkel, 2014.

Collection processed by

Marybeth Kavanagh

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:48:04 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: English

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024