72:
The League quickly became active in the new field of socially conscious photography. Unlike other photography organizations, it did not espouse a particular visual style but instead concentrated on "integrating formal elements of design and visual aesthetics with the powerful and sympathetic evidence
27:
who banded together around a range of common social and creative causes. Founded in 1936, the League included some of the most noted
American photographers of the mid-20th century among its members. It ceased operations in 1951 following its placement in 1947 on the U.S. Department of Justice
68:
renamed the original group "The Photo League". The two organizations remained friendly, with members of each group often participating in activities of the other. The goal of the newly reformed Photo League was to "put the camera back into the hands of honest photographers who ... use it to
77:, was printed irregularly, depending upon who was available to do the work and if they could afford the printing costs. More than anything else, though, the League was a gathering place for photographers to share and experience their common artistic and social interests.
48:. Its goals were to "struggle against and expose reactionary film; to produce documentary films reflecting the lives and struggles of the American workers; and to spread and popularize the great artistic and revolutionary Soviet productions".
226:
Unusually for artist groups at the time, about one third of League members and participants were women and they served in visible leadership roles such as secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president. For example,
255:) in Berlin. This had in fact little to do with what the organization did as it evolved, but helped its downfall after the war, when it was accused by the FBI of being communist, subversive and anti-American.
1109:
251:
were first-generation
Americans who strongly believed in progressive political and social causes. Few were aware of the political origins of the movement of the communist "Workers as Photographers" (
56:
In 1934, the still photographers and the filmmakers in the League began having differences of opinion over social and production interests, and by 1936 they had formed separate groups.
267:
1119:
1099:
1104:
1114:
73:
of the human condition". It also offered basic and advanced classes in photography when there were few such courses in colleges or trade schools. A newsletter,
218:
Memorial
Collection, which Hine's son had given the League in recognition of its role in fostering social activism through photography as his father had done.
44:(WIR), a Communist association based in Berlin. In 1930, the WIR established the Workers Camera League in New York City, which soon came to be known as the
1094:
322:. The film traces the rise and demise of the Photo League between 1936 and 1951, and includes interviews with surviving members and a soundtrack including
298:
After the League's demise, and with the return of more women to domestic roles in the postwar era, the careers of many promising women artists, such as
1002:
Klein, Mason and Evans, Catherine: "The
Radical Camera: New York's Photo League, 1936–1951". The Jewish Museum and Yale University Press, 2011
894:
1061:
975:"The Jewish Museum New York | Art Exhibition | The Radical Camera: New York's Photo League, 1936–1951: Artists of the Photo League"
1056:
974:
291:, the Photo League was finished. Recruitment dried up and old members left, including one of its founders and former president,
162:
In the early 1940s, the list of notable photographers who were active in the League or supported their activities also included
1124:
1076:
258:
In
December 1947, the Photo League was formally declared a subversive organization and placed on a U.S. Department of Justice
340:
calls the film a "fine addition to the library of documentaries dedicated to remembering the cultural work of the old left."
45:
41:
1005:
Maddow, Ben: "Faces: A Narrative
History of the Portrait in Photography". New York Graphic Society, Little Brown, 1977
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236:
163:
369:
1022:
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848:
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336:
885:
Klein, Mason; Evans, Catherine (2011). "As Good as the Guys: The Women of the Photo League".
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Alexander Alland, 1902–1989, born
Sevastopol, Russian Empire (now Russian-occupied Ukraine)
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established
Frontier Films, to continue promoting the original goals, while Strand and
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These are the names singled out by Time-Life in its volume on the documentary (1971).
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940:"NYPL, Where Do We Go from Here? The Photo League and Its Legacy (1936–2006)"
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29:
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had testified in May 1949 that the League was a front organization for the
1035:, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Summer 1994). Special issue devoted to the Photo League.
957:
131:; Jack Manning (a member of the Harlem Document Group of the League and a
836:
Original
Sources: Art and Archives at the Center for Creative Photography
726:(Arthur Fellig), 1899–1968, born Zloczów, Austrian Galicia (now Ukraine)
961:
765:, 1930-2013, born Cleveland, Ohio, under the name of Katheryn Ann White
239:
was both photographer and secretary, the league's only paid position.
32:
with accusations that it was a communist, anti-American organization.
723:
465:
Leo
Goldstein, 1901–1972, born Kishinev, Russian Empire (now Moldova)
191:
283:
exhibition in 1948, but after its member and long-time FBI informer
288:
606:
Sol Prom (Solomon Fabricant), 1906–1989, born Brooklyn, New York
266:. Following this announcement, the Photo League appeared on the
314:
The Photo League was the subject of a 2012 documentary film:
552:
Phyllis Dearborn Massar, 1916–2011, born Seattle, Washington
420:, 1914–1997, born Voroshilovka, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
295:, as well as Louis Stettner. The League disbanded in 1951.
492:
N. (Nathan) Jay Jaffee, 1921–1999, born Brooklyn, New York
279:
At first the League fought back and mounted an impressive
750:, 1911–1985, born Manhattan, New York; former president
429:
John Ebstel, 1922–2000, born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
426:
Arnold Eagle, 1909–1992, born Budapest, Austria-Hungary
1078:
The Radical Camera: New York's Photo League, 1936–1951
887:
The Radical Camera: New York's Photo League, 1936–1951
558:
Sonia Handelman Meyer, born 1920, Lakewood, New Jersey
501:
Sy (Seymour) Kattelson, born 1923, Manhattan, New York
432:
Myron Ehrenberg, 1907–1977, born Boston, Massachusetts
1110:
Arts organizations disestablished in the 20th century
956:
Cineaste, vol. 37 no. 4. Fall 2012, p. 80. (See
911:"Sonia Handelman Meyer: Images from the Photo League"
555:
Tosh Matsumoto, 1920–2010, born Vacaville, California
40:
The League's origins traced back to a project of the
1080:(Exhibition at The Jewish Museum, 11/4/11 – 3/25/12)
16:
New York City photographer's cooperative (1936–1951)
708:
Elizabeth Timberman, 1908–1988, born Columbus, Ohio
636:
Edward Schwartz, 1906–2005, born Brooklyn, New York
522:
Jack Lessinger, 1911–1987, born Manhattan, New York
366:
Lucy Ashjian, 1907–1993, born Indianapolis, Indiana
268:
Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations
1041:Life Library of Photography, Time-Life Books, 1972
603:Bea Pancoast, 1924–2004, born Manhattan, New York
549:Jack Manning, 1920–2001, born Manhattan, New York
543:Richard Lyon, 1914–1994, born Manhattan, New York
423:Robert Disraeli, 1905–1988, born Cologne, Germany
247:Many of the members who joined before the end of
85:Among the members of the League were co-founders
459:Godfrey Frankel, 1912–1995, born Cleveland, Ohio
405:Larry Colwell, 1901–1972, born Detroit, Michigan
262:of subversive organizations by Attorney General
1052:Photo League Collection, Columbus Museum of Art
889:. Yale University Press and The Jewish Museum.
838:. Center for Creative Photography. p. 161.
821:The Photo League: Photography as a Social Force
705:Rolf Tietgens, 1911–1984, born Hamburg, Germany
235:editor and board chair of the League's school.
642:Ann Zane Shanks, born 1927, Brooklyn, New York
316:Ordinary Miracles: The Photo League's New York
231:, who joined the League as early as 1936, was
880:
878:
546:Sam Mahl, 1913–1992, born Manhattan, New York
462:George Gilbert, born 1922, Brooklyn, New York
402:Bernard Cole, 1911–1982, born London, England
270:(AGLOSO) published on March 20, 1948, in the
8:
781:
779:
609:David Robbins, 1912–1981, born United States
504:Sidney Kerner, born 1920, Brooklyn, New York
1019:. Carl Mautz, 2006, chapter V, pages 31–70.
735:Sandra Weiner, born 1921, Drohiczyn, Poland
639:Joe Schwartz, born 1913, Brooklyn, New York
528:, 1910–1988, born Buckhannon, West Virginia
477:, 1908–2001, born Charlotte, North Carolina
1120:1951 disestablishments in New York (state)
696:, 1917–1991, born Springtown, Pennsylvania
507:Gabriella Langendorf, born Vienna, Austria
408:Ann Cooper, born 1912, Manhattan, New York
1100:Arts organizations based in New York City
564:, 1906–1983, born Vienna, Austria-Hungary
109:, and Lester Talkington (all from 1947);
811:
809:
738:Bill Witt, born 1921, Newark, New Jersey
714:, 1924–2013, born Menlo Park, California
456:, 1931–2015, born Coney Island, New York
372:, 1912–1980, born New Haven, Connecticut
1029:. Chicago: Stephen Daiter Gallery, 2001
775:
756:, born 1929–2023, Woburn, Massachusetts
744:, 1926–2019, born Malden, Massachusetts
594:, 1921–1985, born Boston, Massachusetts
93:(director of the Photo League School);
1105:Arts organizations established in 1936
214:. The League was the caretaker of the
23:was a cooperative of photographers in
732:, 1919–1959, born Manhattan, New York
720:, 1914–1975, born St. Paul, Minnesota
702:, 1890–1976, born Manhattan, New York
660:, 1903–1991, born Manhattan, New York
648:, 1907–1990, born Manhattan, New York
627:, 1915–1985, born Manhattan, New York
615:, 1919–2006, born Manhattan, New York
582:, 1918–2006, born Manhattan, New York
576:, 1920–2014, born Manhattan, New York
540:, 1924–2011, born Manhattan, New York
534:, 1914–2001, born Manhattan, New York
471:, 1913–1955, born Manhattan, New York
450:, 1918–2005, born Manhattan, New York
444:, 1929–2016, born Manhattan, New York
438:, 1911–1973, born Manhattan, New York
414:, 1919–2008, born Manhattan, New York
393:, 1916–1995, born Manhattan, New York
378:, 1911–2005, born Manhattan, New York
7:
1115:1936 establishments in New York City
794:. USGPO. 20 March 1948. p. 1473
684:, 1922–2016, born Brooklyn, New York
633:, 1925–2008, born Brooklyn, New York
513:, 1918–2014, born Brooklyn, New York
483:, 1874–1940, born Oshkosh, Wisconsin
387:, 1914–1999, born Basel, Switzerland
788:Federal Register: 13 Fed. Reg. 1471
360:, 1898–1991, born Springfield, Ohio
1095:American photography organizations
1017:Photography, History & Science
924:Gonzalez, David (March 23, 2012).
672:, 1909–1967, born Dresden, Germany
381:Nancy Bulkeley, born United States
14:
926:"Redeeming a Life in Photography"
823:. Modern Photography. p. 90.
678:, 1899–1986, born Cleveland, Ohio
666:, 1918–1978, born Wichita, Kansas
621:, 1903–1985, born Munich, Germany
600:, 1907–1978, born Berlin, Germany
570:, 1900–1992, born Buffalo, Kansas
498:, 1894–1978, born Astoria, Oregon
519:, 1916–2014, Manhattan, New York
489:, 1909–2003, born Warsaw, Poland
399:, born 1920, Manhattan, New York
690:, born 1924, Frankfurt, Germany
352:: The Jewish Museum New York)
1:
977:. 2013-01-15. Archived from
654:, born 1934, Bronx, New York
588:, born 1927, Bronx, New York
113:(editor of the Photo League
42:Workers International Relief
1057:History of the Photo League
344:Members of the Photo League
1141:
1072:(Oxford University Press)
1027:This Was the Photo League
1012:, The Photo League, 1948.
1039:Documentary Photography.
1010:This Is the Photo League
318:by Daniel Allentuck and
281:This Is the Photo League
127:magazine photographer);
834:Betsi Meissner (2002).
1125:Humanist photographers
1033:History of Photography
1008:Newhall, Nancy Wynne:
1015:Robinson, Gerald H.:
300:Sonia Handelman Meyer
237:Sonia Handelman Meyer
164:Margaret Bourke-White
69:photograph America".
46:Film and Photo League
370:Marynn Older Ausubel
306:, did not continue.
1023:Tucker, Anne Wilkes
944:web-static.nypl.org
222:Women photographers
174:, FSA photographer
81:Influential members
819:(September 1979).
253:Arbeiterfotografen
896:978-0-300-14687-5
481:Lewis Wickes Hine
337:Cineaste Magazine
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487:Morris Huberland
475:Rosalie Gwathmey
454:Harold Feinstein
391:Angela Calomiris
285:Angela Calomiris
273:Federal Register
200:Harold Feinstein
180:Beaumont Newhall
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385:Rudy Burckhardt
358:Berenice Abbott
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328:Andrews Sisters
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135:photographer);
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139:; Bill Witt;
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129:Aaron Siskind
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62:Ralph Steiner
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983:. Retrieved
979:the original
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817:Tucker, Anne
796:. Retrieved
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712:David Vestal
652:Larry Silver
598:Marion Palfi
469:Sid Grossman
448:Morris Engel
349:
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264:Tom C. Clark
257:
252:
249:World War II
246:
243:Blacklisting
232:
229:Lucy Ashjian
225:
196:Robert Frank
172:Helen Levitt
161:
149:Sy Kattelson
132:
123:
114:
95:Morris Engel
91:Sid Grossman
84:
74:
71:
55:
39:
21:Photo League
20:
18:
763:Cuchi White
718:John Vachon
700:Paul Strand
694:Lou Stoumen
688:Erika Stone
532:Sol Libsohn
418:Jack Delano
293:Paul Strand
233:Photo Notes
212:Minor White
204:Ansel Adams
115:Photo Notes
87:Sol Libsohn
75:Photo Notes
58:Paul Strand
1089:Categories
997:References
985:2019-10-27
730:Dan Weiner
670:Fred Stein
646:Lee Sievan
631:Rae Russel
592:Ruth Orkin
574:Lida Moser
330:, and the
304:Rae Russel
216:Lewis Hine
137:Dan Weiner
103:Ruth Orkin
748:Max Yavno
742:Ida Wyman
260:blacklist
30:blacklist
798:20 April
25:New York
36:Origins
893:
870:Tucker
849:Tucker
724:Weegee
350:Source
326:, the
310:Legacy
192:Weegee
155:; and
792:(PDF)
770:Notes
52:Ethos
960:and
891:ISBN
800:2020
302:and
210:and
124:Life
89:and
60:and
19:The
121:(a
117:);
1091::
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946:.
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802:.
348:(
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