History
"Ansel Adams and the Founding of the Center"
Excerpt from the John P. Schaefer article in Original Sources: Art And Archives At The Center For Creative Photography
The Center for Creative Photography is the product of the vision of one of the medium’s greatest masters, Ansel Adams, … and my conviction as university president that photography is a key element of the art and literature of our times. During the opening of a one-man exhibition of Ansel’s photographs at the University of Arizona’s Museum of Art, I ventured to ask him if he would be interested in placing the archives of his work at the University. Ansel, tough somewhat surprised by the direct nature of my suggestion, responded by saying that he was not interested in having his work stand as an isolated collection. If, however, the University were willing to think in broader terms and include the works of many other photographers, he would be interested in exploring the possibilities. What followed was an invitation to visit him at his home in Carmel.
Conversations with Ansel in December 1974 were a revelation as he shared his own history in photography, in conservation, in writing and teaching with me. I, in turn, put forth ideas about what I believed the University was and could become, and why photography deserved the serious attention of students and scholars alike. We spoke of archives, teaching programs, seminars, visiting scholars, and collecting and preservation, publication, the creation of exhibitions; over the course of days the concept of the Center for Creative Photography was born… Harry Callahan, Wynn Bullock, Frederick Sommer, and Aaron Siskind joined with Ansel to found the first archives of the Center. W. Eugene Smith soon joined the University’s faculty. Paul Strand contributed much of his work, and the archive of Edward Weston was later added to the growing collections.
Within a year the Center became an international presence in the field of photography. It remains an active “work in progress,” awaiting the next photography, a key letter, significant memorabilia, a run of magazines, a rare book—all of which are vital to a living and growing archive.
CCP Overview
The Center for Creative Photography is a research institution with a robust program of exhibitions and public lectures. It is the largest institution in the world devoted to documenting the history of modern North American photography. At the heart of the Center are the archives of over 200 photographers, scholars, galleries, and organizations, comprised of 4.5 million items, complemented by an unparalleled collection of over 90,000 fine prints. These collections continue to dynamically grow through gift and purchase, and we continue to promote them at our website. Recently, we unveiled the new Laura Volkerding Study Center, where researchers will be able to study items from the fine prints collection side-by-side with negatives, transparencies, correspondence, and other manuscript and visual materials. This new space accompanied with greater support for scholarship through our growing research fellowship and visiting scholars program will enable CCP to refresh its standing as the foremost center in North America for the creation of new knowledge about photography today and the history of photography.
Beyond our four walls, the Center’s collections and research services have a direct impact on the creation of new knowledge about photography today and the history of photography. We offer curators and scholars the resources to borrow and curate exhibits at their institutions, to write journal articles, books, and exhibition catalogs that are read by thousands, and create new websites accessible to the world. Photographers are inspired by studying our collections, and their creativity expands the universe of art for the world to enjoy.