This series includes three distinct file runs of correspondence and other personal papers and business files, distinguished by their creator and level of organization. The first run contains vertical files kept by Ruth Bernhard, sorted by topic. The second contains artificial files by and about Bernhard, organized chronologically by topic and maintained by the Princeton University Art Museum, including original correspondence as well as correspondence between museum staff and various parties, along with articles by and about Bernhard, exhibition catalogs, workshop materials and advertisements, reproductions of photographs, publishing agreements, and more. The third contains unsorted correspondence and enclosures that Bernhard kept loose in boxes.
This series is arranged into three subseries.
Exhibitions: General, 1997-2002
Exhibitions: Pending, 1996-1999
Creative Mind Video Transcript, 1992
Exhibitions Completed, 1995-1997
Exhibition at Hearst Gallery, Saint Mary's College, Moraga, California, 1996 November 16-December 22
"At the Modern San Francisco Museum of Modern Art" Newsletter (4 copies), 1986 September-October
Mitchell, Margaretta: Correspondence Related to Recollections: Ten Women of Photography, 1979-1998
Contracts and Agreements, 1993
Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, Arizona: Correspondence and Publicity Materials, 1976-2000
Woodrose Publishing: Correspondence Related to Lux 4 and Gift of the Commonplace, 1994-1996
Exhibitions Completed, 1986-1994
The Eye Beyond Draft, 1962
Book Reference Materials, 1938-1986
Card from "Joyce", 1992
Card from Dayna Moey(?), 1995
Card from "Alden", 1998
Card from Jeff Shea, 1997
Letter from Caroline Millette, 1986
Card from Lita Singer, 1999
Empty Envelope from Jane Lidz, 1989
Thank You Letters, 1997-1999
Correspondence: Personal, 1983-2000
Correspondence: Family, 1980-2001
Correspondence: Fan Mail, 1991-2003
Correspondence: Friends, 1985-2003
Correspondence: Students, 1997-2003
Teaching Materials, 1995-1999
Honors and Awards, 1996-1997
Miscellaneous Letters, Documents, Photographs, and Copies of Letters from Ed Weston, 1938-2002
Art in America, 2002 June
Camera and Darkroom, 1994 May
Roll 1 Snapshots, 10-11: Mary Jean and John Winkler and MAH Buena Vista - Lunch, 1999 March 18
Roll 2 Snapshots, 3: Lutheran Church, City of Edison, Washington (a very small town), 1999 April 3
Roll 3 Snapshots, 10-11: Easter Sunday Brunch, Compass Rose, Judy Lynn and Val Arnold, 1999 April 4
Roll 1 Max/24 Snapshots: Wednesday Ruth, MAH, Judy Lynn in Lobby of Vance Hotel, 1998 April 8
Roll 2 Max/24 Snapshots: Friday Tulip Fields, Skagit Valley, Washington Negatives 1-2, 1998 April 10
Roll 4 400/36 Snapshots: Saturday Bernhard Workshop Day One, Coupeville Art Center, 1998 April 11
Album of Snapshots from Ruth Bernhard's 96th Birthday, by Mary Ann Helmholtz, 2001 October 14
Workshop: John Sexton Workshops, Gift of the Commonplace, Carmel Valley, California, 1992-1997
Clippings and Copies of Magazine and Newspaper Articles Mentioning Ruth Bernhard, 1986-1993
New Material to File, 1998-2003
Exhibition Chronology, 1989-1993
Miscellaneous Material, 1978-1997
Writings by Ruth Bernhard, 1942-1995
Exhibition: "Photographs by Ruth Bernhard," Jake Zeitlin Gallery, 1936 October 26-November 23
Exhibition: "Light^7," MIT, 1968
Exhibition: "Photographs by Ruth Bernhard," Stephen White Gallery, 1977 August 30-October 8
Exhibition: "Photographs: Ruth Bernhard," Equivalents Gallery, 1980 September 12-October 20
Exhibition: "Photographs of Ruth Bernhard," Douglas Elliot Gallery, 1982 January 4-September 4
Exhibition: "Ruth Bernhard - Photographs," Daytona Beach Community College, 1988 September 6-29
Exhibition: "Ruth Bernhard: A Retrospect from the Ginny Williams Collection", Denver, CO, 1993-1995
Exhibition: "Pacific Dreams", 1995
Exhibition: "Ruth Bernhard: Known and Unknown," Cal. State University, 1996 October 8-November 17
Exhibition: "Ruth Bernhard: Photographs," Princeton University, 1996 October 12-November 17
Exhibition: "Machine Art", 1934-1994
Exhibition: "The Human Vessel", 1988
Exhibition: "The Private Eye", 1989
Exhibition Announcements, 1970s
Exhibition Announcements, 1980s
Exhibition Announcements, 1990-1994
Exhibition Announcements, 1995-1998
Exhibition Announcements, undated
Exhibition Reviews, 1941-1990
Collected Visions Incorporated, 1980
Articles About Ruth Bernhard, 1960s
Articles About Ruth Bernhard, 1970s
Articles About Ruth Bernhard, 1980-1985
Articles About Ruth Bernhard, 1990
Interviews, 1970s
Interviews, 1980s
Interviews, 1990s
Workshops: Materials and Texts, 1991
Workshops: Materials and Texts, 1997
Student Essays: Berkeley, 1996
Student Essays, 1990-1993
Teaching Materials, 1952-1997
Ruth Bernhard Estate, 2006-2007
Manuscript: "The Eye Beyond", 1960-1966
Workshop Student Photographs, 1973
Oversize Auction Catalogue, 1996
3 empty unmarked envelopes, undated
"Mexico", 1958
"The Sierra 6/1982", 1982 June
Pivot literary magazine, 1959
Letter to RB from Cornell Capa, International Center of Photography re: RB Exhibition, 1979
Exhibition Brochure for "Ruth Bernhard: Photographs" at Princeton University Art Museum, 1996
Save the Children card to RB from "Delalian(?), Robert, Dana(?) and Edward Thurston", undated
Postcard of Windsor Castle, 1996
RB in profile toward the right of the photo, looking down, "Vision" written on back, undated
Card to RB from Carol Henry, 2000
Thin plant in sleeve, undated
Berlin Ticket magazine, 1999 June
Abstract image with signatures of RB, Laura Miller, Lovejoy, and one other artist around it, undated
Close-up of RB's eyes, undated
Card to RB from Gini Harding, 2003
Postcard for Jeffrey Becom From the Mediterranean to Mexico exhibition at John Cleary Gallery, 2003
Letter to RB from Will Drury, 2003
Folded small poster for Marcel Bolomet Inaugural Exhibition at G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, 2003
Norman Jensen : Migration Dreams booklet of work by Norman Jensen, Santa Fe Community College, 2003
Card to RB from Edith Maxwell, 2003
"30 Nov 1999 - SFMOMA" photo of RB and woman seated in front of flowers at a table, 1999 November 30
Card to RB From "Rodney", 2006
Envelope labelled "Ruth October 14, 2006" with a card filled with sunflower seeds, 2006 October 14
"The Folberg Family serenades you Ruth on your 100th birthday!" "Neil and Anna Yehuda(?)", undated
Large birthday card to RB from Don MacDonald with "Rock Form Point Lobos" photograph, undated
Folder with pressed leaf, wrapping paper, and speech by Michael Kenna to RB for 100th birthday, 2005
Double-sided digital contact sheet with photos of a beach house, "Gracie's Mansion", undated
Correspondence in Progress, undated
RB Living Will/Executed, undated
Page with owls, undated
3 pages with leaf scans, undated
Fan Letters, undated
Small brown address book, undated
Unmarked holiday card, undated
Empty envelope from Palm Beach Photographic Workshops addressed to Jennifer Lovejoy, undated
San Francisco Arts Monthly article: "J.J. Brookings Celebrating Ruth Bernhard's Art", 2001 August
9 miscellaneous cut-out pages with "Two Portfolios, Ruth Bernhard" printed on them, undated
2 notes on the back of invitations to "The Eternal Body" at Photography West Gallery, undated
Exhibition Invitation to RB and Michael Kenna exhibition at Longview Museum of Fine Arts, 1998
2 pages with RB's stamp: "Recipe for a long and happy life" and "Dear Friend" letter, undated
Postcard for Photography as Life and Art at Highlands Inn, from RB to Jennifer Lovejoy, 1998
Card to MAH from Sue Thorson, 1998
Exhibition Card for Recent photographs by Ruth Bernhard exhibition at A Photographer's Gallery, 1956
Note by RB: "With loving thoughts and warm wishes for a treasured friend - Ruth Bernhard", undated
Focus: Photographs from the Collection of Helen Johnston, catalogue, de Saisset Museum, 1989
"Essential Elements of Photography" outline of photographic processes, from RB's studio, undated
Photography Quarterly, 1997
Book of postcards from "Essential Art" exhibition at Center for Creative Photography, undated
"To Ruth: Remembering our mutual friend, Emmet 6/9/05" by William Wesley Davis, 2005 June 9
2 copies of New York Times Magazine, March 9, 1997, 'Funny, We Don't Feel Old', 1997 March 9
"Ruth Bernhard Father's Silk Design, c.1942 Vintage Gelatin Silver Print RB131" Polaroid, circa 1942
Postcard "The worshippers resting in the precinct of The Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar", undated
Postcard "View of Bagan", undated
Card with Classic Torso, undated
Letter and folder with Lucian Bernhard "Modern Romantic" portfolio, from Manfred Bernhard, 2000
"R.B. Studio Home" Polaroid of small table with purple cloth, 2 chairs, plants, etc., undated
The Times Leader article "Stock, Cottrill exhibit opens" with letter from Jay Stock on back, 1999
Exhibition: List of works in Triangle Gallery show "A Certain Smile", 1961, featuring 7 by RB, 1961
Postcard for RB "Photography as Life and Art" exhibition at Highlands Inn, Carmel, California, 1998
Card for RB 'Seven Decades Behind the Camera' exhibition, Telluride Gallery, Colorado, 1998-1999
Essay about RB, notes: "Leith Hockins The Photographer's Gallery Palo Alto, CA", 1998 June 5
New York article "All Together Now" 1996 re: Margaretta Mitchell, RB, women photographers, 1996
2 photos of poster for "Boxing Helena A Jennifer Lynch Film" Photo in poster by RB?, undated
3 photocopies of portraits taken in 1960 and 1957, woman with short and then long hair, 1957-1960
"The Umayyad Legacy: A Photographic Research Project" by Saïd Nuseibeh, research paper, undated
"Love at Christmas Ruth B", 1998
Scan of Dallas Texas newspaper book review of Ruth Bernhard: Between Art and Life, circa 2000
SANfrancisco Magazine arts page featuring RB 95th birthday show at Scott Nichols Gallery, 2000
Copy of list of subjects by RB, 1988
RB Two Portfolios booklet, undated
Sleeve of programs, press releases, and postcards re: RB shows and workshops, circa 1980s-1990s
This series includes any photographic work and publications produced by Ruth Bernhard that are included with the papers, as well as publicity materials related to her activities as a professional photographer. This series documents the appearance of Bernhard's photographs in her own portfolios and monographs, as well as in major publications, advertisements, and exhibitions, with a single image often appearing and reappearing in these various contexts throughout its lifespan. Some items, such as her publicity folios, provide both evidence of her photographic work in print, as well as her efforts to promote and publicize it. Due to this overlap, and to the fact that Bernhard often stored these materials together, this series includes both works and publicity in order to preserve context.
Materials are grouped by format.
Signed Reproduction of Skull and Rosary (1945) on White Folder with Quote on Reverse Side, undated
Poster for Ruth Bernhard at Preus Fotomuseum, featuring Classic Torso (1952), 1989 June-August
Mounted Gallery Description of "Ruth Bernhard: Collecting Light" Retrospective Exhibition, undated
Cut-out Page with Sitting Bull watercolor on one side, RB photograph of shell on back, undated
Card Featuring Seed by RB, 1972
Exhibition Postcards for The Eternal Body Reception at A Gallery for Fine Photography, 1997
Exhibition Cards for Ruth Bernhard Photographs Preview Reception at SK Josefsberg Studio, 1997
Exhibition Brochure for RB and Michael Kenna at Photoview Workshops, Longview Art Museum, 1998
Exhibition Postcards for Master Artist Tribute Gala, Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary's College, 1996
Exhibition Postcards for The Eternal Body at de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University, 1991
Exhibition Invitations for Ruth Bernhard and Michael Kenna at Longview Museum of Fine Arts, 1998
"Let the Eyes See From the Inside Out: A Conversation with Ruth Bernhard," Fullerton College, 1976
This series primarily contains props and objects used by Ruth Bernhard for still life photography and teaching, along with some print and audio and visual materials related to her activities as a photography instructor. Some objects, such as the cow skull with embedded rosary pictured in Skull and Rosary (1945) and the Venus murex shell pictured in Venus Comb (1943) can be attributed to specific photographs. Others exemplify the sorts of props Bernhard often photographed and used in student instruction, including doll pieces, animal bones, various seed pods and other plant materials, found objects, and modern decor and kitchen equipment. Insight into Bernhard's use of these objects can be found in pages 87-90 of the draft of Ruth Bernhard: Between Art and Life, a biography written by Margaretta Mitchell in conjunction with the artist (See Box 7, Folder 8-9).
Materials are grouped by format.
10 Polaroids of Participants and their Applications for the John Sexton Photography Workshop, 1997
Teaching Slides, circa 1930s-1970s
32 Cassette Tapes of Teaching Interviews, Lectures, and Workshops with Ruth Bernhard, 1977-1992
This series includes Ruth Bernhard's appointment books and calendars from the early 1970s through the rest of her life, documenting both personal and professional activities and travels. In earlier years, most entries appear in Bernhard's handwriting, documenting her class schedule and frequent one-on-one appointments with students, along with other engagements, including interviews, doctor appointments, and dates with retired Air Force Colonel Price Rice, Bernhard's long-term companion from 1967 until his death in 1999.
This series is arranged chronologically.
Beautiful Japan Calendar, 1972
The Shell Desk Diary, 1973
Beautiful Japan Calendar, 1973
The Executive Planner, 1981
The Executive Planner, 1982
The Executive Planner, 1983
UNICEF Engagement Calendar, 1983
The Executive Planner, 1984
Red Calendar, 1985
Kodak Desk Calendar, 1986
The Diary, 1989
Planner, 1992
Audubon Engagement Calendar, 1996
This series includes photographs and artwork by others, gifts, personal effects, awards, and other memorabilia collected by Ruth Bernhard throughout her life for personal or sentimental reasons. These materials include snapshots, photographs, and photograph albums documenting Ruth Bernhard's personal and professional life from childhood until her death in 2006, portraying the photographer as a young woman, in the photography studio working with models and students, and during various events, exhibitions, birthday parties, and travels.
This series is arranged into three subseries.
5 square photos and slides of RB and friends from bag labeled "Kitzbuehl, Austria", 1985 August
Close-up print of RB's eyes, undated
"Bernhard teaching class on 'the nude' at Clay St. Studio, San Francisco 1959" by Ron Morgan, 1959
2 pages (8 photographs) of RB in polka-dot shirt and black sweater-vest wearing large ring, undated
"Neikrug Gallery N.Y.", 1971
Snapshot of RB and friend "I wish you a happy New Year and I look forward to see you again...", 1983
"RB, Kyoto", 1983
"RB Tokyo, Japan", 1990
"RB 1980 Sunland, California", 1980
"Lee Jennings and one of RB's Sacchsi Shelley's offspring Southhold, Long Island, NY", 1972
"Self-Portrait: Bernhard in her Clay Street Living Room, San Francisco, California", 1995 November
RB with 7 friends, undated
"Hawaii" photo of RB, undated
"At Mildred's house in Hollywood" contact sheet featuring RB and friend posing outdoors, undated
Richard Nagler, 2 photos of RB and friends in costumes, RB beside a gong, 1991 September 26
"Ruth Bernhard, photographer," By Stephen Somerstein, portrait of RB with her work, 1999 October 16
3 caricature drawings of RB, undated
"Ruth Bernhard in Clay St., San Francisco Living Room," by Bob Clark, fish-eye portrait, undated
"Photo Taken 4/12/98 Coupeville, Wash." RB through wet glass by Christine Burgoyne, 1998 April 12
RB facing right, hands clasped in front of face, in white collared shirt, by J.D. Mercer, undated
2 copies of photo of RB on white couch with two framed RB photos on wall, by Kurt E. Fishback, 1980
"Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie" photo of RB, photographers, and models, undated
Portrait of RB looking slightly up, wearing black jacket and white patterned scarf, undated
"Ruth B. Honored by a group of North Beach Photographers San Francisco 1978" 4 photos of RB, 1978
"Lucien Aergue 50th Birthday at Workshop R.B. looking on" Polaroid with RB in white, undated
12 photos of RB at Princeton University Art Museum exhibition, 1996, by Margaretta K Mitchell, 1996
Cut contact sheet of RB on floor in front of bed with framed photos on wall and beside her, undated
4 photos and 1 newspaper clipping re: Dr. Twain Tippetts, Utah State University honoring RB, 1990
Pamphlet re: Ruth Bernhard Ten Photographs 1930-1976 portfolio published by Nichol Press, 1982
"Michael Folant 1996 Home with 8 Bernhards" Polaroid of Living room with 8 framed RB photos, 1996
"April 30, 1989 taken by Joan Mayer(?)" photo of RB in blue and white, looking down, 1989 April 30
Two photos of Dresden, 1996
26 photos from Ruth Bernhard Workshop Coupeville Arts Center, Washington, by Andrew C. Eads, 1998
7 photos of RB in red sweater, 1985
"To: Ruth with love Jerry 1984" Back: "photographer, Jerry Uelsman" Polaroid of 2 men, 1984
4 photos of RB, 1977 December
"Virginia Adams, Widow of Ansel Adams and friend of Ruth Bernhard" by Nancy J. Ori, undated
RB with Gwendalyn Evans, undated
25 photos of RB and friends at RB exhibition in yellow-walled gallery, by Gary J. Mellinger, 1998
10 photos of RB and friends, envelope labeled "Michael and Janet Bunger(?) with his mother", undated
RB on white couch with furs with 2 prints on wall behind, by Carole Charfauros George, undated
"Portrait of Ruth Bernhard 2982 Clay Street, San Francisco, California" by Larry Colwell, 1953
"1946: At the lighthouse. Southold, Long Island Shelly O'Tool" photo of a dog on grass, 1946
3 dogs in a basket, undated
"Werkstatte der Kathe-Kruse-Puppen Bad Kosen (Saale) 138" photo of 5 dolls in a row, undated
"18 Werkstatte der Kathe-Kruse-Puppen Bad Kosen (Saale)" photo of 3 dolls and mirror, undated
Pierce Lyon photo of RB sitting left of nude model with bow in hair, facing away "1959?", 1959
Pierce Lyon photo of RB on one knee, holding glasses, surrounded by other seated adults, undated
"Cornell Capa with RB, Roman Vishniak(?) Workshop in Aspen, Colorado (Hotel Kitchen)", undated
RB in polka-dots, undated
"RB and Helmut Horn Highlands Inn, Carmel, California, Dinner Honoring Ruth Bernhard", 1993 October
Headshot of RB, undated
"126 Werkstatte der Kathe-Kruse-Puppen Bad Kosen (Saale)" photo of doll in dark colors, undated
Pierce Lyon photo of RB standing to the right, nude model laying on platform along the left, undated
"Ruth Bernhard, age 20", circa 1925
"Ruth Bernhard c.1959 San Francisco, California Corner of Preudist(?) and Broadway", circa 1959
"Manfred Bernhard", circa 1952
3 photos from Berlin, 1930
"Manfred (born 1917) and Karl Bernhard (born 1915) Berlin, Germany, ages 9 and 11", circa 1926
RB hugging her dog, undated
"In Ruth Bernhard's Living Room, Clay Street, San Francisco" Fish-eye image by Bob Clark, undated
3 photos from Witkin Gallery, and 2 photos from RB's Clay St. apartment, all by Lee Witkin, 1977
5 pages of scans of leaves, undated
"Ruth Bernhard Patti Light, Painter, Vintage gelatin silver print" Polaroid of print on wall, 1929
"Ruth Bernhard Hollywood actor with gloves 1938 Vintage gelatin silver print" Polaroid, 1938
RB leaning to her left, hands clasped, speaking to a woman in yellow, in a living room, undated
Exhibition Card for The Gift of The Commonplace opening reception, 1992, Vision Gallery, 1992
RB in black holding 2 dogs, undated
"June 18th 1989 Bryn Mawr College, Pa Workshop", by Rollie McKenna, portrait of RB, 1989 June 18
5 small photos of RB and Sebastião Salgado, 1 ripped photo of RB on Sitmar Cruises, undated
Polaroid with six people, 2 holding polaroids, "Greta Rich Eva Harvey" featuring Price Rice, undated
Small square photo of dog, undated
27 photos and papers from 1983-1994 of RB at various events, envelope labelled "'93", 1983-1994
5 photos of RB and friends and students in envelope marked "Longview Museum of Fine Arts", undated
"Shedrich Williames Photographer Assistant = Ronald Gardner" Photo by Shedrich Williames, 1985
"Me and a special friend" Shedrich Williames and man in white, with a birthday cake, undated
3 photos of Jerry Uelsman at Friends, "For Ruth, August 1984 AA Workshop" by Nancy Ori, 1984 August
"Rod, Ruth Bernhard, Shedrick", 1991
"Eikoh Hosoe and RB, FOP Workshop Pebble Beach, CA 7/1989" photo by Nancy J. Ori, 1989 July
"Eveline, with bow, Age 9, With a neighborhood pal" c. 1920s, photo of two young girls, circa 1920s
"Halloween pumpkins at typical San Francisco House around corner from RB's", 1999 October 26
"Ruth Bernhard and Jim Alinder, Sunset Center, Carmel, California" by Mary Ann Helmholtz, 1979
"Oct 14, 1955" RB with left hand to face, looking forward in front of white curtain, 1955 October 14
"Norman Jensen", 2001 December
Photo of RB and at a dinner table with many guests, one man standing by her and speaking, 1993
"Biographer Ruthie Audrey", undated
Copy of Invitation to RB 91st birthday dinner at Princeton, 3 photos of event by M.K. Mitchell, 1996
Card for "Ulrike Palmbach New Works" at Stephen Wirtz Gallery, 2003, RB and MAH attended", 2003
"Snapshots from Ruth Bernhard Still Lifes Exhibition at G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle", 1996 May 8
"Winckelmann Museum Stendal Opening of Ruth Bernhard's Photographie Exhibition", 1995 June 17
"Reception For The Artist Ruth Bernhard: Known and Unknown Traveling Retrospective", 1996 November 3
"Tokyo, Japan", 1983
"Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Ruth Bernhard/Mary Ann Helmholtz Alliance", 2003
Abraham Aronow; Theatre proof with still life; antlers, doll parts, and stuffed chick, 2001
Abraham Aronow; "Salgado", 1993
Jan McVay; "Fish Eating Creek", 1992
Don Clark; "Thousand Springs", 1994
Norman Jensen; "Self Portrait", 1999
Norman Jensen; "Untitled", 1999
Norman Jensen; "Milkweed Pod", 1999
Norman Jensen; "2 Leaves", 1999
Norman Jensen; "Annunciation", 1999
"Student assignment" photo of arm in shadow in front of curtain, chairs, and plant, undated
"5/2000" print of the torso of a marble statue with pink and orange draping fabric, 2000 May
Skiers on a sunny day, undated
A priest, hands clasped, smiling at photographer, with photos of children's choir on back, undated
4 leaves in hay, undated
"Happy Birthday from one of your students to whom you reveal 'light'" by Chung Hoang Chuong, undated
Double-sided print of a glass jar on a windowsill, and tile distorted through glass, undated
Print of little girl half-behind a wall, with three brooms behind her, by Clau de (?), undated
"I." abstracted photo, out of focus, shadowed object forms a triangle against white, undated
Print of motion-blurred silhouetted trees, "Please return to owner Margaret M. Haldeman", undated
Letter from Jack Spencer to RB, 1999
Photo card for "Marie-Jo Lafontaine" Exhibition at University Art Museum, CSU, Long Beach, 1994
Photo card for "Wall Works" wall installations at University Art Museum, CSU, Long Beach, 1994
Unattributed print of female nude in child's pose with arms towards feet, head not visible, undated
Print of older apartment building with fire escape ladder down center, by Andrew Williams, undated
"To Ruth A demonstration of my admiration. Richard Ross" Photo of animal corpse in grass, undated
"Spirit of Baja" by Betty Garland 1983/84/85, multiple exposure with landscape and nude, 1983-1985
Large Black Album Pages, with Abstract Photographs, Still Lifes, and Portraits (Some Loose), undated
5 pages with portions of RB's "Recipe for a Long and Happy Life" and one "Dear Friend" Letter, 1995
Beige Album for Ruth's 99th Birthday, "Love, Jennifer", with Pressed Petals and Leaves, 2004
"To My Dearest Friend Ruth Bernhard on Her Birthday," by Alfonso Malato de Sousa, 2000 October 14
"Celebrating your Friendship and your Birthday," by Alfonso Malato de Sousa, 2001 October 14
Collection of Love Notes from Price Rice in Green Album and Loose Album Pages, circa 1970s-1990s
"Homage to Ruth Bernhard," Assemblage of Objects in Box with Card, Gift from Pauline Blanc, 1993
Slide Collection, 1910s-1990s
Subseries 5C: Awards, 1987-2003
Certificate of Appreciation from the Professional Photographers of California, Inc., 1987 March 15
Presidential Citation Certificate, for Outstanding Service to Utah State University, 1990 October 25
Honorary and Distinguished Citizen Certificate, from the Town of Coupeville, Washington, circa 1990s
Lifetime Achievement Award Trophy from the Center for Photographic Art, San Diego, 2001 October 19
- Scope and Contents
This collection documents over seventy years of Ruth Bernhard's life, from her start as a serious photographer in the 1930s, at a time when photography was gaining status as a fine art form, until her death in 2006 at age 101, by which time she was internationally well-known both for her contributions to the field of photography and for her long and successful teaching career. Though some photographs from her early life in Germany are present, as well as occasional materials from her early career, such as photocopies of correspondence with her mentor, Edward Weston, the majority of materials in the collection pertain to Bernhard's activities from the 1960s through the early 2000s.
The papers contain a wide array of materials relevant to Bernhard's personal and professional life, including personal and business correspondence and papers related to her career as a professional photographer and teacher of photography, a small amount of photographic work, some manuscripts and proofs for her published and unpublished books and portfolios, publicity materials, exhibition and auction catalogs and brochures, photography props, teaching materials and hand-outs, appointment books, and a large collection of memorabilia, including snapshots of Bernhard, collected fine art photographs and artwork by others, photograph albums, gifts, personal effects, and awards. Occasional audio and visual materials are also present, including slides, cassette tapes, and VHS tapes documenting various events, awards ceremonies, interviews, and lectures, as well as some kept for personal interest.
Absent from the papers are Bernhard's silver gelatin prints and original negatives, which are held by the Princeton University Art Museum. It should also be noted that Bernhard disposed of many of her 8 x 10" negatives, especially her commercial work, when she stopped photographing in 1976, resulting in the lack of materials related to much of her commercial photography in the papers.
Item description was provided by the Princeton University Art Museum. Though this legacy description deviates substantially from standard archival description practices, it was retained in order to avoid the loss of potentially valuable information. Researchers should keep this in mind when using this description to navigate the collection, referring to series and subseries-level description for a broader summary of contents. It should also be noted that throughout this item description, "Ruth Bernhard" has often been abbreviated as "RB."
- Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five major series, with additional subdivisions. Though individual items were often described at the item-level by Art Museum staff, they were not physically or intellectually arranged to the same level of detail. While this legacy description was retained, researchers should note that additional arrangement has not generally been implemented below the series or subseries level.
- Collection Creator Biography:
Bernhard, Ruth
Ruth Bernhard was a German-born American photographer best known for her complex black-and-white still lifes and classical photographs of the female nude. Born in Berlin in 1905, Bernhard followed her father, the graphic designer Lucian Bernhard, to New York City in 1927, after two years at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin. In New York, Bernhard photographed commercially and independently, while becoming heavily involved with the lesbian subculture of the city's art community. Lifesavers, her first published still life photograph, appeared in Advertising Arts in January, 1931. During her early years in New York, Bernhard also briefly worked for Ralph Steiner at The Delineator magazine and produced the photography for Machine Art, the first exhibition catalog published by the Museum of Modern Art, in 1934. As Bernhard recounts in her memoirs, what would become a life-long study of the female nude began during the shoot for this catalog, when Bernhard asked a friend to pose nude inside of a large industrial stainless steel bowl to make the shot more interesting.
Bernhard met the photographer Edward Weston on a trip to California in 1935, an event which became a major catalyst for her career. Her first solo show was held at the Jake Zeitlin Gallery in Los Angeles in 1936, after which time she frequently traveled between New York, California, and other locations to shoot, including Florida, where she worked with conchologist Jean Schwengel to photograph seashells. After working for the Women's Land Army on a New Jersey farm in support of the war effort in the early 1940s, Bernhard moved to Carmel, California in 1944, and later to San Francisco in 1953, where she became associated with the Modernist West Coast photographers of Group f/64, including Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, Minor White, and her mentor, Edward Weston.
Working from her San Francisco studio in the 1950s and 1960s, Bernhard produced many of her most iconic images of the female nude, including Classic Torso (1952), In the Box, Horizontal (1962), and Two Forms (1963), which were later included in The Eternal Body, her first photographic monograph of nudes, published in 1986. Bernhard gained widespread recognition as an artist beginning in the 1970s, after her work was included in two major exhibitions, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's Women in Photography: A Historical Survey in 1975, and Recollections: Ten Women of Photography, which opened at the International Center of Photography in New York in 1979.
Just as she was coming into her fame, a near-fatal carbon monoxide poisoning incident in the mid-1970s left Bernhard unable to continue taking photographs. She made her last exposure in 1976, of a crushed teapot, though afterwards she continued to produce and sell prints of her earlier work with the help of printers Michael Kenna and Saïd Nuseibeh.
After the incident, teaching became Bernhard's primary activity, and she developed a loyal following of students drawn to her attention to vision and light. Beginning in 1961, Bernhard offered classes privately, as well as for the University of California Extension program, the Ansel Adams workshops in Yosemite, and the John Sexton workshops in Carmel, eventually becoming a highly respected instructor in the photographic medium and offering master classes internationally. Bernhard died in San Francisco in 2006 at age 101.
- Acquisition:
Transferred from the Princeton University Art Museum in 2013 (AM 2014-62). An additional interview with Ruth Bernhard received by the Princeton University Art Museum was transferred in 2016 (AM 2017-20).
- Appraisal
Nothing was discarded or transferred in the processing of this collection.
- Processing Information
This collection was processed by Kelly Bolding in January - February, 2014. Finding aid written by Kelly Bolding in February - March, 2014, using item description provided by Emily McVeigh of the Princeton University Art Museum in 2013. Finding aid updated by Kelly Bolding in 2016
- Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
- Conditions Governing Use
Copyright and literary rights for materials in this collection that were created by Ruth Bernhard are held by the Trustees of Princeton University. Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, any copyright vested in the donor has passed to The Trustees of Princeton University and researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of donor-created materials within the collection. For materials in the collection not created by the donor, or where the material is not an original, the copyright is likely not held by the University. In these instances, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.
- Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
- Credit this material:
Ruth Bernhard Papers; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/gh93h0880
- Location:
-
Firestone LibraryOne Washington RoadPrinceton, NJ 08544, USA
- Storage Note:
- ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1-79
- Subject Terms:
- Photographers -- United States -- 20th century.
Photography of the nude -- 20th century.
Photography, Artistic -- 20th century.
Still-life photography -- 20th century.
Women photographers -- United States -- 20th century. - Genre Terms:
- Appointment books -- 20th century.
Correspondence -- 20th century
Exhibition catalogs -- 20th century.
Photograph albums -- 20th century.
Posters -- 20th century.
Props (object genres) -- 20th century.
Snapshots -- 20th century.
photographs -- 20th century.