Arthur Rothstein papers, 1936-1984

Collection Information

Size: 1.6 Linear feet

Summary: Correspondence, notes and writings concerning photography, art work, printed material, subject files, and a slide set.

Four biographical accounts and photographs of Rothstein (1984) and of two certificates from 1945 and 1960; correspondence (1937-1983) concerning Rothstein's activities as a photographer, including letters to and from Roy Stryker (1930-1942), thank-you notes from young students to whom Rothstein presented a talk,1960, and letters concerning the Bicentennial, 1975.

Other materials include a 1954 transcript of a meeting of the U.S. Camera Publishing Corporation, miscellaneous notes (1947-1957), typescripts for Rothstein's books, CREATIVE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY (introduction and Chapter I), PICTURES FOR PUBLICATION - A GUIDE TO PHOTOJOURNALISM, and WORDS AND PICTURES, typed galleys (1956-1963) for Rothstein's photography columns for LOOK magazine, art work for three covers of BOYS' LIFE magazine, 1962.

Among the printed materials are clippings (1951-1984), press releases (1955-1972), galleys (1976), exhibition announcements and catalogs (1945-1974), teaching and lecture brochures (1953-1974), a copy of the Resettlement Administration's first annual report (1936); copies of the 1972 INFINITY magazine issues edited by Rothstein, and his books THE DEPRESSION YEARS (1978) and WORDS AND PICTURES (1979).

Subject files concern an 1943 Army photo course taught by Rothstein, story ideas (1969-1970) and Columbia journalism (1966-1968) and are accompanied by a slide set with a 1979 brochure on "America in the Depression Years".

Biographical/Historical Note

Photographer; New York City. Died 1985 After earning a B.A. from Columbia College, Rothstein was a photographer with the U.S. Farm Security Administration from 1935-1940. He worked for LOOK magazine from 1940 until 1943, when he served as a Photo Officer with the U.S. Army Signal Corps in China, Burma, and India until 1946. Upon completion of his military service, Rothstein became the Director of Photography for LOOK magazine until 1971. From 1971-1972, he was Editor of INFINITY magazine, and was Associate Editor (1972-1976) and Director of Photography (beginning in 1976) for PARADE magazine.

Provenance

Donated 1984 by Arthur Rothstein.

Language Note

English .

Location of Originals

• Roy Stryker letters: originals are part of the Roy Stryker Papers, Photographic Archives, University of Louisville.
• Bicentennial letters: Originals are in the possession of the donor's widow.