Rock Photographer Bob Gruen's Birthday Party

Rock & Roll’s leading photographer Bob Gruen celebrated at “R” Bar with dozens of his friends. He enjoyed the company of aged rockers, photographers, publishers, writers, artists, actors, musicians and contemporary personalities. At the event Burns met with Steven Goff, owner of Global PSD who prints the Burns Archive books, as well as Rock & Roll collector and entrepreneur Larry Marion of the Not Fade Away Gallery. Marion presented Burns with an advance copy of his soon to be released book on the Stones, The Lost Rolling Stones Photographs: The Bob Bonis Archive 1964-1966.  The Stones images can be viewed and purchased at the NotFadeAwayGallery.com website. Burns has been associated with Larry and his brother Marty for over 35 years in various photographic exhibitions and publishing ventures. In 2001, Marty presented the exhibition The Collector as Photographer: The Photographs of Stanley B. Burns, MD at a New York Gallery. The party started at 7:30 and the music started after 11:30, but the next day’s work precluded staying late. 

Dr. Burns Meets Joe Beasley at his Gold Medal Dinner

     October 19th Dr. Burns met with Joe Beasley, founder of African Ascension, Georgia Congress persons and other members of various African American organizations at a dinner held in Beasley’s honor at the National Arts Club. Under discussion was displaying Burns’ traveling exhibition Shadow and Substance: African American Photographs from the Burns Archive in a Georgia institution. The show was seen in Indiana in 2009 and Maryland in 2010.

     ‘Ambassador’ Joe Beasley, the distinguished founder and President of African Ascension, was honored for his work in education. African Ascension’s mission is to expand the political, socio-economic integration and cohesion of people of African Ancestry and descent globally. Born in 1936 to Georgia sharecroppers, Beasley became one of the major leaders of Georgia’s black community and then went on to leadership roles in several national organizations. His work to improve the quality of life of people on the African Continent and those of African descent worldwide is facilitated also by the Joe Beasley Foundation, a quality of life improvement organization, focusing on social injustice, economic prosperity and education inequalities. He is a well-known personality on the African Continent as he is advisor and confidant to several African governments.

 

Hale House Event at Artsource International

     Dr. Burns consulted with Joyce Chasan and the members of her organization Art Source International, LLC as well as representatives of Hale House in their program of the de-acquisition of paintings. The art works by African American artists of the last half of the 20th century are being offered by Chasan in her gallery. A combined exhibition of the art works and African American photographs from the Burns Collection was proposed.
    Joyce Towbin Chasan and Thomas F Knapp hosted a reception in honor of The Hale House for the de-acquisition of their unique fine art collection of Harlem Renaissance Art. These works, acquired over the years from local artists, galleries and patrons supported the important social efforts undertaken by Mother Hale and The Hale House to care for children and families in distress.This collection represents historically important and salient examples of the best of the black art experience. Included are pieces by both members of the Harlem Renaissance movement and modern masters influenced by their vision. 

Lecture on the History of the Burns Collection Exhibitions and Publications at Flair Symposium, Harry Ransom Center

Dr. Burns Outside the Harry Ransom Center

Between September 30 and October 2, 2010 The Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin held its Ninth Biennial Flair Symposium, the first devoted to photography. In association with the event the H.R.C. presented its most revered photographic treasures. A landmark exhibition showcasing the Gernsheim Collection and in conjunction presented Roy Flukinger’s spectacular text on the Gernsheims. The seminar consisted of lectures and panels about photographic collecting, exhibition, publication, and comments by noted photographers on producing and teaching photography. Helmut Gernsheim was the seminal collector who was able to acquire the earliest photographs taken by the discoverers of photography and also of the significant innovators who followed them up to the modern era. The Gernsheim Collection bought by the Harry Ransom Center includes the worlds first photograph taken by Niepce in 1827 as well as Daguerre’s first daguerreotypes. Roy Flukinger’s landmark catalog documents not only the Gernsheims’ accomplishments but also presents a detailed history of nineteenth and twentieth century photography.

Thomas F. Staley, Director of the Harry Ransom Center 

Discovering the Language of Photography:
The Gernsheim Collection Exhibition

In the 1950s-70s the Gernsheims along with MOMA’s Beaumont Newhall wrote texts on the history of photography which became road maps for scholars, curators and collectors. But their texts mainly emphasized the British, French and American pioneers with some German innovators. The following scholars continued the trend set by these original pioneers in the study of art photography and innovators. Collecting and discovering the amateur and journeyman photographers remained a fertile field for collecting for Burns and others interested in history, culture and changing nature of life and living through the lens.

Photography's Historiography Panel (Moderated by David Coleman)
J. B. Colson, Alison Nordström, Marta Weiss and Bodo von Dewitz

Dr. Burns was invited to speak at the seminar honoring Helmut Gernsheim as his collection and work is parallel to Gernsheim’s. The Burns’ accomplishments reflects the second critical aspect of photographic history, one that is now just becoming generally appreciated. Like Gernsheim’s, Burns’ collection in its field is without peer. Burns collects and emphasizes photography’s utilitarian use by people, professions and cultures. In dozen’s of subjects and through 43 books Burns has laid down the basics of the use of photography, now popularized by many as ‘vernacular’ photography. Gernsheim spearheaded collecting and writing about innovators and the art of photography. Modern photo historians and collectors following Gernsheim’s precedents are generally interested in this thread of photographic history which represents the innovators of each generation who used cameras and photographic processes in new or creative ways. 

Dr. Burns Speaks about the History of
The Burns Collection and Exhibitions & Publications

The history of photography as Burns points out is two fold, especially in the United States where photography was ubiquitous and was able to be practiced by everyone. Dr. Burns has avoided collecting popular genres such as entertainment and sports photography. In almost all other fields and in dozens of specific subjects Burns’ collection is the pioneer effort and accumulation. In several fields Burns’ texts are similarly the road maps for future collectors, scholars and curators. Some of the generally recognized topics of the Burns Collection are memorial photography, painted tintypes, photographic frames, manipulated photography, medical, forensic, African American, war and Judaic photography.

Displaying a Slide of 'Dissected Head, 1905'

Other images/topics discussed in the lecture:

Exhibit at University of Albany Art Museum
Searching the Criminal Body: Art, Science, Prejudice

More images from the Fleur Cowles Flair Symposium:

Newsweek Special Feature- History Revealed: Rare and Unusual Images from the Burns Archive

Please visit our Newsweek feature where over 25 photographs and stories are on view along with a video interview with Dr.Burns about his collection.  Click HERE to view the story on Newsweek.com



(Click twice on the video above to see full-frame ) 

Burns Archive Photos to be Featured in PBS Series 'God in America'

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

PBS Series God in America airs October 11, 12, & 13, 2010

Produced and Directed by Sarah Colt

God in America examines the potent and complex interaction between religion and democracy, the origins of the American concept of religious liberty, and the controversial evolution of that ideal in the nation's courts and political arena. The series considers the role religious ideas and institutions have played in social reform movements from abolition to civil rights, examining the impact of religious faith on conflicts from the American Revolution to the Cold War, and how guarantees of religious freedom created a competitive American religious marketplace. 

Shaping the History of Photography: The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin Presents the Ninth Biennial Fleur Cowles Flair Symposium

September 30-October 2, 2010

Harry Ransom Center, 21st and Guadalupe Streets, Austin, Texas

Dr. Burns Will be presenting the history of The Burns Collection Exhibitions consisting of over 50 museum and gallery shows between 1978-2011. 

"The symposium springs from Discovering the Language of Photography: The Gernsheim Collection, the Ransom Center’s exhibition of this foundational collection of the medium’s history. Curators, collectors, historians, and photographers will participate in a series of panel discussions that focus on the areas in photography on which the Gernsheims had such impact—collecting, exhibiting, publishing, and historiography. Leaders in their fields will consider the forces that have historically shaped these areas, as well as the contemporary influences and developing trends that continue to affect our understanding of the history of photography."

On Photographic Exhibitions, Saturday, October 2, 10 a.m.

Moderator:

Anne Tucker, Gus and Lyndall Wortham Curator, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston, TX

Stanley B. Burns, MD, FACS, Executive Director, The Burns Archive and Clinical Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York, NY

Marianne Fulton, Photography curator, writer, appraiser and adjunct faculty, School of Journalism, The University of Texas at Austin

Clint Willour, Curator, Galveston Arts Center, Galveston, TX

Learn more about this symposium by clicking HERE

Memento Mori- The Exhibition & Opening at The Merchant's House Museum

Below are a few photographs illustrating the exhibition at The Merchant's House Museum. According to historic preservation rules the installation had to be creatively planned. No photos could be hung on the walls or placed directly on the furniture of this beautifully preserved 19th century home, nor could there be bright lights or flash photography. Memento Mori curator Eva Ulz did a great job of displaying a rich amount of information to compliment the historical and contemporary images. Early daguerreotypes and ambrotypes are exhibited in closets, waiting to be discovered. Three traditional wood displays encase memorial ephemera including postmortem photographs, coffin plates and cards. There is a sound and scent component to the exhibition as well- the rooms are perfumed and subtle recordings can be heard.

The Opening Sign

A View of the Rear Parlor

A View of the Front Parlor

Reproduction Casket by Artist Marian St. Laurent
On Display in Eliza Tredwell's Bedroom on the Second Story of the House

One of the Informational Timelines Created by the Museum
The Postmortem Photo on the Left is a Print from Sleeping Beauty II

Postmortem Daguerreotypes & Ambrotypes
Displayed on the 'Whatnot' Shelf

One of the Three Cases Displaying Postmortem Paper Prints

Another One of the Postmortem Display Cases

Dr. Burns With His Video Camera Before the Opening Reception

Eva Ulz: Giving the Coffin a Test Run
Visitors to the exhibition can try out the coffin and
have their own postmortem photograph recorded.

Lissa Rivera of The Burns Archive
Reading the Display by Marian St. Laurent

Alice Lease Dana of The Burns Archive
Modeling her Mantilla in the 'Secret' Garden

A Slideshow of Photos From the Opening Reception

Dr. Burns 'At Rest' After a Hard Day's Work
A Souvenir From the Opening Reception

Visitors to the opening had their own postmortem taken as a souvenir to the event. Anyone who visits is encouraged to try out the coffin and have their own photo captured. The museum has started a Flickr gallery to collect and share the images. Click HERE to see who has been brave enough to step inside! 

Even if you did not make it to the opening you can still see the exhibit through November 29. There will be events such as a book signing & lecture with Dr.Burns as well as a 1865 Funeral Reenactment held by the museum staff. Please keep an eye on this blog and the Merchant's House Museum Calendar HERE.

Preparations for the Upcoming War Exhibition with Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) 2012

Dr. Burns was visited by Anne Wilkes Tucker, Curator Photography (MFAH) and Will Michels, War Photography Exhibition Guest Curator (MFAH) and expert on military photography. Research was conducted on The Burns Collection's war photography, particularly medical aspects, special battles, arms albums and revolutions. Tucker and Michels viewed thousands of photographs- from the Crimean War (1854-56) through Vietnam and The Cold War (1989) over an eight hour period.

Will Michels, Dr. Burns, Anne Wilkes Tucker and Lissa Rivera
Viewing the Civil War Medical Photography of Dr. Reed B. Bontecou 

Examining Dr. Reed Bontecou’s Civil War photographs of wounded soldiers. The images are shown in the design layout for Dr. Burns new book Shooting Soldiers: 101 Regiments, Photographs by Reed B. Bontecou, MD. Over 1000 photographs taken by Bontecou will be presented in four volumes now in production.

Will Michels, Dr. Burns and Anne Wilkes Tucker
‘The Ehrhardt Guns Album'

 ‘The Ehrhardt Guns Album' showcased the complete artillery catalogue of the company as well as early armored cars. The album also details the materials necessary to transport the weapons from mules to cars. It was a special memento- signed: “Presented as a Remembrance of the Visit of His Imperial Highness Prince Tsai Tao of China to the Proving Grounds at Unterluss, June 16th 1910” Dedicated by Rheinische Metallwaren - und Maschinenfabrik (Dusseldorf). The photographs document the war and Artillery Commissions from Chile, Italy, Turkey, Romania and especially China displaying latest in weapons, as well as the visits of the German Emperor, Imperial Highness Archduke Leopold Salvator of Austria,  His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Serge Michailowitsch of Russia. The guns represented majority of  the heavy weapons that would soon be use by German-Austrian axis members during World War I.

Mexican Revolutionary Firing Squad 1910

Discovering new photographs related to the Mexican Revolution 1910-1917 –including an album taken by Poncho Villa’s physician.

Over 2,000 Bains Co. WWI Photographs

Viewing the collection of over 2,000 Bains Co., Signal Corps and German images of World War I. Over two dozen albums by nurses and physicians were also evaluated. Images of plastic surgery repair of head and neck wounds were the highlight along with images of pioneer efforts of government rehabilitation programs.

Looking at a Display of Revolutions
Germany 1918, Russia 1917-18, Morocco 1920’s, Syria 1925, Cuba 1933

Examining photographs of The Day of Potsdam, March 21, 1933

Examining photographs of The Day of Potsdam, March 21, 1933

Known now in Germany as the unholy ‘Day of Potsdam.’ The ‘Day of Potsdam’ is a symbol for the disastrous relationship between National Socialism and Prussianism which lead to the Enabling Act of 1933, giving the Nazis full legislative powers, even allowing deviations from the constitution. In these original photographs by Helmut Kurth-Goering’s personal photographer we see not only Hitler but rare images of Heinrich Hoffmann- Hitler’s personal photographer. Hoffmann’s photographs of Hitler and WWII are icons of German efforts at propaganda and the functioning of the German WWII war machine.

The Largest Collection of Images Related to the Battle of Nomonhan

Nomonhan- the 1939 episode in which Japan attacked Russia (May-October) with an outcome that changed world history.  Stalin sent General Georgi Zhukov with new T32 tanks to defeat the Japanese. Zhukov’s victory became possible due to his detailed planning and skillful use of motorized artillery against the Japanese Army. He was awarded the title ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ and promoted to full general. It was Zhukov who later defeated the Nazi’s in the Eastern Front and conquered Berlin. Japan, an island nation, gave up the idea of attacking and evacuated Russia with its army. The Japanese Imperial war machine decided to strike 'south' with its navy and attack the United States. Dr. Burns believes it is the most important battle related to or part of WWII as the defeat altered Japanese interests and cooperation with the Nazis. As a result of the loss of the Japanese threat Russia could move its factories over the Urals away from Hitler’s armies. When the showdown came at the Battle of Moscow (The largest battle ever fought) and the Battle of Stalingrad, Stalin was able to call on dozens of Manchurian, Siberian and other Asian divisions to surprise Hitler’s armies and defeat them. Had these divisions (millions of men) not been available Hitler would have single-handedly won his Russian campaign and conquered all of Europe.

Looking at a D-Day Photograph Taken on Omaha Beach

Dozens of Nazi and American soldier’s albums were explored and including ones relating to the crimes of the Wehrmacht. While the crimes of the SS, especially the SS- Totenkopfverbände and particularly the SS- Einsatzgruppen and SD are well known, the regular armed forces represented by the Wehrmacht committed war crimes of their own, particularly on the Eastern Front in the war against the Soviet Union. The albums soldiers created were often well documented with dates, location and units involved.

Presenting an Unusual 'Cold War'' Album

This album was made by a Russian soldier sent to guard duty in East Germany in the mid 1970s. It wass beautifully illustrated and painted. A rare military memento made by a common soldier.

To learn more about...

Anne Wilkes Tucker, Curator Photography, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston- visit this LINK

Will Michels, Guest Curator, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston- visit this LINK

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston- visit this LINK

Rare African American Photographs from the Ken Ogden Holdings Added to Dr. Burns’ Collection

     We are happy to announce the acquisition of unique images from the Ken Ogden Collection which was sold at auction in August. The Burns Collection emphasizes the black middle and working classes who despite living in a hostile atmosphere created a parallel universe of honor, dignity and community that has continually distinguished itself. The images added to the collection portray the achievement of blacks living the American dream. Proud people showing the world how they wished to be seen. The images in clear distinction to the racist portraits so popular in many circles at the same times these photographs were created.

The Stanley B. Burns, MD collection of African-American images is one of the largest most comprehensive in the United States containing over 25,000+ vintage photographs from daguerreotypes to prints of the 1970s. A major exhibition of the works- Shadow & Substance: African American Images form the Burns Archive  is traveling the United States, In 2009 it was seen at the Indiana State Museum (Inianapolis and in 2010 at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, UMBC, (Baltimore).

 

Discoveries at Brimfield Flea Market

©2010 The Burns Archive
The Long Line for the J&J Show at Brimfield

Fields are run by particular companies and are availible to peruse on scheduled opening days. The opening above had a $5 charge and opened at 8am. People wait in line and literally run inside to get first pick at the market.





The Brimfield Flea Market (which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year) had many great offerings. Dr.Burns saw familiar faces who have been working at the market in Brimfield, Massachusetts throughout his years of collecting. 

©2010 The Burns Archive
Dr. Burns (left) with a Mayer & Pierson Painted Salt Print

Manhattan News Coverage of the Memento Mori Exhibit

I See Dead People: A New Exhibit Features Postmortem Photography


Please click the video twice to see full frame

New Sleeping Beauty III Website, New York Times Style Article & More!

© 2010 The Burns Archive, Sleeping Beauty III Memorial Photography: The Children


WWW.SLEEPINGBEAUTY3.COM

The Burns Archive was happy. They announced the launch of a website for the release of the Burns Press publication Sleeping Beauty III Memorial Photography: The Children. It is a sneak peak into the contents of the book and features an image gallery with preview photographs from the book. 

The New York Times Style Blog posted about our exhibition at The Merchant’s House Museum. Please click here to read more.

Joanna Ebenstein of Morbid Anatomy posted information about the exhibition. Check out her blog to learn more about her lecture series at The Observatory and Library which features books on Art, Science, Medicine & Death.

Memento Mori- Creating the Exhibition

“Memento Mori:” The Birth & Resurrection of Postmortem Photography

The Merchant's House Museum
 29 East 4th Street, NY, NY

Thursday, September 9, 2010 through Monday, November 29, 2010

Outside the Merchant's House Museum

Plaque- About MHM

Drinking secret recipe MHM tea, note the 19th cent. folding chairs.
Eva Ulz, Dr. Burns, Pi Gardiner, Lissa Rivera, Sarah Simms

Dr.Burns laying out his collection of antique coffin plates, death announcements, mourning pins, postmortem photographs and other funerary ephemera. 

An appropriate Victorian Setting for memorial images.
Alice Lease Dana (Left) Dr.Burns (Right)

"At Rest"
Trying out the coffin that will be on display for visitors
to have their own postmortem photo taken.

© The Merchant's House Museum, photo by Jook Leung
A view of the rear parlor at the Merchant's House

© The Merchant's House Museum, photo by Jook Leung
A view of Eliza Tredwell's Bedroom at the Merchant's House

"In collaboration with the Burns Archive; featuring artists Joel-Peter Witkin, Sally Mann, Hal Hirshorn, Marian St. Laurent & Sarah Lohman. Trace the evolution of postmortem photography in America through 19th-century daguerreotypes and prints from Sleeping Beauty III (soon to be released by the Burns Archive) as well as modern art inspired by the iconography of these historic images. Then stage your own “postmortem” photograph in our reproduction coffin. Included with regular admission. Reservations not required."

Dermatology in the 19th Century: Lecture at the American Dermatological Association Annual Meeting

On Saturday, August 2, Stanley Burns MD, FACS lectured as guest speaker for the American Dermatological Association's 130th annual meeting at the Ritz Carlton, Battery Park, NYC.



Below are images from the event:

Dr. Burns with David Cohen MPH, MD
New York University Department of Dermatology

Dr. Burns with Boris D. Lushniak MD, MPH
Assistant Commissioner for Counterterrorism Policy

Mark Pittelkow MD, James Taylor MD, Arnold Schroeter MD
Dermatology Department Mayo Clinic

Ali Dana MD, Sherry Cohen MD, Stanley Burns MD, Bernard A. Cohen MD,
Johns Hopkins Dermatology Department

 

Click twice on the video above to see full frame on YouTube