Librarian for Photography

Tom McNulty
Librarian for Art, Architecture, Design, and Museum Studies
New York University
Bobst Library, Mezzanine
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2519
E-mail: tom.mcnulty@nyu.edu

NYU Links

• NYU Department of Art and Arts Professions
• NYU Department of Fine Arts (CAS)
• NYU Grey Art Gallery
• Institute of Fine Arts
• Collection Development Policy for Art

Related Subject Guides

• Finding Art Reproductions, Illustrations, & Pictures
  
• Architecture
• Fine and Decorative Arts
• Museum Studies
• Arts Grants
  

Internet Links

Consortium and Other Art Libraries

As members of the NYU community, you can use the following art/architecture/design libraries; their holdings are included in BobCat:

• Cooper Union
• Parsons School of Design
• New York School of Interior Design

Other New York City Art, Architecture and Design Libraries Available to NYU Researchers:

• Frick Art Reference Library [Library catalog]
  
• Metropolitan Museum of Art [Library catalog]
  
• Museum of Modern Art Library [Library catalog]
  
• New York Public Library Humanities and Social Sciences Library [Library catalog]
  
  

NYU is a member of the METRO, a consortium of 270 local and regional libraries. Researchers may consult the holdings of METRO libraries by requesting a METRO Referral Card at any Bobst Library Reference Desk (1st, 6th, 9th floors). Consult METRO’s Directory for a complete list of participating libraries.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

• Abrams Encyclopedia of Photography. Edited by Brigitte Govignon. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1995.
  Bobst REF1 TR9.P4813 2004
  

  Survey of photographic techniques, styles and movements.

• Davis, Keith F. An American Century of Photography from Dry-Plate to Digital: The Hallmark Photographic Collection. Kansas City, MO: Hallmark Cards, Inc. in association with Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.
  Bobst REF1 TR23.H35 1995

  General history of photography in the 20th century, beautifully illustrated with photographs from the Hallmark Collection.

• Hecht, Hermann. Dates and Sources: A Contribution to the History of the Art of Projection and to Cinematography. London: The Magic Lantern Society of Great Britain, 1986.
  Bobst REF1 TR505.L5413 1986

  Richly illustrated chronology of major developments in the history of cinema.

• Hecht, Hermann. Pre-Cinema History: An Encyclopaedia and Annotated Bibliography of the Moving Image Before 1896. London: Bowker/Saur, in association with the British Film Institute, 1993.
  Bobst REF1 TR848.H38 1993

  Lengthy annotations of pre-cinema, including magic lanterns and other optical devices.

• Naggar, Carole. Dictionnaire des Photographes. Seuil, 1982.
  Bobst REF1 TR139.N34 1982

  Excellent French language biographical dictionary of 420 photographers from 28 countries.

• Rosenblum, Naomi. A History of Women Photographers, 2nd ed. New York: Abbeville Press, 2000.
  Bobst REF1 TR 139.R67 2000

  Overview history of women and photography.

• Stroebel, Leslie and Richard Zakia, eds. The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography. Boston: Focal Press, 1993.
  Bobst REF1 TR9.F6 1993

  Brief entries on all technical aspects of photography, by experts in the field.

Handbooks and Manuals

• Photographer's Market: Where & How To Sell Your Photographs. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books.
  Bobst REF1 TR12.P515 (latest only)

  Practical advice for the photographer; provides basic overview of various markets for photographs, as well as lists of consumer, trade and other publications.

• Schultz, John and Barbara Schultz. Picture Research: A Practical Guide. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991.
  Bobst REF1 TR147.S38 1991

  Provides an excellent overview of picture research, beginning with a survey of the printing industry. Contains good descriptions of various reproduction methods.

• Witkin, Lee D. and Barbara London. The Photograph Collector's Guide. Boston: N. Y. Graphic Society, 1979.
  Bobst REF1 TR6.5.W57

  Basic reference source for researchers as well as collectors. Provides substantial chapters on markets for photographs as well as maintenance of photograph collections, including presentation (e.g., matting) and restoration. Entries in biographical section include descriptions of major subjects, media, signature example, and major collections.

Indexes

• ArtBibliographies Modern Web [1974-present]
  (URL: http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)

  Excellent starting point for research in photography. Provides references to journal articles, exhibition catalogs, books and doctoral dissertations.

• Art Index, 1929 to date. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1929 -
  Electronic Access via Art Full Text (1984-present)
  Electronic Access via Art Index Retrospective (1929-1984)
  (URL: http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)

  Bibliographical database which indexes articles in over 200 domestic and foreign publications, including photography.

• Moss, Martha. Photography Books Index: A Subject Guide to Photo Anthologies. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1980. Supplement: 1985.
  Bobst REF1 TR199.M67; Supplement: Bobst REF1 TR199.M67 1985

  Index to reproductions of photographs in anthologies; arranged by subject, photographers' names, and portraits.

Biographies

• Auer, Michele. Encyclopedie Internationale des Photographes de 1839 a nos Jours / Photographes Encyclopaedia International 1839 to the Present. Hermance, Switzerland: Editions Camera Obscura, 1985.
  Bobst REF1 TR139.A93 1985

  Provides biography for over 15,000 photographers, including lesser-known photojournalists.

• Marix Evans, Martin Contemporary Photographers. 3rd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1995.
  Bobst REF1 TR139.C664 1995

  Lengthy, signed biographical essays are supplemented by exhibition lists and major collections.

• Willis-Thomas, Deborah. Black Photographers 1840-1940: An Illustrated Bio-Bibliography. New York: Garland, 1985.
  Bobst REF1 TR139.W55 1985

  Provides basic biography on black daguerreans and photographers with many reproductions.

• Willis-Thomas, Deborah. An Illustrated Bio-Bibliography of Black Photographers, 1940-1988. New York: Garland, 1989.
  Bobst REF1 TR139.W55 1989

  Intended as a supplement to her earlier work covering 1840-1940 (see above), this reference work provides lengthy biography of contemporary black photographers, with excellent reproductions of selected works.