Photojournalism

Since its introduction in the mid-19th century, photojournalism has served a purpose far beyond just supplementing news stories—images have shaped public opinion and altered the course of history. Recognizing the importance of photojournalism to historical interpretation, the Briscoe Center began collecting the archives of major American photojournalists in the early 1990s. This collecting focus accelerated during the past decade; as of 2020, the center preserves over 70 noteworthy photojournalism archives. Photojournalism archives are among the most frequently accessed materials at the center, popular with researchers for use in documentary films, publications, and exhibitions around the world.

Photojournalists with archives preserved by the center include Pulitzer Prize-winners Eddie Adams, Lucian Perkins, Steven R. Nickerson, and Carolyn Cole. Other photographic archives include the presidential and political photography of Diana Walker, Eric Draper, Dennis Brack, George Tames, Frank Johnston, David Valdez, Steve Northup, Dirck Halstead, Wally McNamee and PF Bentley; the civil rights photography of Flip Schulke, Bruce Roberts, Charles Moore and Spider Martin; and international coverage by Matthew Naythons, Fred Maroon, Dick Swanson, and Stanley Wayman, along with many other noteworthy photographers, including Arthur Grace, Enrico Ferorelli, Bob Daemmrich, Shel Hershorn, and others.