Lynn Saville photographs, 1972-2015 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Saville, Lynn
Abstract:
The collection dates from 1972 to 2015 and consists of over 200 large color and black-and-white photographic prints of nighttime scenes selected from the work of photographer Lynn Saville in urban centers such as Paris, Rome, Venice, New York City, Durham, North Carolina, Los Angeles, Vermont, and other locations. The collection also includes 30 portraits of artists, feminists, writers, family members, and other individuals, as well as self-portraits. Supplemental materials such as book reviews and book maquettes round out the collection. Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
Extent:
21.5 Linear Feet (20 boxes)
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.01142

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of selections of work from photographer Lynn Saville's portraiture and night photography from urban America, dating from 1972-2015. Formats include traditional darkroom gelatin silver prints, color prints, and a small number of digital prints. Sizes range from 11x14 to 20x24 inches.

The Portraits series includes 30 images of poets, photographers, family members, friends, and prominent women such as Barbara Jordan, Adrienne Rich and Bella Abzug. The collection's primary focus, however, is Saville's more recent work, housed in the Nocturnal Photography and Dark City series, containing 205 photographs of night scenes in the United States and Europe, particularly New York City (with a focus on Brooklyn) and Paris. Other locations include Los Angeles, North Carolina, Vermont, Paris, Rome, and Venice.

Selected images are also available online as part of a Duke University Libraries digital exhibit.

There is also a Supplemental Materials series which includes printed matter such as articles and book reviews, and a documentary film directed by Anna Borden about Saville's career and photography (2003).

Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.

Biographical / historical:

Lynn Saville is a photographer based in New York City. She was born in Durham, North Carolina in 1950 and received a B.A. from Duke University in 1971 and an M.F.A. from the Pratt Institute in 1976. Her photographs are held in the Denver Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Oxford University's Bodleian Library, the New York Public Library, and many other museums and libraries. In 2017 she was awarded a commission by the New York City MTA Arts to document "Grand Central Revealed," which culminated in a three-year exhbit.

Acquisition information:
The Lynn Saville photographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2002 and 2005, and 2016, and as a purchase in 2015.
Processing information:

Processed by Karen Glynn, Paula Jeannet, 2003, 2016.

Encoded by Katherine Castles, Paula Jeannet, 2010, 2016.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2002-0066, 2002-0067, 2002-0205, 2002-0318, 2005-0013, 2005-0056, 2005-0083, 2015-0089, 2015-0103, and 2016-0224.

Physical facet:
295 items
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Original audiovisual materials in the Supplemental Materials series are closed to use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lynn Saville Photographs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University