Ron Galella photographs and publicity material
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The collection holds a small number of photographs of New York City scenes taken by Ron Galella (born 1931) and of the 1934-35 and 1964-65 World's Fairs printed by Galella from the collection of John Riccardelli. There is also a small amount of publicity material and a Time magazine article and documentary film on DVD about Galella and his work.
Biographical / Historical
Photographer Ron Galella was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1931. He served as a United States Air Force photographer (1951-1955) during the Korean War and later attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California, graduating with a degree in photojournalism in 1958. He began taking candid photographs of celebrities, eventually making it his specialty, becoming one of the leading edge of "papazazzi" photographers. Jackie Kennedy Onassis was perhaps his most famous subject, or target, depending on one's perspective as Galella's relentless approach often received a negative, even violent, response from those he photographed.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by format.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes twelve photographs taken by Ron Galella. With the exception of a photo taken at a concert in New Jersey, all are scenes from New York City. All are black and white, except for a color composite made in response to the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. There are also nine photographs of the 1939-40 and 1964-65 printed by Galella from negatives held by the World's Fair collector John Riccardelli. All of the photos are signed by Galella. None of the photographs are of celebrities. The subjects of the photographs are noted more specifically in the container list. In addition to photographs, the collection holds some publicity material and a Time magazine article and documentary film on DVD about Galella and his work. The DVD, as a digital format, is restricted from use.
Subjects
Genres
Conditions Governing Access
Available by advance appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact the Print Room Librarian at printroom@nyhistory.org.
Conditions Governing Use
Photocopying undertaken by staff only. Limited to twenty exposures of stable, unbound material per day. (Researchers may not accrue unused copy amounts from previous days.)
Permission to reproduce any Department of Prints, Photographs and Architectural Collections holdings through publication must be obtained from: Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as the Ron Galella Photographs and Publicity Material, PR 411, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ron Galella, 2017.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed by archivist Larry Weimer, January 2020.
Repository
View Inventory
World's Fair Photographs, 1939, 1964?, inclusive
Scope and Contents
7 black and white photographs of the 1939-40 World's Fair and 2 of the 1964-1965 Fair. Prints by Galella from negatives in the collection of John Riccardelli. 1939-40 photos are of: Empire State Building Finial, Italian Pavilion, Paul Manship sculpture of passing of time, and various views of the Trylon and Perisphere with Lagoon of Nations and George Washington statue. 1964-65 photos center on the Unisphere, one in close-up and the other from a higher elevation showing other pavilions and, in the distance, Shea Stadium.
Photographs, 1960s, 1965, 1966, inclusive
Scope and Contents
2 black and white photographs: Ocean Liner "Michelangelo" docked at Pier 90 (May 22, 1965) and chandeliers at Lincoln Center's Metropolitan Opera House (September 16, 1966).
Photographs, Operation Sail, 1976 July 4, inclusive
Scope and Contents
4 black and white photographs of Operation Sail (also referred to as Operation Top Sail) in New York Harbor on the Bicentennial. Taken from on board the USS Forrestal.
Photographs, 1970s-1980s, 1970-1976, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Contents
5 black and white photographs: Bull mastiff looking out rear window of Cadillac Fleetwood on East 79th Street (May 15, 1970); aerial view of Flushing Meadows Park, site of 1939-40 and 1964-65 World's Fairs (September 18, 1974); Plaza Hotel fountain (1976); sculpture at Paramount Theater at Gulf and Western Building (November 20, 1976); and audience at the Amnesty International benefit concert at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands (June 15, 1986)
Photographs, 1990s-2000s, 1990-2001, inclusive
Scope and Contents
1 color composite photograph titled "United We Stand" dated 2001, composed from a photo of the Statue of Liberty (August 2, 1999) and of the World Trade Center towers (September 9, 1990).
Publicity Material, 1976-2016, inclusive
Scope and Contents
11 publicity pieces for Galella's books and the documentary film about him.
Time Magazine (Vol. 188, No. 22-23), 2016
Scope and Contents
Issue with cover article "The Most Influential Photos of All Time." Among these are Galella's October 1971 "Windblown Jackie," found on pages 86-87. Page with article is signed by Galella.
DVD: "Smash His Camera", 2010
Scope and Contents
Unopened, shrinkwrapped original copy of the DVD. This is restricted from use in order to ensure that the digital content is not accidentally corrupted.