Overview

In the pre-digital era, the age of mechanical reproduction, the New York Public Library's Picture Collection provided the free circulation of prints, photographs, postcards and other clippings to its constituency of artists, illustrators, advertisers, and businessmen. It was, in essence, the Google Images of its day. Since its initial beginnings in 1914 the Picture Collection has been a unique public service for New York City's thriving educational, cultural and commercial enterprises, both as a muse and as a critical resource. The story of the Picture Collection is also the story of Romana Javitz (1903-1980) who headed the Picture Collection from 1929 to 1968. Words on Pictures presents previously unpublished writings and interviews by Javitz, revealing her remarkable understanding of the social impact of print and film media, especially photography and cinema.

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9781734640908

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I won't look at another photo again without considering Javitz's views on what pictures can do... I'm finding the book fascinating. Her summaries of the kinds of requests received are just captivating. Well done. - Ron Seybold, Austin Writers Workshop Words on Pictures is a really good read. It's an important history of the theory and practice of the circulation of documentary images, all administered by Javitz, a pioneering librarian who stood alone in advocating for the use of pictures as evidence, as information, as inspiration. - Robert Sink, former archivist, the Research Libraries, New York Public Library Romana Javitz's life's work and contributions to public libraries is enormous. I'm anxious to share bits about the Picture Collection with my educator friends and librarian colleagues on the front lines of teaching information and news literacy to today's Gen Alpha students. -Luann Toth, former Managing Editor of Reviews for School Library Journal By assembling all Romana Javitz's scattered writing and interviews, Troncale has made her work available to researchers and scholars now and in the future. ...what really comes through is the great pleasure Javitz had in her work, in serving the public, and her own joy in making the whole Picture Collection of the New York Public Library better, and larger, and always more useful. Troncale has given us all a great gift. - Mary Panzer is free-lance writer, curator and scholar in American photography

Author Information

Troncale is a a photographer and photography librarian from Houston, Texas and lives in New York City. He is currently writing an authorized biography of Romana Javitz. Jessica Cline is the Supervising Librarian of the New York Public Library's Wallach Picture Collection

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