The Legacy of Archives in “Eye of Photogaphy” by Mary Engel and Stephen McCamman

“Over the past century, photography has captured iconic cultural moments and served as a cornerstone of historical documentation, visually framing how we understand our past. However, the rapid pace of technological change has burdened archives and aging photographers, who are passing away at an ever-quickening pace, with the unsustainable responsibility of maintaining our collective memory. If we fail to act, we risk losing an irreplaceable and unique historical record of the 20th Century.

“As the daughter of Ruth Orkin and Morris Engel, renowned photographers and filmmakers, I have witnessed this crisis firsthand. After my mother’s passing in 1985, I inherited her archive at 23 years old. When my father passed away in 2005, I became responsible for their archives, including their landmark film, Little Fugitive (1953).”

Read the full article here!

Mary Engel Speaking at SVA

Mary Engel discussing the Engel/Orkin Archive, part of the i3 Lecture Series at the School of Visual Arts (October 10, 2023)

Ruth Orkin: A Photo Spirit

Classic portraits, New York scenes and more from the brilliant and indefatigable American photographer. Co-edited by Mary Engel. Released September, 2021.

A Wall Street Journal 2021 holiday gift guide pick

Published on the occasion of what would have been the photographer’s 100th birthday, this illustrated volume celebrates Orkin’s life and career with an equally extensive and fascinating overview of this exceptional artist’s oeuvre.

Mary Engel’s Introduction for Ruth Orkin: A Photo Spirit – revised 5/21/21

When I was a little girl, my mother Ruth was larger than life. She told me to call her Ruth at a young age, so she could hear me in a crowd. She had a great personality, with lots of charisma, and people always said she had chutzpah.  She was warm, but she could be tough and strong too. In my eyes, she had it all. My memory is that we had a wonderful and loving relationship for most of my childhood, until things got complicated when I was 12, and she told me she was ill.  Once she revealed her cancer diagnosis, our relationship shifted a bit, as I became a part-time caretaker at a young age.  She had multiple surgeries, but also much success during this time, including exhibitions and several books. My teenage years meant living with her serious illness on a day-to-day basis, which wasn’t easy.

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B&H Photo’s Explora Blog: A Photographic Legacy from Ruth Orkin to her Daughter

Photo District News editor and technical photography author Jill Waterman has just written a wonderful article about Ruth Orkin’s photo legacy over in the B&H Photo Explora Blog. The article entitled “Continuity of Purpose: A Photographic Legacy from Ruth Orkin to Her Daughter” explores the relationship between Ruth Orkin and her daughter Mary, who now manages her mom’s legacy via the Orkin Photo Archives.

As we prepare to celebrate the 2021 centennial of Ruth Orkin’s birth, we’d like to thank B&H Photo and Jill Waterman for writing this lovely article.

Read the full article over at the B&H website, linked here!

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