Master Photographs from the PFA Exhibitions, 1959-1967.

International Center of Photography/W.W. Norton, 1988. Introduction by Cornell Capa. Essays by Norman Cousins, Evan H. Turner, Miles Barth, Nathan Lyons, and Naomi N. Rosenblum.  1st edition (unstated but no later date indicated). Large format exhibition catalog, stiff wraps, black-and-white cover, in very good condition, much less commonly found than the hardcover edition, which has the same ISBN number on the back of the title page but this softcover edition has a different ISBN 0-393-30693-3, on a label affixed to the back cover. Outstanding collection of photographs by 136 photographers, including Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Peter Beard, Ruth Bernhard, Werner Bischof, Erwin Blumenthal, Margaret Bourke-White, Charlotte Brooks, Esther Bubley, Sonja Bullaty, Wynn Bullock, Shirley Burden, Larry Burrows, Harry Callahan, et al.  The photos from this exhibition, grouped by Illustrative, Documentary, and Expressive, are in the ICP archives.  Summary:

Master Photographs from the PFA Exhibitions, 1959–1967 is a comprehensive retrospective catalog documenting a landmark series of historic exhibitions. Featuring an introduction by Cornell Capa and critical essays by prominent figures including Norman Cousins, Evan H. Turner, Miles Barth, Nathan Lyons, and Naomi N. Rosenblum, the volume serves as a major archival survey of mid-century fine art photography.

Key Focus Areas

• The Historical Legacy: The catalog honors the legacy of the Photography in the Fine Arts (PFA) exhibitions, an initiative founded by Ivan Dmitri in 1959 to establish photography as a legitimate fine art medium within major American museums.

• The Curated Typologies: Mirroring the original structure of the historic PFA selections, the volume divides its massive visual showcase into three primary categories: Illustrative, Documentary, and Expressive. This taxonomy charts the diverse artistic intentions defining the mid-20th-century photographic landscape.

• The Masters of the Craft: The book acts as a sweeping directory of global talent, preserving works from 136 master photographers. The extensive checklist includes iconic contributors such as Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Peter Beard, Ruth Bernhard, Werner Bischof, Margaret Bourke-White, Larry Burrows, and Harry Callahan.

• The Archival Record: Beyond compiling a vast portfolio of legendary black-and-white imagery, the publication serves an essential institutional purpose. It provides detailed contextual essays that analyze the debate over photography's place in fine art museums, cementing the permanent collection's ultimate home within the ICP archives.