Smith, Henry Holmes. Henry Holmes Smith Papers.

Guide Series Number Eight. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, 1983. Compiled by Charles Lamb and Mary Ellen McGoldrick. Essays by Susan E. Cohen and Howard Bossen. Includes sections on Correspondence, Writings, Eduction, Exhibitions, Photographic Organizations, Other Material, Related Resources, and Bibliography. Stapled wraps, 40 pages, like new.  Summary:

Published in 1983 by the Center for Creative Photography (CCP) at the University of Arizona, this 40-page publication serves as a comprehensive finding aid and research guide to the archival papers of Henry Holmes Smith (1909–1986). Smith was an immensely influential American photographer, experimental artist, writer, and educator who co-founded the Society for Photographic Education and spent decades teaching at Indiana University.

Compiled by Charles Lamb and Mary Ellen McGoldrick, the volume is part of the CCP's Guide Series, which is designed to organize, preserve, and facilitate public and scholarly research into the keystone archives of modern American photography.

Key Components of the Publication

• Critical Scholarship: The guide features introductory biographical and analytical essays by photo historians and scholars Susan E. Cohen and Howard Bossen. These texts contextualize Smith's pioneering contributions to photography—particularly his radical mid-century camera-less abstraction (such as color refraction prints and photograms) and his philosophy on photographic education.

• Archival Organization: The core of the volume functions as a roadmap to the extensive physical archive housed at the CCP. It breaks the collection down into clearly defined sections, including:

  • Correspondence: Logs of Smith’s extensive letters exchanged with fellow photography giants, curators, and students.

  • Writings: Documentation of his influential critical essays, pedagogical theories, and lectures on visual literacy.

  • Education & Photographic Organizations: Materials tracing his academic career at Indiana University and his institutional involvement with major photography organizations.

  • Exhibitions & Other Materials: Biographical records, exhibition checklists, and ephemera tracking his career as a working artist.

• Comprehensive Bibliography: The volume concludes with an exhaustive list of related resources, books, and articles by and about Smith, providing a vital tool for academic research.