Freedman, Jill. A Time That Was: Irish Moments by Jill Freedman.

Friendly Press, 1987. 1st ed., unstated. Fine with signature of previous owner on back of cover in VG+ protected dust jacket that has a bit of wear at edges. Wonderful photos of pub life in Ireland, etc.  Summary:

A Time That Was: Irish Moments (1987), published by Friendly Press, is a celebrated documentary photobook by American street photographer Jill Freedman.

Key Details & Summary

• Scope & Subject: The book captures Freedman's travels throughout rural Ireland during the 1970s and 1980s. Over several extended trips, she lived among local communities, photographing the daily rhythms, traditions, and disappearing ways of life in small towns and country villages.

• Atmosphere & Imagery: Featuring high-contrast black-and-white photographs, the collection documents pub culture, livestock fairs, cozy interiors, street life, musician gatherings, and the rugged Irish landscape.

• Humanistic Approach: True to Freedman’s empathetic documentary style, the images emphasize warmth, humor, and resilience, celebrating the spirit and storytelling tradition of the Irish people during a time of transitional modernization.

• Format: Published as a photobook with accompanying text, personal commentary, and quotes gathered by Freedman during her travels.

• Jill Freedman (1939–2019) was an acclaimed American documentary and street photographer renowned for her gritty, empathetic, and immersive visual storytelling. Born in Pittsburgh and educated in sociology at the University of Pittsburgh, Freedman was a self-taught photographer who launched her career in 1968 after documenting the Poor People’s Campaign in Washington, D.C., which culminated in her first book, Old News: Resurrection City (1970). Based largely in New York City, she was celebrated for embedding herself deeply within close-knit communities and public service cultures, producing landmark photobooks such as Circus Days (1975), Firehouse (1977), Street Cops (1982), and A Time That Was: Irish Moments (1987). Influenced by masters like W. Eugene Smith and André Kertész, Freedman captured human vulnerability, humor, and resilience with an unfiltered intimacy, earning her work a permanent place in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the International Center of Photography, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.