Morgan, Barbara Brooks, 1900-1992

Barbara Brooks Morgan was born in Buffalo, Kansas on July 8, 1900, but grew up in Los Angeles, Calif. She attended UCLA from 1919 to 1923, and later joined the art faculty (1925-30). She married Willard D. Morgan (ca. 1925) and relocated to New York (1930). After the birth of her two sons, Douglas (1932) and Lloyd (1935), she began to concentrate on her photography career. An accomplished designer, author, artist, and photographer, she is best known for her photographs of American modern dancers, among them, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Pearl Primus, Jose Limon, and Charles Weidman. She contributed articles and reviews to various publications and published several books including, Martha Graham: sixteen dances in photographs (1941), Summer's children: a photographic cycle of life at camp about camp treetops (1951), and A collection of material about Barbara Morgan (1972), as well as having a photo in Family of man (1955). She died August 18, 1992 in Scarsdale, NY.

From the description of Photographs, 1928-1972. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 711716470

Photographer.

From the description of Oral history interview with Barbara Brooks Morgan, 1978. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122587634

Biography

Barbara Brooks Morgan was born in Buffalo, Kansas on July 8, 1900, but grew up in Los Angeles, CA. She attended UCLA from 1919 to 1923, and later joined the art faculty (1925-30). She married Willard D. Morgan (ca. 1925) and relocated to New York (1930). After the birth of her two sons, Douglas (1932) and Lloyd (1935), she began to concentrate on her photography career. An accomplished designer, author, artist, and photographer, she is best known for her photographs of American modern dancers, among them, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Pearl Primus, Jose Limon, and Charles Weidman. She contributed articles and reviews to various publications and published several books including, Martha Graham: Sixteen Dances in Photographs (1941), Summer's Children: A Photographic Cycle of Life at Camp about Camp Treetops (1951), and A Collection of Material about Barbara Morgan (1972), as well as having a photo in Family of Man (1955). She died August 18, 1992 in Scarsdale, NY.

From the guide to the Collection about Barbara Morgan, 1960-1972, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Biography

Barbara Brooks Morgan was born in Buffalo, Kansas on July 8, 1900, but grew up in Los Angeles, CA. She attended UCLA from 1919 to 1923, and later joined the art faculty (1925-30). She married Willard D. Morgan (ca. 1925) and relocated to New York (1930). After the birth of her two sons, Douglas (1932) and Lloyd (1935), she began to concentrate on her photography career. An accomplished designer, author, artist, and photographer, she is best known for her photographs of American modern dancers, among them, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Pearl Primus, Jose Limon, and Charles Weidman. She contributed articles and reviews to various publications and published several books including, Martha Graham: Sixteen Dances in Photographs (1941), Summer's Children: A Photographic Cycle of Life at Camp about Camp Treetops (1951), and A Collection of Material about Barbara Morgan (1972), as well as having a photo in Family of Man (1955). She died August 18, 1992 in Scarsdale, NY.

From the guide to the Barbara Morgan photographs, 1928-1972, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Biographies

Martha Graham, Choreographer

Martha Graham was an American dancer, instructor, choreographer, and director of the Martha Graham Dance Company. She was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1894. Her formative training was with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn at the Denishawn School and Company in Los Angeles. Graham went on to teach at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., where she began to explore more experimental dance techniques. One of the most influential figures in modern dance, she created over 100 works, including solo, ensemble, and theatrical pieces. As a teacher Graham fostered the continuing evolution of modern dance through former company members such as Anna Sokolow, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor. She died in 1991.

Barbara Morgan, Photographer

Barbara Morgan was an American photographer particularly well known for her work, both experimental and documentary, with modern dancers. She was born in Buffalo, Kansas in 1900. Though formally trained in painting and printmaking at the University of California, Los Angeles, Morgan developed an interest in photography after seeing an exhibit of Edward Weston's photographs. One of Morgan's early major undertakings as a photographer was her work with Martha Graham and the Martha Graham Dance Company during the years1935-1940, which formed the basis for her book, Martha Graham: sixteen dances, published in 1941. Morgan's dance photographs were groundbreaking in their departure from "performance documentation" and helped to revolutionized dance photography. She died in 1992.

From the guide to the Barbara Morgan photographs of Martha Graham and Company, 1935-1940, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)