Bourke-White, Margaret, 1904-1971

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Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) was an American photographer, war correspondent, author and photojournalist. Among her many achievements, she was the first foreign photographer allowed to take pictures in the USSR of Soviet industry, the first female war correspondent, and the first female photographer for Life magazine, where her photograph appeared on the first cover. She was the author of more than ten books, including her autobiography Portrait of Myself (1963). She received numerous awards over her career, including honorary doctorates from Rutgers University and the University of Michigan, and in 1997 she was designated a Women's History Month honoree by the National Women's History Project.

From the guide to the Margaret Bourke-White Papers, 1863-1984, 1928-1964, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

B. June 14,1904 in Bronx, NY;d. in Connecticut, August 1971.

From the description of Margaret Bourke-White : Artist File. (International Center of Photography). WorldCat record id: 680517953

Photographer.

From the description of Margaret Bourke-White photographs, 1927-1972. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64075182

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Margaret Bourke-White was born in New York City and grew up in Bound Brook, New Jersey. She enrolled at Columbia University in 1921 where she studied photography under Clarence H. White (no relation), a noted photographer in the Photo-Secession movement. She transferred to the University of Michigan in 1922, later took courses at Western Reserve University, and ultimately received her bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1927. Her first book, Eyes on Russia, resulted from an assignment documenting Russian industrialization for the magazine Fortune.

By 1931, Bourke-White was a widely recognized photojournalist when she photographed the Morningside Campus for the Columbia University Press, offering six total views for sale to the public. She continued to receive accolades for her work in photojournalism, joining the staff of Life Magazine in 1936 and serving as a correspondent in the Soviet Union during the Second World War. She was married to Everett Chapman 1924-1926 and writer Erskine Caldwell 1939-1942.

From the guide to the Margaret Bourke-White Photographs, 1931, (Columbia University University Archives)

Margaret Bourke-White was born in Bronx, New York in 1904. She began studying at Columbia University, but left after a year, finally graduating from Cornell University in 1927 with a BA. After graduating from Cornell she moved with her family to Cleveland, Ohio. She was employed by the Otis Steel Company of Cleveland in 1929 to document the companies facilities. Bourke-White was the first female photojournalist to work for Life magazine and is considered one of the premier photojournalists of the 20th century. She also worked for Fortune magazine.

From the guide to the Margaret Bourke-White Photograph Collection, 1928-1931, (Baker Library, Harvard Business School)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Keller, Kaufman Thuma, 1885-1966. Kaufman Thuma (K.T.) Keller Collection, 1885-1966. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Freeman, Joseph, 1897-1965. Joseph Freeman papers, ca.1920-1965. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Farrand, Margaret Carleton. Margaret Carleton Farrand miscellany, [ca.1926]-1988. Cornell University Library
referencedIn New York University Collection. 1935 - 1954. Audio Recordings of "America's Town Meeting of the Air" Radio Programs. 1935 - 1954. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TURN THE CLOCK BACK? National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Croswell Bowen papers Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. Letters of Carl Sandburg [manuscript] 1951-1952. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Marshall, Alice Kahler,. Women illustrators and photographers graphics collection, 1800-1987. Penn State Harrisburg Library
referencedIn Photographer File, ca. 1882-present New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Margaret Bourke-White Papers, 1863-1984, 1928-1964 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Erskine Caldwell Papers, 1936-1942 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Bourke-White, Margaret, 1904-1971. Margaret Bourke-White photographs, 1927-1972. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Gilfillan, F. A. (Francois Archibald), 1893-1983. F.A. Gilfillan papers, 1909-1984 (bulk 1921-1977). Oregon State University Libraries
referencedIn Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. Frank Altschul papers, 1900-1981. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Society of Woman Geographers. Records, 1925-1987. Library of Congress
creatorOf Bourke-White, Margaret, 1904-1971,. Colonial Society of Massachusetts visual materials collection, ca. 1860-1961. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Remembering Life National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Bourke-White, Margaret, 1906-1971. Muncie, Indiana--"Middletown" ... : photographs ... / by Margaret Bourke-White. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf American Museum of Natural History. Fortune Magazine and American Museum of Natural History reprints, April 1937 American Museum of Natural History
referencedIn J. Walter Thompson Company. Staff Meeting Minutes, 1927-1952. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Photographs of the Allies and Axis, 1942 - 1945 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Vicki Goldberg Research Files, before 1992 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn THE WORLD TODAY National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Margaret Bourke-White Photograph Collection, 1928-1931 Baker Library, Harvard Business School
referencedIn Gumberg, Alexander, 1887-1939. Papers, 1904-1939. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Bristow Adams papers, 1853-1970, 1862-1957 (bulk) Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Fogg Art Museum 20th-century history of photography collection, 1900-1984 (inclusive). Harvard University Art Museum
referencedIn Lillian Gish papers, 1909-1992 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Philip G. Johnson scrapbooks and other material, 1913-1960, 1925-1945 Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library
referencedIn Roemmelt, Chester W., 1902-1981. Chester William Roemmelt Papers, 1917-1977. Norwich University, Kreitzberg Library
referencedIn Bourke-White, Margaret. [Margaret Bourke-White] : artist file John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library, Ringling Museum Library
referencedIn Mattie E. Hewitt & Richard A. Smith Photograph Collection, 1919-1961 (bulk 1920-1939) New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Bourke White, Margaret. Bourke White, Margaret : [photography bio file]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Bourke-White, Margaret. [Margaret Bourke-White] : artist file John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library, Ringling Museum Library
referencedIn Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning records, 1905-2004 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn THE WORLD TODAY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Peter L. Goss Collection on Margaret Bourke-White, 1966 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Steinway and Sons. Records, 1853-1977, 1900-1968 (bulk) Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn TV SATELLITE FILE NO. 320 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. Letters of tribute to Carl Sandburg [manuscript], 1951-1952. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Caldwell, Ira S. Ira S. and Caroline Bell Caldwell papers, 1920-1949. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Connecticut River, Photographed By Margaret Bourke-White National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Women's Project of New Jersey. Records, 1984-2004 Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Ackerman, Caroline Iverson. Papers of Caroline Iverson Ackerman, 1927-2004 (inclusive), 1939-1949 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn THE WORLD TODAY National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Angell, Norman, 1874-1967. Gilbert F. White papers, 1942-1957. Haverford College Library
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Caldwell, Erskine, 1903-1987. Photographs [manuscript], 1936-1978. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Society of Woman Geographers Records, 1910-1998 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Margaret Bourke-White Photographs, ca. 1928 Western Reserve Historical Society
creatorOf Bourke-White, Margaret, 1904-1971. Margaret Bourke-White : Artist File. International Center of Photography
referencedIn Picture Books Relating to Motion Picture Films, 1926 - 1953 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Caldwell, Erskine, 1903-1987. Erskine Caldwell papers, 1932-1941. Library of Congress
referencedIn White, Margaret Bourke : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Cornell University. College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning records, 1905-2004. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Margaret Bourke-White Photographs, 1931 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Photographs Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
creatorOf Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Dept. Photographs for the company series, 1918-1954. The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center
referencedIn F.A. Gilfillan Papers, 1909-1984, 1921-1977 Oregon State University Libraries University Archives
referencedIn Simon, Richard L. (Richard Leo), 1899-1960. Papers, 1915-1992. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Caldwell, Erskine, 1903-1987. Erskine Caldwell letters, 1929-1973 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Gray, A. Donald (Albert Donald), 1891-1939. Papers, 1917-1939. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Bourke-White, Margaret, 1904-1971. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Blackwell Markham Papers, 1879-1988 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Imogen Cunningham papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. Photograph collection, 1870-1987. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Downtown Brooklyn Development Association records, 1929-1971 Center for Brooklyn History (2020-)
referencedIn Fred C. Kelly Papers, 1867-1966 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Adams, Bristow, 1875-1957. Bristow Adams papers, 1853-1970, 1862-1957 (bulk). Cornell University Library
referencedIn Bourke-White, Margaret, 1904-1971 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Horton, Sam. The eleventh commandment and Margaret Bourke-White, n.d. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Miscellaneous Oversize Prints, Drawings and Posters of Projects Associated with the Commission of Fine Arts, 1893 - 1950 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Imogen Cunningham papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ackerman, Caroline Iverson. person
associatedWith Adams, Bristow, 1875-1957. person
memberOf Alpha Omicron Pi person
associatedWith Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. person
associatedWith Ambedkar, B. R. (Bhimrao Ramji), 1891-1956 person
associatedWith American Museum of Natural History. corporateBody
associatedWith Andrew Dickson White Museum of Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Bourke-White, Margaret person
associatedWith Bowen, Croswell, 1905-1971. person
spouseOf Caldwell, Erskine, 1903-1987. person
associatedWith Caldwell, Ira S. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Case Western Reserve University corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Columbia University corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Cornell University corporateBody
associatedWith Cornell University. College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. corporateBody
associatedWith Cunningham, Imogen, 1883-1976. person
associatedWith Downtown Brooklyn Development Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969 person
associatedWith Farrand, Margaret Carleton. person
associatedWith Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Dept. corporateBody
employeeOf Fortune Magazine corporateBody
associatedWith Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Freeman, Joseph, 1897-1965. person
associatedWith Gandhi, Mahatma, 1869-1948 person
associatedWith Gilfillan, F. A. (Francois Archibald), 1893-1983. person
associatedWith Gish, Lillian, 1893-1993 person
associatedWith Gish, Lillian, 1893-1993 person
associatedWith Goldberg, Vicki. person
associatedWith Goss, Peter L. person
associatedWith Gray, A. Donald (Albert Donald), 1891-1939. person
associatedWith Gumberg, Alexander, 1887-1939. person
associatedWith Horton, Sam. person
associatedWith Imogen Cunningham person
associatedWith Jinnah, Mahomed Ali, 1876-1948 person
associatedWith Johnson, Philip G. (Philip Gustav), 1894-1944 person
associatedWith J. Walter Thompson Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Keller, Kaufman Thuma, 1885-1966. person
associatedWith Kelly, Fred C. (Fred Charters), 1882-1959 person
associatedWith Luce, Henry Robinson, 1898-1967 person
associatedWith Margaret Bourke-White, person
associatedWith Markham, Blackwell. person
associatedWith Marshall, Alice Kahler, person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Morgan, Kay Summersby person
associatedWith Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Purdue University corporateBody
associatedWith Roemmelt, Chester W., 1902-1981. person
associatedWith Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. person
associatedWith Simon, Richard L. (Richard Leo), 1899-1960. person
associatedWith Society of Woman Geographers. corporateBody
associatedWith Stalin, Joseph, 1879-1953 person
associatedWith Steinway and Sons. corporateBody
associatedWith The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Time, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army Air Forces corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Michigan. corporateBody
associatedWith White, Clarence H., 1871-1925 person
associatedWith Women's Project of New Jersey corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Bronx NY US
Stamford CT US
Subject
War correspondents
Advertising
Advertising photography
Aerial photography
Allen, Dudley Peter, 1852-1915
Bourke
Commercial photography
Documentary photography
India
Photography, Industrial
Korean War, 1950-1953
News photographers
Photographers
Photographers
Photographs
Photography
Photography
Photography, Artistic
Photography, Military
Photojournalism
Prentiss, Francis Fleury, 1858-1937
Radicalism
War photography
Women photographers
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
War correspondents
News photographers
Photographers
Activity

Person

Birth 1904-06-14

Death 1971-08-27

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6sz73b0

SNAC ID: 83921225