Burns Archive

The Burns Archive, with more than one million historic photographs from the birth of photography through the modern age, is best known for providing photographic evidence of forgotten, unseen and disquieting aspects of history and culture. The Archive houses unparalleled collections of early medicine, memorialization, Judaica, and the African American experience. It is renowned for its iconic images depicting the darker side of life: Death, Disease, Disaster, Crime, Racism, Revolution and War. Over the past forty years, thousands of publishers, curators, authors, researchers, artists, and filmmakers have utilized this unique source of visual documentation. The Archive has produced dozens of books and curated and contributed to hundreds of national and international museum and gallery exhibitions. The Burns Archive actively acquires, donates, researches, lectures, exhibits, publishes, consults, and shares its unique photographs and expertise worldwide. All of the photographs are available for licensing.