Burns Archive

Photo from the book, Shooting Soldiers: Civil War Medical Photography by Dr. R.B. Bontecou. Written by Dr. Stanley B. Burns, published by Burns Archive Press. This photograph depicts G. Porubsky, Co B. 46th NY volunteer soldier displaying excision of the humerus. This photograph from Bontecou's teaching album shows Bontecou's operation of bone removal in the upper arm, which left the patient with a useless limb.

The Burns Archive

The Burns Archive is a globally renowned collection based in New York City, recognized for housing the world’s largest private assembly of early medical and historic photographs. With a vast collection spanning over one million photographs, this archive offers a unique lens into the history of medicine and societal developments.

Overview

Established in 1975 by Dr. Stanley B. Burns, an ophthalmologist from New York City, the Burns Archive has earned its reputation as a leading repository showcasing the intersection of medical advancements and the art of photography. Its wide spectrum covers medical history, the progression of photographic techniques, and culturally significant moments.

Collections

The Archive's vast collection is known for its images capturing “the darker side of life,” including anatomical anomalies, memorial and post-mortem photographs, as well as iconic snapshots of death, diseases, disasters, crimes, and societal upheavals. Charting the journey of photography from its inception in 1839 to the 1950s, the collection boasts an array of Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, carte de visites, and hand-colored photographs.

Further, the medical section provides insights into:

• Pioneers and innovators in medicine
• Operative procedures
• Therapies and treatments
• Diseases and pathology
• Unique medical cases and curiosities
• Hospitals, wards, and medical institutions
• Medical education, and more.

The historical collection delves into themes of death, memorials, wars, crimes, occupations, societal transitions, cultural histories, Judaica, Egyptology, ethnology, and African American history, among others.

Recognition and Contributions

Having been showcased in over 100 exhibitions globally, including esteemed institutions like New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Paris' Musée d'Orsay, the Burns Archive's contributions to the world of art and history are unparalleled. Renowned institutions such as The Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Modern Art, and the J. Paul Getty Museum have been beneficiaries of the Archive's generous image donations.

Esteemed publications, including The New York Times and Aperture, have lauded the Burns Archive, emphasizing its significant role in preserving early medical history.

Publications

Apart from being an archive, the institution has enriched historical scholarship with over 1,100 articles and 40 books under the Burns Archive Press imprint. Two of Dr. Burns' notable works, Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography In America and Forgotten Marriage: The Painted Tintype & The Decorative Frame, 1860-1910, were accoladed by the American Photographic Historical Society. Elizabeth A. Burns, the Archive's Creative Director, has co-authored several publications with Dr. Burns, expanding on the Archive's thematic depth.

In Popular Culture

The Burns Archive has significantly influenced popular culture, contributing images and expertise to documentaries, TV series, and films. Productions like Silence of the Lambs, Gangs of New York, and The Others have drawn inspiration from this collection. Furthermore, the Archive's profound impact can be witnessed in the Cinemax series The Knick, for which Dr. Stanley B. Burns and Elizabeth A. Burns served as advisers, ensuring historical accuracy in its depiction of early 20th-century medicine.

External Links

• Official Website

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