Simon Guttmann Papers
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- Creator
- Guttmann, Wilhelm Simon (1891-1990) Hungarian writer, photojournalist
TitleSimon Guttmann Papers
Held atUniversity of London, Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies
Reference codeSGU
Date1853-1990
Scope and ContentThe bulk of the collection is correspondence relating to Simon Guttmann’s work for ‘Report’, the photo agency he founded in 1946 in London, and where he worked until his death in 1990. The agency provided images for illustrated magazines and newspapers worldwide, especially in Britain, Germany and Switzerland, as well as for cultural and political organisations, such as theatres and the Labour Party. There are also letters illustrating the logistics of taking, printing and sending out photographs in an age before the digital camera, where there was usually only one negative and few print copies.
‘Report’ worked mainly with the ‘Picture Post’ until the editor Tom Hopkinson left in 1950. Subsequently ‘Report’ widened its clientele to other illustrated magazines and newspapers and cultural organisations. From 1970s and the rise of the alternative press he worked with many left-wing and trade union papers and organisations, mainly in the UK. Guttmann was particularly interested in the representation of so-called ‘Third World’ countries and in 1971, together with Nicholas Jacobs and Helen Warby, he founded the IFL – the ‘International Freelance Library’, to promote independent journalists and photographers from those countries. In 1985, at the age of 94, he started the ‘Third World Service’ but this never got off the ground.
The correspondence includes many copy letters from Guttmann to editors and others, suggesting ideas for stories and critiquing their use of images. Guttmann had exacting standards and strong opinions and was not afraid to voice them. He sometimes had a fractious relationship with others as he was sensitive to perceived slights yet he was very highly respected for his expertise and knowledge. In later years he was confined to his flat, which was also the ‘Report’ office, and he relied entirely on letters, the phone, and visits from others.
From his time at ‘Dephot’ Guttmann knew many well-known photographers, including Felix H. Man, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Kurt Hutton, and Robert Capa (Endre Friedmann). At Report’ he worked with other exile photographers such as Elisabeth Chat, Inge Morath, and Ina Bandy, as well as Romano Cagnoni, Alan Vines, and many others. However, there is very little direct correspondence with these photographers.
Guttmann had a close personal and working relationship with the art historian Herta Wescher. The correspondence between the two is in a separate series (SGU/3). They gossip about friends and colleagues and discuss photo projects, Herta’s art history work, health concerns, and money issues.
There are also select family documents going back to the mid-nineteenth century (SGU/1) and some material regarding Guttmann’s mother, Lucie Guttmann, who emigrated to London in 1939.
‘Report’ worked mainly with the ‘Picture Post’ until the editor Tom Hopkinson left in 1950. Subsequently ‘Report’ widened its clientele to other illustrated magazines and newspapers and cultural organisations. From 1970s and the rise of the alternative press he worked with many left-wing and trade union papers and organisations, mainly in the UK. Guttmann was particularly interested in the representation of so-called ‘Third World’ countries and in 1971, together with Nicholas Jacobs and Helen Warby, he founded the IFL – the ‘International Freelance Library’, to promote independent journalists and photographers from those countries. In 1985, at the age of 94, he started the ‘Third World Service’ but this never got off the ground.
The correspondence includes many copy letters from Guttmann to editors and others, suggesting ideas for stories and critiquing their use of images. Guttmann had exacting standards and strong opinions and was not afraid to voice them. He sometimes had a fractious relationship with others as he was sensitive to perceived slights yet he was very highly respected for his expertise and knowledge. In later years he was confined to his flat, which was also the ‘Report’ office, and he relied entirely on letters, the phone, and visits from others.
From his time at ‘Dephot’ Guttmann knew many well-known photographers, including Felix H. Man, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Kurt Hutton, and Robert Capa (Endre Friedmann). At Report’ he worked with other exile photographers such as Elisabeth Chat, Inge Morath, and Ina Bandy, as well as Romano Cagnoni, Alan Vines, and many others. However, there is very little direct correspondence with these photographers.
Guttmann had a close personal and working relationship with the art historian Herta Wescher. The correspondence between the two is in a separate series (SGU/3). They gossip about friends and colleagues and discuss photo projects, Herta’s art history work, health concerns, and money issues.
There are also select family documents going back to the mid-nineteenth century (SGU/1) and some material regarding Guttmann’s mother, Lucie Guttmann, who emigrated to London in 1939.
Conditions governing accessOpen. At least 48 hours' notice is required for research visits.
Extent9 boxes, 1 oversized folder
Related files
Warwick University hold 28 boxes of 'proof copies' of trade union journals, socialist newspapers and journals, feminist, Republican and third world pamphlets, posters and publications which used images from Report: Ref. 1179 Report/IFL Photographic Bureau, (c.1910)-1997.
Helen Warby was interviewed as part of the British Library's 'Oral History of British Photography' in 1993, Ref.: C459/45.
At the time of cataloguing 'Report' is still online. Their website holds an archive of photographs going back to the 1940s.
Level of descriptionfonds
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