BOSTON, MA – April 10, 2025 – The Boston Public Library (BPL) is honored to announce the donation of 47 photographs by renowned Armenian photographer and portrait artist Yousuf Karsh. Made possible by the generous support of the Associates of the Boston Public Library, this gift was donated by his late wife Estrellita Karsh in honor of Peter Brown, former chairperson of the Associates.
Yousuf Karsh (1908–2002) is celebrated as one of the most influential portrait photographers of the 20th century, known for his iconic images of world leaders, artists, and cultural figures, including Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and Ernest Hemingway. The addition of these 47 portraits enriches the BPL’s photography collection, offering the public a rare opportunity to engage with Karsh’s masterful work.
“We’re deeply honored to be entrusted with preserving the photographs of Yousuf Karsh, which exemplify his exceptional technical skill and artistic vision,” said Kristin Parker, BPL’s Lead Curator of the Arts. “It feels like a meaningful exchange—Karsh found inspiration at the Boston Public Library, considering it a home away from home, and now we have the privilege of safeguarding his work, which was, in part, influenced by the subjects he explored within these walls.”
The BPL has digitized the collection to ensure broad accessibility, allowing library patrons, researchers, and photography enthusiasts to explore the Karsh collection from anywhere by accessing them through Digital Commonwealth. As with all materials in the BPL’s Arts collections, these iconic works are available for in-person viewing in the Special Collections reading room by appointment.
Peter Brown, the honoree of this generous gift, reflected on Estrellita Karsh’s enduring generosity and vision: “Estrellita has always thought about how she can improve the lives of others, and her generosity is remarkable. She told me that when Yousuf first came to Boston after escaping the Armenian genocide, he found a home at the BPL, and it became a place of deep significance for him. He always wanted to return the favor. This gift honors that connection and highlights the importance of making the library’s treasures available and free to all.”
Karsh’s ties to Boston date back to his formative years as an aspiring photographer. “Beginning in 1929, young Yousuf Karsh studied for three years with the distinguished photographer John Garo, whose studio was on Boylston Street, not far from the Boston Public Library. Karsh would go there at lunch hours and weekends to study art, both in books and on the walls,” said Jerry Fielder, Director of the Estate of Yousuf Karsh. “It remained a fond inspiration throughout his life, and it is the perfect home for this unique collection of his portraits.”
Watch: Jerry Fielder reflects on the significance of this extraordinary gift and Yousuf Karsh’s deep connection to the Boston Public Library.
Beyond his technical skill, Karsh’s work is celebrated for the way it captures the essence of his subjects. “Photography is a language, a language of light and shadow, composition, and the moment and duration of exposure, and in the hands of Yousuf Karsh, the photograph reveals more than a likeness,” said BPL’s Curator of Photography Aaron Schmidt. “With subtle changes in position, the angle of the light, the juxtaposition of figure with background, the photographer evokes the inner life of person in front of the camera. Yousuf Karsh’s goal was to create an image that reaches beyond the moment to tell the story of his subject.”
The Boston Public Library welcomes the public to explore the Karsh collection online and in person. For more information, visit www.bpl.org.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public. The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit bpl.org.
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Associates is an independent non-profit that raises funds to preserve, digitize, and promote the Boston Public Library’s Special Collections and its historic, literary, and artistic treasures. Since its inception in 1972, the Associates has been the driving force behind many programs, including the Writer-in-Residence program, the Hundred-Year Book Debate, and Literary Lights. For more information, please visit www.AssociatesBPL.org or connect with us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, or YouTube.