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Jill Enfield The New Americans project

 Collection
Identifier: KA-0142-01

Abstract

This collection consists of a portfolio of wet collodion portraits of new immigrants to the United States by fine arts photographer Jill Enfield. The portfolio forms a part of Enfield's The New Americans series, and originated as a year-long project funded by a Faculty Development Grant from Parsons. Enfield's grant statements are also part of the collection.

Dates

  • 2005

Creator

Extent

.4 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection consists of a portfolio of twenty-one wet collodion portraits by Jill Enfield, and Enfield's grant statements. Each print is preceded by a translucent page bearing biographical information furnished by the subject of the photograph. Originating as a year-long project funded by a Faculty Development Grant from Parsons School of Design, Enfield's portraits evolved into The New Americans exhibition. Initially scheduled for exhibition at Ellis Island in New York City in 2009, then rescheduled for 2012 and scuttled again by Hurricane Sandy, the show finally occurred May-September 2017. With the delay, Enfield had time to expand the show to fill six galleries. 

These portraits are also, as of 2023, available on Jill Enfield's website: https://www.jillenfield.com/new-americans-collodion-portraits.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

To publish images of material from this collection, permission must be obtained from Jill Enfield, who retains copyright. Pleave visit her website's contact page to find the best way to contact her: https://www.jillenfield.com/contact

Biographical Note

Jill Enfield (born 1954) is a fine arts photographer who specializes in historical photography techniques such as hand coloring and wet plate collodion. In addition to her own creative work, she has taught at Parsons School of Design since 1990, as well as in other schools such as New York University and the Rhode Island School of Design. She has also published the following books: Photo-Imaging : A Complete Guide to Alternative Processes and Jill Enfield’s Guide to Photographic Alternative Processes: Popular historical and Contemporary Techniques.

Sources

Enfield, Jill. Jill Enfield website. Accessed February 17, 2023. https://www.jillenfield.com/.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This portfolio was part of a larger transfer of records from the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment to The New School Archives in 2016.

Title
Guide to the Jill Enfield The New Americans project
Status
Completed
Author
New School Archives and Special Collections staff
Date
February 14, 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin