The Center for Creative Photography (CCP) at the University of Arizona has announced the acquisition of nine significant photography archives, including the legacies of Laura Aguilar, Jack Dykinga, Jody Forster, Frank Gohlke, Mark Klett, Nathan Lyons, Stephen Marc, Patrick Nagatani, and Susan Wood. This marks one of the largest expansions of CCP's holdings in recent years, adding to its renowned collection that already includes archives of Ansel Adams, W. Eugene Smith, and others. The archives contain not only prints but also correspondence, notebooks, and teaching materials, and will be processed over the next several years for researcher access.
This acquisition matters because it strengthens CCP's position as one of the nation's most important research centers for photographic history, education, and scholarship. The archives represent a broad cross-section of 20th- and 21st-century photographic practices, enriching the connective tissue of American photography history. CCP's model of collecting complete artist archives provides scholars with unique access to the creative evolution behind finished works, and the institution's cold-storage facility ensures long-term preservation of sensitive materials. The announcement also highlights CCP's ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary study, as seen in its Alice Chaiten Baker Interdisciplinary Gallery.