MUUS Collection

Todd Webb

Todd Webb (1905–2000) was a pioneering American photographer whose images of everyday life and people in postwar Paris, New York, and the American West serve as unique time capsules to bygone eras.

Todd Webb

Collection

Todd Webb

Collection

Prints

15,000

Negatives

50,000

Papers

15 linear feet

Publications

10 linear feet

Dummies

5

Artifacts

2 linear feet

Ephemera

3 linear feet

Prints

15,000

Negatives

50,000

Papers

15 linear feet

Publications

10 linear feet

Dummies

5

Artifacts

2 linear feet

Ephemera

3 linear feet

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Biography

Charles Clayton (“Todd”) Webb III was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 15, 1905, growing up between his hometown and a Quaker community in Ontario, Canada. He was later educated at the University of Toronto and became a stockbroker; like many Americans, during the Wall Street Crash of 1929, he was forced to start a new life and career after losing his livelihood and savings.

After trying on a few different identities, from forest ranger to writer, Webb finally found his true calling. “Came 1939, and photography—and I really started to live,” Webb later wrote. After a stint prospecting for gold in the southwestern United States, he returned to his native Detroit, where he joined the Chrystler Camera Club and met a cohort of photographers, including Harry Callahan, who became a close friend. Soon after, in 1940, Webb also attended a photography workshop taught by Ansel Adams, where he learned the technique of “straight photography”.

Selected Works

Paris

After a 1948 visit to the city, Webb was determined to move to Paris, and in February 1949 he took the SS America bound for Le Havre. Webb spent the next four years photographing the city with his 8x10 camera in the vein of Eugene Atget; he also socialized with fellow photographers Louis Stettner, Robert Doisneau, and Brassaï.

Paris

After a 1948 visit to the city, Webb was determined to move to Paris, and in February 1949 he took the SS America bound for Le Havre. Webb spent the next four years photographing the city with his 8x10 camera in the vein of Eugene Atget; he also socialized with fellow photographers Louis Stettner, Robert Doisneau, and Brassaï.

New York

After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, Webb moved in with Harry Callahan in New York City. He spent the next year photographing the city, igniting his love of urban photography. His friend Alfred Stieglitz made an introduction to curator and art historian Beaumont Newhall, who in turn helped arrange for an exhibition of Webb’s work at the Museum of the City of New York in 1946. After a long sojourn in Paris, Webb would return to New York in 1952 and continue to photograph there.

New York

After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, Webb moved in with Harry Callahan in New York City. He spent the next year photographing the city, igniting his love of urban photography. His friend Alfred Stieglitz made an introduction to curator and art historian Beaumont Newhall, who in turn helped arrange for an exhibition of Webb’s work at the Museum of the City of New York in 1946. After a long sojourn in Paris, Webb would return to New York in 1952 and continue to photograph there.

Georgia O’Keeffe

Having first met Georgia O’Keeffe through her husband Alfred Stieglitz in the 1940’s, Webb began photographing the artist and her daily life starting in 1955 and continuing until close to her death in 1986. Though the artist notoriously had a prickly personality, in Webb’s portraits, she is serene.

Georgia O’Keeffe

Having first met Georgia O’Keeffe through her husband Alfred Stieglitz in the 1940’s, Webb began photographing the artist and her daily life starting in 1955 and continuing until close to her death in 1986. Though the artist notoriously had a prickly personality, in Webb’s portraits, she is serene.

1955 Road Trip

Webb applied for a Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography to retrace and document the pioneer trails from New York City to California and Oregon. In April 1955, he was awarded the grant, and began walking, and then biking, sailing, and driving cross-country, making photographs along the way. His trip took six months to reach California, and in 1956, the Guggenheim Foundation awarded him a further grant to continue the project, which culminated in two books.

1955 Road Trip

Webb applied for a Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography to retrace and document the pioneer trails from New York City to California and Oregon. In April 1955, he was awarded the grant, and began walking, and then biking, sailing, and driving cross-country, making photographs along the way. His trip took six months to reach California, and in 1956, the Guggenheim Foundation awarded him a further grant to continue the project, which culminated in two books.

Portraits

Webb routinely socialized with other artists and photographed each; not limited to the confines of photographers, he also made portraits of writers, curators, and important American figures, including Bertolt Brecht, Beaumont Newhall, and former President Harry Truman.

Portraits

Webb routinely socialized with other artists and photographed each; not limited to the confines of photographers, he also made portraits of writers, curators, and important American figures, including Bertolt Brecht, Beaumont Newhall, and former President Harry Truman.

Africa

In 1958, the United Nations invited Webb to visit and photograph the emerging countries of Africa as elections were being held to become independent nations. Webb spent six months visiting Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia among other parts of the continent, making vibrant color portraits of the people he met along the way as well as documenting new infrastructure and construction projects.

Africa

In 1958, the United Nations invited Webb to visit and photograph the emerging countries of Africa as elections were being held to become independent nations. Webb spent six months visiting Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia among other parts of the continent, making vibrant color portraits of the people he met along the way as well as documenting new infrastructure and construction projects.