Remembering Author Richard Whelan

We just learned that Richard Whelan, one of the great writers on photography in the 20th century, has died. Whelan passed away two weeks ago—for some reason, the New York Times has yet to publish a biography—but his family hasn’t released the cause of death.
He is being buried next to the photographer Robert Capa, the subject of one of his biographies, in a Quaker cemetery in upstate New York tomorrow.

Besides Robert Capa, Whelan’s biographical subjects included Alfred Stieglitz. He also wrote the book on Robert Capa’s brother, Cornell Capa, the photojournalist and founder of the International Center of Photography in New York. Whelan was also the consulting curator of the Robert and Cornell Capa Archives at the ICP and a longtime faculty member at the ICP school.

At the time of his death Whelan was working on two new projects for the ICP. One was an exhibition of Capa work based on new research. He was also working on a show about Gerda Taro, Capa’s lover who was killed in Spain.

For most of us who love the history of photography, Whelan’s crowning achievement was his book “Capa: A Biography.” In Whelan’s hands, Capa’s life came off as both epic and intimate, the story of an extraordinary man as well as a story about the meaning of history and art.
—David Schonauer

Comments

[John H. Neff]

9-22-07

Very sorry to hear belatedly of Richard's passing in today's Times' review of the Gerda Taro exhibition. I had the pleasure of working with him when his great Capa show (organized with the Philadelphia Museum of Art)came to the former Terra Museum of American Art in Chicago. Response was phenomenal to the exhibition and to Richard's public talk about Capa. He had included a small but focused group of Taro's photographs as well. He wore his knowledge lightly, a generous speaker, collaborator, and guest.A gentleman and a scholar in every sense of the word. He will be missed.

[Michael Hayward-Jones]

I am saddened to learn of Richard's passing. As a one-time neighbor in Brooklyn, he was always a delight when sharing tea and chat at his kitchen table. He possessed intelligence, grace, wit, and charm. I am grateful for the knowledge and insights he shared with me (and the rest of the world) through his work. Rest well.

[Charles K. Sadler]

Dick was a wonderful man.

We met through friends in Park Slope Brooklyn. He helped guide me at a cross roads in my life/career. I was seeking and he opened his incredible home library to me, we enjoyed tea and good conversation.

Subsequently I changed careers, returned for another professional degree and find myself a happy fulfilled man today, Thank you Dick from the bottom of my heart. May you rest in Peace. Amen.

[David]

Richard Whelan's great biography on Robert Capa, published in September 1985, was the first book I bought for a friend I had not seen in 26 years. Her father fought in the Spanish Civil War. Thus, it was a great gift at the perfect time.

I am saddened by his passing.

[luca pagni]

Richard Whelan in "This Is War! Robert Capa at Work" had indicated ...

"3 For a review of the debates and evidence both pro and con, see the
comprehensive dossier compiled by photography critic Luca Pagni at http://www.photographers.it/articoli/cd_capa/index.html.

Proponents of the argument that The Falling Soldier was faked include Phillip Knightley (to be discussed below) and Caroline Brothers; for the latter, see her War and Photography: A Cultural History (London: Routledge, 1997), pp. 178–84."

And...

"23 Francisco Moreno Gómez, La Guerra Civil en Córdoba (1936–1939), 2d ed.
(Madrid: Editorial Alpuerto, 1986). Ed. note: Richard Whelan was in the process of rethinking this text in light of new information when he died in May 2007, and the editors have here supplemented his argument with relevant documentation.
Unfortunately, despite Brotóns’s claim, no such conclusive evidence of the date and place of Borrell’s death, much less that he was the only member of the Columna Alcoyana to die on September 5, 1936, has been found, by either Brotóns or other interested historians. It does not exist, as previously thought, in Moreno Gómez’s
study. Subsequent research in other archives has likewise produced no official documentation of Borrell’s death. For example, photo historian Luca Pagni has contacted and received negative responses from several archives, including the Archivo General
Militar in Madrid and in Segovia;see http://www.photographers.it/articoli/
cd_capa/index.html
See also http://www.photographers.it/
articoli/miliciano.htm for the views of another Alcoy historian, Miguel Pascual Mira, who believes that Federico Borrell was killed at Cerro Muriano on September 5, 1936, but has been unable to locate supporting documentation in any archive. Nevertheless, strong circumstantial evidence does support the identification of Federico Borrell
García as Capa’s falling soldier, and the date and place of his death as September 5, 1936, at Cerro Muriano."

And...

"25 See http://www.photographers.it/
articoli/miliciano.htm"

[Vince Parrella]

Richard Whelan was my brother-in law...Nancy and I live in Albany NY and have spent the entire year (2008) distributing Richard's immense scholar's library, collected and used for research in his Park Slope residence, as per his wishes.
I have known Dick most of my life as Nancy and I met in high school, and married soon after.
Dick traveled the world, knew many people, yet lived a very simple life. It is a great loss in our lives and I'm sure to everyone who knew and worked with him.
You are missed....

[Nancy Parrella]

We just found this site and the wonderful article and comments about my brother, Richard. He is so missed. Thank you for writing. He was a great writer, scholar and brother. His archives are available at ICP and the Creative Center for Photography. ICP has all of his Capa and Double Take material and CCP has the remainder.
The majority of books from Richard's (Dick's) great library have been donated to Pratt Institute of Art, ICP, Brooklyn Public Library, and Richard' high school, Taft. I know he would be pleased that his treasures are in good hands for so many to learn from.

[Teresa Engle]

I worked with Richard for some 20 years on the Capa archive. He guided me through many projects. Nothing better than getting an early morning call about some new work to be done.
We also became close friends. I miss our Friday night dinners in Park Slope. There was no subject he could not talk about or know something about. I told him often he was the smartest man I ever met.
In kind he said he had learned a so much about the fine art of B&W printing. He could follow all the details with great interest.
Richard left me a wonderful gift- his sister Nancy and her husband Vince. Two dear friends.
I miss him everyday. I am a better person for having known him.