We are busy repatriating sections of the largest Australian vintage photograph archive back to Australia
The Story and Our Mission
In 2013 Fairfax Media sent the two million photograph archive of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper to a company in Little Rock, Arkansas to be digitized. In addition to news photos, hundreds of fine art photographs from well-known Australian artist-photographers (Max Dupain, Wolfgang Sievers, David Moore, Olive Cotton, Jeff Carter and others) were buried deep in the archive for over 40 years.
The scanning company was disbanded prior to completing the scanning, and the work was eventually managed by a court receiver. Part of the deal Fairfax made was to trade the vintage prints for the scanning services.
From the turmoil in the scanning company, the archive eventually became owned by a regional Arkansas bank with no interest in holding these photographs. After much discussion and negotiation, Duncan Miller Gallery in Santa Monica, CA bought the entire collection of vintage photos, with the goal and purpose of repatriating many of these historical documents back to Australia.
We are actively seeking Australian citizens and Australian museums, libraries, public galleries, institutions and associations that want their historical documents.
“I applaud the efforts you are making to help return portions of the Sydney Morning Herald photographs to Australia.””
Over 50 Australian Institutions have received their historical Photo-documents
Partial list: The National Library of Australia, The National Maritime Museum, Museum of Australian Democracy, The Sydney Opera House, The Bradman Museum, War Memorial, Parliament House, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Beleura House, Australian Football League, Canberra Museum, Australian Federal Police, Sydney Tramway Museum, Blacktown City Library, Clarence Regional Library, Camden Library, Strathfield Council, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Inverell Shire Public Library, Cessnock Shire Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Stanton Library, Leeton Shire Council, Fairfield City Council, Midcoast Libraries, Lake Macquarie City Library, Mosman Library, Central West Libraries, Castle Hill Library, Kiama Municipal Council, The King’s School, Armidale Regional Council, Yass Valley Library, Barker College, Coffs Harbour City Libraries, Waverley Library, Liverpool City Library, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Water Polo Australia Limited, Maitland City Council, Bega Valley Shire Library, Singleton Council, Lane Cove Library, Cities of Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, and others.