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Donald R. Farkas Collection

 Collection
Identifier: F22:84

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of black-and-white and color photographs of a variety of subjects, largely in Newark, NJ and New York City. The collection focuses on downtown views of both cities as well as views of ethnic festivals held in Newark in the mid 1980s. These city images range from the 1980s through 2007 and are all largely 14 x 17 inches, with the exception of a binder which contains smaller photos. Also of note are a few portraits including one of New Jersey photographer Helen M. Stummer, for whom the Newark Public Library also owns prints.

Dates

  • Majority of material found in ca. 1982-1987

Conditions Governing Access

Available by appointment only. Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied or photographed without permission from library staff.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission.

Biographical / Historical

Donald Farkas was born in 1934 and moved early in his life to Newark, New Jersey. Though a civil engineer by trade who worked as the city surveyor in Newark, Farkas also specialized in photography, especially photojournalism and documentary photography. As a freelancer, Farkas had images published in the New York Times, the Associated Press, the Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), New Jersey Newsphotos, Mobile World, Travel South Magazine, Canoe Magazine and other publications. Farkas had work shown in City Without Walls Gallery (Newark), Middlesex County College (NJ), Robeson Galleries of Rutgers University (Newark), Essex County Hall of Records (Newark), the Newark Museum, Sandrian (Morristown, NJ) and the former Kodak Gallery (New York). Many of his images focused in and around the Newark area, where he lived until 2007.

Extent

9.67 Linear Feet (4 Solander boxes, 1 flat box (52 x 42 cm.), and one binder of loose photos)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection of color and black-and-white photographs of buildings, festivals, landmarks, and people of Newark, New York City, and other places (93 lage photos and a binder of smaller, loose photos).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Donald Farkas, 2007. Remainder of materials donated by Roberta Hartlaub, widow of Donald Farkas, July 2018.

Processing Information

Processed by Chad Leinaweaver, September 2008. In July of 2019, additional photographs were transferred to the collection from the Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center and the finding aid was updated by Nadine Sergejeff.

Author
Chad Leinaweaver and Nadine Sergejeff
Date
2019
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections, Newark Public Library Repository

Contact:
5 Washington Street
PO Box 630
Newark NJ 07102 USA
973-733-7745