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March, 2003 — BOSTON, MASS.— The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA) is please to announce the recent gift of the Verner Reed collection of more than 26,000 photographic negatives. This important collection of images shot between 1930 and 1990 that comprise the personal collection of American freelance photographer and photojournalist Verner Reed. Reed photographed assignments for Life, Time, Fortune, Vermont Life, and various publications both domestic and foreign. As the primary New England freelancer for Life magazine from 1953 through 1957, Reed documented the history and culture of the region, raging from members of Twentieth Century politics to significant events and the arts to common everyday moments. The Reed collection includes photographs of the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg vigil, John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy, Edmund A. Muskie's gubernatorial win, painter Maxfield Parrish, and poets T.S. Eliot and Robert Frost, in addition to the images of New Englanders' everyday lives. SPNEA director of archives Lorna Condon stated, "Upon viewing the collection I was completely captivated by these amazing images and knew immediately that they would enrich SPNEA's collections immeasurably, especially by providing a rich mid-Twentieth Century perspective. Making the collection available for study and enjoyment contributes to the preservation of New England's history and the history of photography in America." SPNEA plans to use these images to create an online tour of Reed's work that will be accessible via SPNEA's website. Both Verner and his wife Deborah Reed have agreed to participate in oral history interviews to provide additional information about the collection. The online tour will use portions of these oral history interviews. In addition to the online tour, SPNEA plans a retrospective book. When asked about the gift Reed stated, "Every photographer would like to think that his work is going to be cared for and preserved for the future. I wanted to know that my work would not only be accessible for research but would be available to be artistically appreciated for decades to come. The bulk of my work was done in New England and is a unique reflection of life there during the 1950s and 1960s. My wife and I approached SPNEA because of their reputation and we have been impressed with their professionalism in regard to the care and promotion of my work. The people I have met and worked with at SPNEA have confirmed that we made the right decision. No photographer could ask for more." The Verner Reed Archives will be housed at SPNEA's Library and Archives, where it will be available for study by current and future scholars, researchers and photography aficionados. SPNEA, a regional organization headquartered in Boston, owns and operates 35 properties from the Seventeenth Century to the present. SPNEA shares New England's architecture, landscapes, objects and stories through innovative programs for residents, visitors and scholars. For information, visit www.spnea.org.
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