Rebecca B. Matlock photographs, 1980s-2015, bulk 1980s-2005
Navigate the Collection
Summary
- Creator:
- Matlock, Rebecca B., 1928-
- Abstract:
- Collection of 848 color inkjet photographs taken by Rebecca Matlock while traveling and living in countries around the world, with a special focus on landscapes, churches and other buildings, people, and culture. Over half of the collection features images from the former Soviet Union during the Gorbachev administration (1980s-1990s), including Central Asia, the Republic of Buryatia, the Ukraine, and Moscow. Notable individuals include the Gorbachevs, Reagans, Bushes, and the Shevardnadzes, secretaries of state, politicians, and military officials. Other subjects include artists, writers, religious leaders, with one series given to dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov. Other series include: the Republic of Georgia and Tbilisi during and after the civil war; the Czech Republic; the Middle East; the wall dividing Jerusalem; the fall of the Berlin Wall; and Peru. There are smaller groups from the Baltic States, France, Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, and other places. An additional series has as its subject conductor and opera director Sarah Caldwell. There is also a series of abstract images titled Black and White in Color. Most of the prints in the collection were exhibited; thus there are roughly 100 printed items such as caption and title cards and fliers.
- Extent:
- 23 Linear Feet (26 boxes)
- Language:
- Materials in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.11383
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection of 848 color inkjet photographs taken by Rebecca Matlock while traveling and living in countries around the world, with a special focus on landscapes, churches and other buildings, and all aspects of society and culture. There are also approximately 100 printed items. Over half of the collection features images from the former Soviet Union during the Gorbachev administration (1980s-1990s), including Central Asia, the Republic of Buryatia, the Ukraine, and Moscow. Many notable individuals appear, including the Gorbachevs, Reagans, Bushes, Shevardnadzes, secretaries of state, and military officials. Other subjects of portraits include artists, writers, and religious leaders in the Soviet Union; one small series is given to dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov. Other places and events include: the Republic of Georgia and Tbilisi during and after the civil war; the Czech Republic; the Middle East; the wall dividing Jerusalem; the fall of the Berlin Wall; and Peru. There are smaller series from the Baltic States, France, Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, and other places. An additional series offers portraits of conductor and opera director Sarah Caldwell. There is also a series of abstract images. Most of the prints in the collection were exhibited in the U.S. and other places abroad; thus there are some printed materials related to exhibits and lectures.
Matlock was especially interesteed in documenting the people she encountered in her travels, on the street as well as in restaurants, shopping districts, and at home. Following from her interest in architecture, the arts, and literature, many images have as their subjects artists, writers, editors, and dancers, as well as architecture, modern artwork and traditional crafts.
The Russia and Other Regions series is significant for its often informal and intimate depictions of notable individuals associated with the Matlocks' activities as American ambassadors in Russia: these include Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, George H. W. and Barbara Bush, Eduard Sheverdnadze, along with several secretaries of state, career politicians, military officials, and religious leaders. Other subjects include artists, editors, writers, and scientists, with one small series devoted entirely to dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov.
Other notable foreign leaders appear in the Middle East series group entitled "Middle East Leaders," while they attended various meetings and conferences at which the Matlocks were present.
The color prints fall into two size groups: 11x14 and 8x10 inches, with some variability. Almost all the larger prints are housed in thin white window mats and are typically inkjet or laser printed, some at a later date than when they were originally taken.
Most of the prints in the collection were exhibited in the U.S. and abroad; thus, there is a small amount of print materials in the Papers Series related to exhibits and lectures, such as caption cards, title panels, and fliers as well as a Russian magazine, OGONET (1989), with an article about her photography, in Russian.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Rebecca Matlock is a photographer, writer, supporter of the arts, and wife of former U.S. Ambassador to the former Soviet Union, Jack Matlock.
- Acquisition information:
- The Rebecca Matlock photographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2017.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Paula Jeannet and Rachel Fox, August 2017. Addition processed and described by Paula Jeannet, December 2017.
Accession(s) described in this collection guide: 2017-0004, 2017-0175
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged in the following series: Baltic States; Black and White in Color; Czech Republic; Far East; France; Germany: The Wall Came Down; The Middle East; Past and Present in Peru; Russia and Other Regions, divided into 11 sub-series; Sarah Caldwell; South and Central America; Special Places; United States; and Other Places. There is also a small series of papers.
- Physical facet:
- approximately 975 items
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Ambassadors -- American -- Soviet Union
Artists -- Soviet Union
Authors, Soviet -- Portraits
Civil war -- Georgia (Republic)
Documentary Photography
Glasnost
Scientists -- Soviet Union -- Portraits
Women photographers -- United States - Format:
- Color photographs
Digital prints
Electronic documents
Inkjet prints
Photobooks - Names:
- Matlock, Jack F.
Bush, Barbara, 1925-
Bush, George, 1924-2018
Caldwell, Sarah, 1924-2006
Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeevich, 1931-
Gorbacheva, Raisa Maksimovna, 1932-1999
Reagan, Nancy, 1921-2016
Reagan, Ronald
Sakharov, Andreĭ, 1921-1989
Shevardnadze, Ė. A. (Ėduard Amvrosievich), 1928-2014 - Places:
- Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany, 1961-1989 -- Photographs
Buri︠a︡tii︠a︡ (Russia) -- Photographs
Czech Republic -- Photographs
Georgia (Republic) -- Photographs
Jerusalem -- Administrative and political divisions
Middle East -- Politics and government -- 1979-
Moscow (Russia) -- Photographs
Palestine -- Administrative and political divisions
Peru -- Photographs
South America -- Photographs
Soviet Union -- Churches -- Photographs
Soviet Union -- Foreign relations -- United States
Soviet Union -- Politics and government -- 1985-1991
Soviet Union -- Photographs
Soviet Union -- Religious life
Soviet Union -- Social life and customs
Spaso House (Moscow, Russia)
Tbilisi (Georgia) -- Photographs
United States -- Photographs
Contents
Using These Materials
- Using These Materials Links:
-
Using These Materials
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research. Use is restricted to non-commercial, educational purposes; any other use requires written permission of the photographer.
- Terms of access:
-
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
- Before you visit:
- Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Rebecca Matlock photographs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.