Agnes Reynes-Williams, a young physician from the Philippines, first wrote to Gisèle Freund, a well-known European photographer, after reading an article about her in Reader's Digest magazine in 1986. Freund wrote back, and this commenced a correspondence which continued through 1994. The two women never met.
This collection consists of 18 letters from photographer Gisèle Freund to Dr. Agnes L. Reynes-Williams. The correspondence demonstrates a relationship that began with Reynes-Williams' interest in Freund's work and life, and progressed to a long-distance friendship. In her letters, Freund provided Reynes-Williams with encouragement and advice related to her career, and also discussed her own life and travels. In her 80s at the beginning of the correspondence (she described herself as "over 70"), Freund was still professionally active, and she frequently wrote about her work, including her books, exhibits and public appearances, and a visiting scholar grant she received from the Getty Foundation in Los Angeles during the 1980s.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item Description]
Agnes L. Reynes-Williams Correspondence from Gisèle Freund, 1986-1994 (Cage 719)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Dr. Agnes L. Reynes-Williams donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 2007 (MS 2007-05).
This collection was processed in 2007 by Cheryl Gunselman
Gisèle Freund Papers, 1933-1990
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.