The Josef Breitenbach Archive contains the personal papers and photographic materials of the photographer and teacher Josef Breitenbach (1896-1984). The materials in the archive date from 1873-1990 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1933-1983. The archive consists of Correspondence; Biographical materials; Writings and photography projects; Exhibitions; Education files; Publications; Financial, insurance, and legal records; Other materials; and Photographic materials.

Breitenbach arrived in New York City in 1941 and lived there until his death in 1984. 35mm, 120mm, and color transparencies record this period of his photographic activity. He produced commercial work for magazines such as American Fabrics, Esquire, Fortune, Harper’s Bazaar, and Survey Graphic. He made portraits of John Dewey, Josef Albers, Oskar Maria Graf, and Sarah Vaughan. Beginning in 1952, black-and-white negatives and contacts sheets as well as color transparencies record his extensive travels in Asia. Of special note in the Breitenbach photographic materials is early color work consisting of two Ilford Dufaycolor transparencies and two stereo transparencies from the 1930s.