December 16, 2011
Photography
A tour of one of the world's largest image collections
If you were in search of an unusual photograph or illustration in the pre-digital years, one source you could turn to was the Bettman Archive. Typically, you'd call their New York offices and talk to a researcher. You'd explain what you were looking for and they would search Bettman's huge collection and send you a package of photocopies of what they had on the subject. If, for example, you needed a steel engraving of an old oak tree — they'd give you five or ten from which to choose.
Fast forward to 1995: The Bettmann Archive is sold to Corbis, the digital stock photography company founded by Bill Gates. Then to 2002: The entire collection is transferred to a secure, climate-controlled, underground storage facility maintained by Iron Mountain, an information management company.
This is the first time I've seen a "civilian" report on the Corbis collection. It's are real treat to see the facility and get an update.
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