Our four 80th anniversary honorees. Top row, left to right: Susan Meiselas with our attending teaching artists; Randy Bourne with Anne Bourne and Klingman & Associates. Bottom row, left to right: Ron Sharpe with friends; Geoffrey C. Ward reading a historical document.

Josephine Herrick Project Celebrates 80 Years

With Friends and Family!

On May 14, staff, supporters and members of Josephine Herrick's own family gathered on the Ohana Floor of Salesforce Tower to mark the organization's 80th anniversary, a milestone shaped by generations of New Yorkers who believe in the power of photography.

The evening's program honored four individuals who embody the spirit Josephine Herrick looked to foster when she incorporated Volunteer Service Photographers in 1946, in the wake of World War II. Author and historian Geoffrey C. Ward read a letter from a Revolutionary War veteran, a poignant tribute to the bravery and resilience of the American soldier, a community JHP is proud to continue working with to this day. Susan Meiselas spoke to her lifelong passion for photography education, highlighting the power of the camera in every hand. The program closed with board chair emeritus Randy Bourne and current board officer Ron Sharpe, who have been part of JHP since the 1980s, more than half of our organization's incredible lifetime.

Premiering during the program was JHP's new 2026 programmatic video, featuring teaching artists, participants, and staff in locations across the city. If you couldn't make the event, you can watch it here.

The night closed with a spirited, completely sold-out live auction led by Betsy Alexandre, a volunteer charity auctioneer from Christie's, the famed international auction house.

Couldn't be there? Take a piece of the celebration home. Exclusive prints from the evening are still available, including work by JHP program participants and original photographs by Josephine Herrick herself. Browse the collection, pick your favorites, and JHP will ship them directly to you.

Thank you to our Vision Sponsor Sony along with Focus Sponsors B&H Photo and Klingman and Associates. Without their generosity, this celebration of 80 years would not have been possible.

Top row, left to right: Pam and Wendy, two of Josephine's relatives, who traveled from out of state to honor "Aunt Joe," with JHP Executive Director Miriam Leuchter; a portrait of Josephine on screen during the program. Bottom row, left to right: attendees pause to capture the sunset from the 41st floor; guests browse the auction.

SUMMER STARTS AT JHP

Summer is one of the busiest times for us. Many of our high school programs go deeper in these months, giving young people a window into the professional side of photography through intensive courses that pack a whole semester of learning into just a few weeks. For our teaching artists, summer is a time to explore their own creative and instructive practice, with a focus on mentoring and bringing professional experience to their students.

Our veterans programs continue all summer long in locations across the city, including in accessible hybrid and virtual formats. Our program team is also working to finalize additional offerings, so stay tuned and keep an eye on your inbox as we share stories, images and program updates from our summer sessions.

80 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES:

FULL CIRCLE MOMENTS IN TIME

Behind-the-scenes from our archives: circa 1940s (left) and with the HOPE Center Harlem at the Dream Center Harlem, 2026—one of more than 35 side-by-side moments in the full slideshow.

New York is a city that never stops changing. Yet across 80 years of JHP, what stands out is how much stays the same: the wonder of seeing a print appear for the first time, the pride in a photograph well made, the instinct to point a camera at the people and places that make up a life.

This slideshow, featured at our 80th anniversary celebration, pairs photographs from our archives with work made by participants in our programs today. An image from the 1940s sits beside one from 2026. A community program from the 1970s sits beside a veterans photowalk last fall. A darkroom from 1952 sits beside a classroom at East Side Community School just a few months ago. The decades change, but the moments rhyme.

This is what full circle looks like—the city reflecting itself through the lens, then and now. Click through and see New York as our participants have seen it across 80 years.