Photographer Camilo José Vergara's New York in the 70's

Chilean-born Camilo José Vergara began photographing American ghettos when he was a Notre Dame undergraduate; he continued while earning a master's degree in sociology at Columbia University. He is best known for his photographs of New York City; his imagery captured the soul and essence of life in the Bronx circa 1970.

His works have been widely exhibited, most recently in the New York Historical Society (Martin Luther King Jr.: The Dream Continues, 2013), the Museum of the City of New York (Tiny Towers: 1970–2011, 2011–12), and the National Building Museum, Washington D. C. (Detroit Is not Dry Bones), 2012; How the Other Half Worships, 2009). Amongst his publications are Harlem: The Unmaking of a Ghetto (forthcoming, 2013), How the Other Half Worships, 2005, The New American Ghetto (1995), and Twin Towers Remembered (2001).

In 2002 Vergara was awarded a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant and he was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama in 2013.

"East 167th Street, South Bronx." 1973

 "Bronx River, Bronx." 1970

 "Girls with Barbies, East Harlem." 1970

 "Fifth Ave at 110th Street, East Harlem." 1970

"Hoe Avenue at 172nd Street, Bronx." 1970

Teenagers in the Melrose Section, South Bronx, 1970

 "Puerto Rican wedding, East Harlem." 1970

"Cadillac Fleetwood, Harlem." 1970

                

"View of the World Trade Center under construction from Duane Street." 1970