By Lily Brickmeier

In 2023, Sir Elton John sold his Atlanta penthouse, which he had owned since the 1990s. Many of his belongings would need to be sold, donated, or rehomed including his extensive collection of photography books. Without hesitation, Sir Elton ensured that Emory University would have first rights to the collection. Emory gladly accepted more than 2,000 rare, limited edition, and signed photography books spanning over five decades, from 1972 to 2022. The collection represents over 25 countries and at least 15 languages. Among the non-English titles is Marilyn in New York, a German-language photo collection by Ed Feingersh. 

Emory’s library received word of the donation directly from Elton John’s staff. “Elton suggested the idea of donating to the Emory Library so that his books could have an impact after leaving his collection,” an email read. Acting quickly, Art History Librarian Kim Collins and Randy Gue, Assistant Director of Collection Development for Emory’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, visited Sir Elton’s home to select the titles now preserved at Emory.

The primary concern for Emory’s librarians now was how best to catalog, house, preserve this collection, and make it accessible to the Emory community. Emory’s effort was profiled by Rough Draft, Atlanta at https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2024/12/27/elton-john-photography-collection/. As of now, 1,065 books have been fully cataloged, with the process still ongoing. Of those cataloged, 17% are signed editions. A notable signed copy is Blackface by David Levinthal, who uses toy-sized props and lighting to depict scenes on war, voyeurism, race, and pop culture. The collection features contributions from 2,441 different authors, editors, and photographers. It’s not just the books themselves that hold importance, but the personal touches too. Inside the books can be found sticky notes marking photographs that were intended to be bought, email printouts between Elton’s private art buyer and galleries, and handwritten messages addressed directly to him. These elements offer a rare glimpse into the intimate relationship between Sir Elton John as a collector and his collection.

An analysis of the Library of Congress classifications revealed two main themes in the collection: artistic photography exhibitions (TR647) and portraits (TR681), especially of specific people or social groups. However, the collection also includes unique and lone titles, like a book on jewelry by a specific artist (Cartier I Love You: Celebrating 100 Years of Cartier in America in NK7398) and a rare historical text on a small Indian kingdom (Bailey's Naga Hills in DS485).

Moving such a large collection also raised questions about sustainability. Normally, dust jackets are discarded during cataloging, but Emory chose to repurpose them. On October 6, 2024, students and faculty took part in a collage and zine-making event, HANDS ON: An Art Making Study Break with Sir Elton John’s Photography Books, using the removed dust jackets. One student created a striking collage layered with colors and textures from the donated materials.

While the repurposing of the dust jackets gave way to dwindling down waste and space, given the varying sizes, formats, and fragility of the books, there was a question of where they would be housed while still accessible to the public. Fortunately, the Library Service Center, a state of the art, climate-controlled facility shared by Emory and Georgia Tech, was the best solution. While the public can’t browse the 32-foot-high stacks themselves, items can be easily requested and viewed on site. A small display of titles at the Woodruff library is also in the works.

This is all due to the work of librarians, preservation specialists, catalogers, and student interns. Already-cataloged titles can be found on the Emory Libraries website by searching “gift of Sir Elton John,” and the records are also available globally through WorldCat. With each cataloged item, Emory continues to honor the spirit of this remarkable gift.

To learn more about Emory University Libraries, go to https://libraries.emory.edu/.