For three generations, Robert Davidoff used his camera to chronicle the Kennedy family. Rising from a high-society photographer in Palm Beach, Fla., to capturing the natural moments of the prominent family, Davidoff was able to craft images with a remarkable sense of scope.
As the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy certainly was the most iconic member of the bunch, and it was the administration he helmed alongside his family (First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and children Caroline and John Jr.) that was called "Camelot," a phrase that crystallized the period's charisma and prominence.
A selection of photographs from Davidoff's book, "The Kennedy Family Album," will be displayed at the Columbus Museum of Art from Nov. 3-15 in an exhibit called "Behind Camelot: The Kennedy Family Album."
Before the exhibit opened opening, Metromix spoke to curator Catherine Evans about the exhibit and what makes the Kennedy family such an intriguing topic.
We haven't heard of this exhibition elsewhere. Is this the first of its kind?
I recall there might be an installation in Palm Beach. I think I read that somewhere and am not sure. I wouldn't call [what CMA is doing] a full-fledged exhibition in terms of our normal scope. It's more of a quick installation.
Are all the images from "The Kennedy Family Album" book?
Yes, they're all in that book. I didn't realize that until I saw the book myself. I tracked it down this weekend. I looked at about 200 pictures and made the selection from those.
Tell us about the selection. When were most of them taken?
The 15 to 18 that we'll be showing are from 1963 to 1977. We were interested in the three generations idea. We were also interested in the pictures that were candid. The cover of the book [features] JFK, Jackie, and the children posed—I didn't choose that because that was the kind of picture that most people seemed familiar with.
What sort of scenes do these photographs portray?
The Kennedy family, the extended family at play and some work—I imagine it all wrapped together. For example, there's one of luggage being unloaded from Air Force One in November 1963. You can see the rocking chair draped in fabric. Some of us know that President Kennedy had a bad back and rarely traveled without his rocker. It's a wonderful behind-the-scenes image. There's a picture of JFK holding Caroline's hand where we see them from the back. It's more of a snapshot. There's a couple of color pictures which were quite wonderful because color at the time had a special look and wasn't the kind of color we see today. There's one of the two kids in the backseat of the car with JFK, and it's very cropped. There are some Christmas pictures—really, the kind of thing you'd see more in a personal family album. A lot of them are very poignant. One in particular is JFK on the tarmac heading to Air Force One on November 15, 1963. It's the last picture that Davidoff made [of JFK], and it was four days prior to the assassination. When we look back with our knowledge of history, these pictures become more meaningful than they might have been in their time.
What is your personal favorite out of the collection?
That's hard to say! [Laughs] It was tough to select a small number out of such a large group. There's a great one of Robert Kennedy eating an ice cream cone, which I liked a lot. He really loved ice cream. The Air Force One one with the luggage is maybe not my favorite but really revealing. Certainly presidents travel differently today, but there was something very ordinary about that image and about something everyone can connect to.
Was there any theme or motif common to all the pictures you selected?
I looked for pictures that were a little bit surprising. We all have a picture of the Kennedys in our head. This is more of a personal look. The three brothers—JFK, Robert, and Ted Kennedy—are all in this selection. I wanted to get the generational piece in-everyone from Rose to JFK's children when they were small, [and] a little bit of the extended family. No real agenda in terms of organizing it. [Laughs]
How did Davidoff secure the job to begin with?
There's a little story in the book. It was something to do with Rose, and it was in Palm Beach. Here's the story: "It was during the Palm Beach social season of 1959 that photographer Bob Davidoff first met Rose Kennedy. At that time, Davidoff worked for the United Press International and had gained a solid reputation for recording the glittery comings and goings of Palm Beach society. One night, Davidoff was covering an opening at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, snapped a few photos of Rose that would appear in the Palm Beach Daily News. When the article appeared the following day, Rose was immediately impressed by his photos and encouraged her social secretary to find the photographer's home phone number so she could tell him in person." It goes to say that they had a conversation and in the months to come, he'd take many society photos of Rose and always made sure it was the most flattering shot. He had this natural talent as a photographer but was also very respectful and had a wonderful sense of humor. That earned him entry into the private world.
What makes The Kennedys such a compelling subject?
That's a complicated question. There's the easy answer that they were the darlings—the first couple of the White House that had that kind of appeal, even while people have different opinions about his presidency. The dynasty, the legacy of the family, the glamour that Jackie brought to the presidency and the White House: it was a combination of all of those things. There continues to be profound interest in the story of many generations. Certainly, the tragedies are in and of themselves compelling. You could probably come up with your own answer to that.
"Behind Camelot: The Kennedy Family Album" runs Nov. 3-15 at the Columbus Museum of Art. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for student/seniors, $5 for children years old and free for members and children five and younger. For more information, visit the Columbus Museum of Art Web site.
