Revs Institute acquires collection of world-renowned photographer Jesse Alexander
Revs Institute, one of the world’s leading resources for the historical and meaningful car community, has acquired the images of the late Jesse Alexander (1929-2021).
Alexander was one of the preeminent motorsport photographers of the 20th century. He covered the international racing scene from the 1950s through the 1970s as a photojournalist. His images defined motorsports in that era, and they remain in demand with editors and publishers to this day. Moreover, Alexander’s artistry was appreciated by critics and the public alike. Alexander exhibited at fine galleries around the world and published several popular books of his photography.
The acquisition, which includes over 1,700 original signed prints and tens of thousands of negatives, now joins over 120 other archival collections at Revs Institute, all related to automotive history and culture.
The Jesse Alexander Photograph Collection is currently being processed by staff archivists and its negatives are being prepared for digitization and long-term preservation. When complete, the digital files will become a resource for scholarship on Revs Digital Library, a publicly available initiative by Revs Institute. The original negatives will be housed first at Revs Institute’s Library in Naples before moving to its new Archive and Research Center (presently under construction in neighboring Ft. Myers). This state-of-the-art facility will ensure the Jesse Alexander Photograph Collection is maintained for future generations.
If you would like to be notified when the Jesse Alexander Photograph Collection becomes available on Revs Digital Library click here.
Alexander’s signed prints also represent an important part of the acquisition. Once processed, select pieces will be used to create a special exhibition of Alexander’s work. Dates for the exhibition, as well as for the availability of Alexander’s images for licensing through Revs Digital Library, will be announced at a later time.
“We are deeply honored that the Alexander family has chosen us to preserve Jesse’s legacy. His era-defining images elevated motorsports photography into fine art, and his body of work has a reach that extends beyond the racing world,” said Miles C. Collier, founder of Revs Institute. “Jesse’s lens was witness to some of the greatest moments in the history of the automobile, and we look forward to sharing his work in museums and online.”