“Behind the Lens: Elton John’s Stunning Photography Showcase at Emory University”

How ought Atlanta to evaluate the influence of one of its most notable former inhabitants?

This question is significant following the superstar Elton John’s sale of his multi-level penthouse here for $7.22 million in 2023.

The British artist and EGOT (awardee of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony accolades) was a part-time resident of the city for over thirty years, leaving a profound and lasting effect on its culture.

Prominent moments from John’s time in Atlanta encompass his establishment of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and participating in the Atlanta AIDS Walk alongside Mayor Maynard Jackson in 1991; dining frequently at Buckhead Diner and Umi while shopping at Tower Records; composing and recording his 2004 Peachtree Road album and crafting music for film scores and stage musicals; collaborating with hip hop artists like Lil Nas X and 6lack, and staging memorable concerts, including those in Piedmont Park, at the Tabernacle, and two farewell shows at State Farm Arena in 2018 and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2022.

After John and his spouse David Furnish vacated their Buckhead home this year, they auctioned over 900 items for charity, ranging from numerous fine art pieces, stage footwear, a Banksy artwork, furniture to Gucci apparel, which altogether generated over $20 million.

In the meantime, John’s photography book collection, kept in the building on towering shelves overlooking the Atlanta skyline, required a new location. 

So, where did the books find a new home when the singer relocated?

This is where Emory University comes into play.

A generous collector of photography and books

Elton John is a passionate collector of photographs and was inspired by Atlanta art dealers during his time in the city. In 2000, the High Museum of Art presented “Chorus of Light,” an extensive exhibition of the framed works displayed in his Georgia residence.

Additionally, John has a legendary passion for books, with his photography volumes covering a wide range of art history.

Kim Collins, who oversees research, engagement, and scholarly communications at the Emory libraries and also serves as the institution’s art historian, stated that the university eagerly accepted the offer to obtain books donated from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Photography Collection.

“The theme I wish to convey today is gratitude,” she expressed. “His photography collection directors [Newell Harbin and Jordan K. Putt] asked [Elton], ‘What would you like to do with all these books?’ and he responded to give Emory the first right of refusal.”

Collins led the acquisition process, and Randy Gue, an Emory curator in collection development, examined the books at John’s prior domicile this past summer, identifying roughly 2,000 items for Emory, consisting of commercial, rare, and signed books, as well as anthologies of various artists’ works — ranging from early modernist pioneer Man Ray to 1980s celebrity photographer Patrick McMullan. (Many of John’s general interest books were given to a local public library).Previous Slide

Accessing the collection

Emory is currently processing the books. 

Collins mentioned that already-catalogued titles can be located on the Emory libraries website using the search term “gift of Sir Elton John” and are accessible to scholars and photography fans. She also mentioned they are included in World Cat, a worldwide library catalog database, enabling readers from around the world to view the titles that John collected. 

While anyone can verify which books constitute John’s donation, they are not currently on physical display.

“At this moment, it’s not a physical browsing of the entire collection on campus,” explained Dr. Christopher Palazzolo, a director of collections and open strategies at Emory. A significant number of the books are housed in the university’s library service center, shared with Georgia Tech in Midtown. “We do welcome guests, of course, and they can request materials… We also have courtesy or bartering options that individuals can pay for, enabling them to actually check out the books. Currently, it’s at an item level.”

The university released a blog in August discussing the process of reviewing the materials.

“Certain books featured their own custom clamshell cases, sticky notes left on specific pages, or letters from publishers about Elton John himself,” wrote Mia McCown, an intern from Agnes Scott College who aided in the project. 

When organizing the books, Emory opted not to utilize the glossy paper dust jackets. Instead, to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Elton John’s 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in October, the libraries hosted a collage and zine-making event, where students and faculty explored the covers encompassing styles from Japanese animal photography to portraits of Marilyn Monroe and JFK to historical compilations and Polaroids.

Emory graduate student Laura Varela Mejia stated that helping to catalog the works provided her with a renewed appreciation for Elton John’s status as an endlessly inquisitive collector.

“It is a beautifully diverse collection of photography,” she remarked. “But aside from them being photography books, it’s quite challenging to identify many — let’s refer to them as underlying themes, which is astonishing. You can see an array of different styles, eras, perspectives, and it’s a chance to get lost and explore.”

Connecting art and music

Mejia shared that she and other students, staff, and faculty listened to Elton John songs while cutting shapes from the book covers. Linking the appreciation for art to the man behind the music reminded her of her beloved songs during her upbringing.

“I have always cherished ‘Your Song’, simply because it happens to be my mom’s favorite track by him,” Mejia stated. “But as someone who was also born in the 1990s and grew up watching a lot of Disney films, I have a great affection for The Lion King soundtrack. ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’ is just incredibly sweet. ‘Rocket Man’ is rather enjoyable as well… He has an abundance of genuinely fantastic songs, I must admit.”

Contributing books to Emory University may not be at the pinnacle of Elton John’s philanthropic endeavors in Atlanta. Nevertheless, during a time overloaded with book bans, where access to historical literature is not always readily available to students, the librarians overseeing John’s donation to Emory aspire for it to continue making an impact in Atlanta for future generations.