PHOTOGRAPHS, 1928-2000

Summary: Photographs, numbering in excess of two thousand items, depicting Byrne engaged in work related activities, functions typical to public figures (such as dinners), and recreational activities. Included in the series are various photographic formats, primarily 8 x 10 and 5 x 7 black and white prints, 3.5 x 5, 4 x 5 and 4 x 6 color prints, as well as variously sized Polaroid prints. Included among the prints are limited numbers of contact sheets, color and black and white negatives, and 35mm color slides.

The sub-series in this series should not be considered entirely mutually exclusive, as some of the sub-series span only a specific time period, while others span events over Byrne's entire life.

Portraits (divided into two categories; "Byrne" and "Others"): Studio portraits and non-studio stills of Byrne alone and in groups of both colleagues and celebrities.

Collegial groups prominently represented include Essex County Grand Juries, Essex and Passaic County Prosecutors' Offices, Harvard Law School Class of 1950, and the Governor's staff. Prominent political figures represented include U.S. Senators Bill Bradley, Clifford Case and Edward M. Kennedy, New Jersey governors Robert B. Meyner, Richard J. Hughes, William T. Cahill, Thomas H. Kean and James J. Florio, as well as Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and Vice President Walter F. Mondale. Celebrities depicted include Ethel Kennedy, Tommy Lasorda and Princess Grace of Monaco. Several portraits featuring Jimmy Carter, Walter F. Mondale and Tommy Lasorda are inscribed to Byrne.

Among the portraits are several that do not feature Byrne, including portraits of Francis Byrne, Chris Evert, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Carter, Richard J. Hughes and Robert B. Meyner. Also among the portraits are several photographs that have been inscribed to Byrne, namely from Jimmy Carter and Walter F. Mondale.

One item, housed with the oversize military portraits, features a photograph of a B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-24 Liberator, along with an accompanying newspaper article. A copy of the article, "Aircraft exhibit recalls WWII" has been housed in PRESS CLIPPINGS in the undated files.

Prosecutorial Functions (General): Candid photographs and publicity stills depicting Byrne engaged in typical activities related to his role as Essex County prosecutor. Subjects represented include Byrne's crackdowns on illegal lotteries, pornography and drunk driving.

Public Utility Functions (General): Publicity stills depicting Byrne in his role as President of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners. Subjects represented include high speed phone lines and site visits.

Luncheons, Dinners and Award Ceremonies: Candid photographs and publicity stills depicting various luncheons, dinners and award ceremonies attended by Byrne. Events prominently represented are those relating to St. Patrick's Day. Political figures featured in the sub-series include Newark Mayor Hugh Addonizio, Governors William T. Cahill, James J. Florio, Richard J. Hughes and Robert B. Meyner, Justice William Wachenfeld and President Bill Clinton. Celebrities featured include Milton Berle, Luciano Pavarotti, and Mary Tyler Moore.

Conferences, Seminars and Conventions: Images depicting Byrne's participation in conferences and professional association meetings. Prominent meetings depicted include those of the National District Attorneys' Association and the National Governors' Association, as well as several Democratic National Conventions. Featured political figures include J. Edgar Hoover and Governor Richard J. Hughes.

Campaign Events and Images divided into two categories; "Byrne" and "Others"): Photographic stills of Byrne at campaign stops and delivering stump speeches, as well as images of campaign billboards from both the 1973 and 1977 elections. Featured political figures include Gubernatorial hopeful Raymond Bateman and the Honorable Andrew Young. Celebrities depicted include Jim Bouton.Included in the sub-series are images of Byrne attending other politicians' campaign events, featuring Senator Bill Bradley and President Jimmy Carter.

Inaugurations and Oaths of Office (divided into two categories; "Byrne" and "Others"): Images of Byrne's oaths of office as prosecutor and judge, as well as of both gubernatorial inaugurations. Included in the sub-series are the gubernatorial inaugurations of Robert B. Meyner and Richard J. Hughes, oaths of office of various individuals including Francis Byrne, and an oath of office administered by Byrne while a judge.

One oversize item features a photograph of the Vice-President's airplane attached to a map plotting the course taken to the inaugural/installation of Pope John Paul II in 1978.

Gubernatorial Functions (General): Candid photographs and publicity stills depicting Byrne in various activities relating to his role as governor, including speeches and addresses before the state assembly, dedications, site visits to companies and construction sites, appearances with visiting politicians and dignitaries, and attendance at White House events.

Prominent politicians featured in the sub-series include Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, Vice President Walter F. Mondale, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Governors Richard J. Hughes and Thomas H. Kean, Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II of England and the King of Sweden. Celebrities include Sophia Loren, WOR Radio Host John Gambling, Pele, and Pope John Paul II.

Wire Service Images: Captioned publicity stills from the Associated Press and United Press International depicting Byrne in various activities relating to his role as governor, including speeches, addresses before the assembly, dedications, bill signings and site visits.

Prominently featured in the sub-series are state level political figures including Assembly Speaker Chris Jackman, Assemblymen Richard Van Wagner, Steven Perskie and Albert Burstein, Assemblywoman Betty Wilson, and Senators Joseph Merlino, Frank Dodd and John Russo. Featured Byrne cabinet and administration members include Environmental Protection Commissioner David Bardin, Agriculture Secretary Phillip Alampi, Transit Commissioners Louis Gambaccini and Alan Sagner, Attorney General John Degnan, Treasurer Richard C. Leone, adviser and Environmental Protection Commissioner Jerry English and Sports & Exposition Authority Director Robert Mulcahy III. National political figures and celebrities include Vice President Walter F. Mondale, Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty, Princess Grace of Monaco and Muhammad Ali.

Post Gubernatorial Functions (General): Images depicting Byrne at various functions following his retirement from politics. Among the events depicted are speaking engagements, receptions, the unveiling of Byrne's statehouse portrait and a ribbon cutting at the United States Supreme Court.

Included among the images of Byrne are images of several events not featuring Byrne, presumably because Byrne was the photographer.

Among those featured in this sub-series are Governors James J. Florio, Thomas H. Kean, William T. Cahill, Richard J. Hughes and Robert B. Meyner, former President Gerald Ford and Supreme Court Chief Justices Warren Burger and William Rehnquist.

Recreational and Charity Events: Images depicting Byrne participating in and hosting charity events and recreational activities, both athletic and non-athletic. The events are of several types, including recreational and charity golf events, recreational and charity tennis events, charity balls, school reunions, and other recreational activities such as canoe trips, pick-up basketball games and attendance at professional sporting events.

Featured political figures include President Jimmy Carter, Governors Robert B. Meyner and Thomas H. Kean and Senator Bill Bradley. Featured celebrities include Princess Grace of Monaco, Ethel Kennedy, Andy Williams, Althea Gibson, Arnold Palmer, Frank Gifford, George Plimpton, Pat Boone, Sugar Ray Leonard and Bob Hope.

Family Images and Events: Images, mostly candid, depicting representative events in Byrne family life. Depicted events include family dinners and barbeques, as well as holiday celebrations, such as Christmas.