Biographical Note
Robert Melvin "Bob" Adelman was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1930, and spent his formative years on Long Island before studying and obtaining multiple degrees in history, law, and philosophy from Rutgers, Harvard, and Columbia, respectively. Under the guidance of Alexey Brodovitch, the art director of Harper's Bazaar magazine, Adelman delved into the world of professional photography. Adelman was drawn to the sit-ins orchestrated by young students across the American South and he volunteered as a photographer for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) during the 1950s and 1960s. This initial involvement marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to civil rights issues and an exploration of the human condition and decades of work as a documentary photographer and photojournalist for many renowned outlets and Magnum Photos.