Boston Public Library
John B. Sanromá Photograph Collection
Detail from:
Boston Park Department circus event
John B. Sanromá (1900-1997) was born Juan Bautista Sanromá in Puerto Rico before moving to Boston with his family so that his brother, Jesús, could attend the New England Conservatory of Music. John wore many hats: photographer, camera maker, amateur musician, instrument maker, and precision machinist. From 1942 until his retirement in 1969, he worked in the machine shop at the Radiation Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
As a photographer, John worked for many private clients, most notably the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. When his brother became a pianist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), John became the organization's unofficial photographer, beginning a decades-long career as a chronicler of the BSO and Boston's classical music community generally.
Innovative in all his endeavors, Sanromá came up with a signature portrait process that involved taking a series of photographs of his subjects in conversation, capturing their personalities in a series of gestures and poses. Many of these "candid" series were published in the Boston Herald Traveler newspaper as mini filmstrips.
Before retiring to Scottsdale, Arizona, Sanromá and his wife donated over 9000 frames of 35mm photographs and over 7000 photographic prints to the Boston Public Library.
Critical funding to support long-term preservation of and enhanced public access to Boston Public Library collections, including this one, was provided by the Associates of the Boston Public Library.
As a photographer, John worked for many private clients, most notably the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. When his brother became a pianist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), John became the organization's unofficial photographer, beginning a decades-long career as a chronicler of the BSO and Boston's classical music community generally.
Innovative in all his endeavors, Sanromá came up with a signature portrait process that involved taking a series of photographs of his subjects in conversation, capturing their personalities in a series of gestures and poses. Many of these "candid" series were published in the Boston Herald Traveler newspaper as mini filmstrips.
Before retiring to Scottsdale, Arizona, Sanromá and his wife donated over 9000 frames of 35mm photographs and over 7000 photographic prints to the Boston Public Library.
Critical funding to support long-term preservation of and enhanced public access to Boston Public Library collections, including this one, was provided by the Associates of the Boston Public Library.