Mikhail Gorbachev, 1990 On this day, October 15, in 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his leading role in the peace process which today characterizes important… […]

From our personal archives comes this photograph of Yousuf Karsh receiving his Companion of the Order of Canada in 1990. The Order of Canada is the nation’s greatest honor. There… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 On this day, February 11, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in prison. Karsh photographed Mandela in June of 1990, during Mandela’s formal visit… […]

Dizzy Gillespie, 1990 It is usually a surprise for people when they learn that Yousuf Karsh photographed Dizzy Gillespie. The jazz musician posed in 1990, for Karsh’s American Legends project…. […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 On this day, February 11, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in prison. Karsh photographed Mandela in June of 1990, during Mandela’s formal visit… […]

“Descendant of tribal royalty, prisoner, president, Nobel laureate – Nelson Mandela was all these, yet he was a dignified and humble man. His struggle against apartheid inspired hope; his victory… […]

Margaret Thatcher, 1974 On this day, November 22, in 1990, Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation. The first woman prime minister in British history was elected in 1979 and was the… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 On this day, February 11, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years in confinement. Karsh photographed Mandela in June of that year. Canadian… […]

Aaron Copland, 1956 American composer and conductor Aaron Copland died on this day, December 2, in 1990. Copland was photographed by Karsh in 1956, a particularly interesting and prolific year… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 Celebrating the release of Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison on February 11, 1990, we added this portrait of the great man, laughing at a joke… […]

Lech Walesa, 1989 On December 9, 1990, Lech Walesa won the Polish presidential election, defeating Prime Minister Mazowiecki and other candidates to become Poland’s first freely elected head of state… […]

Julie Harris, 1991 In 1992, Yousuf Karsh published American Legends, (Little, Brown and Company), a book of portraits made in 1990 and 1991. “Yousuf Karsh captures the essence of nearly… […]

Cornell Capa, 1990 Karsh photographed a handful of his fellow photographers. Robert Capa was photographed in 1990 for Karsh’s “American Legends” series; he had previously been photographed in 1981. Like… […]

Mary Martin, 1960 American actress and singer Mary Martin died on this day, November 3, in 1990 (b. 1913). She was photographed by Karsh in 1960, the year in which… […]

James Watson, 1990 On February 28, 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announced that they had determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing… […]

Kenojuak Ashevak, 1976 (Order of Canada 1982) The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is the second highest honor for merit in the system of… […]

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1990 Thirty years ago on this day, June 12, 1987, US President Ronald Reagan challenged Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down” the Berlin Wall. Gorbachev was photographed… […]

Jim Henson, 1990 The educational children’s television program Sesame Street debuted on this day, November 10, in 1969, and featured Jim Henson’s Muppets. Sesame Street would go on to win… […]

Yousuf Karsh being awarded Companion of the Order of Canada, 1990 On this day, December 22, in 1967, Yousuf Karsh was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada. The Order… […]

Justice William Brennan, 1963 45 years ago today, January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court made its decision that a right to privacy extended to a woman’s decision to… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 On this day, May 10, in 1994, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was sworn in as the first black president of South Africa. Mandela visited Canada three times, and… […]

Tom Wolfe, 1990 American author, journalist, and “unabashed contrarian” Tom Wolfe has died, aged 88. “Wolfe adopted wearing a white suit as a trademark in 1962. He bought his first… […]

Dr. Hans Selye, 1973 Dr. Hans Selye was a pioneering Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist known for demonstrating the existence of biological stress and indeed coining the term “stress”. Hungarian journalist Zsuzsanna Balázs… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 On this day, July 18, in 1918, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born. The anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader was photographed by Karsh in June, 1990, just four… […]

Philip Glass, 1990 Philip Glass was born on this day, January 31, in 1937. He has written numerous operas and musical theatre works, twelve symphonies, eleven concertos, eight string quartets… […]

Margaret Thatcher, 1974 Britain’s first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, died on this day, April 8, in 2013. She served from 1979 to 1990, making her the longest-serving British prime… […]

Benazir Bhutto, 1989 Benazir Bhutto was born on this day, June 21, in 1953. She served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to… […]

Milton Glaser, 1990 American graphic designer Milton Glaser was born on this day, June 26, in 1929. He is most well known for the logo “I Love New York”: I… […]

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1990 In an interview with the BBC earlier this month, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned that current tension between Russia and the West is putting the world… […]

Henry Kissinger, 1972 This portrait of Henry Kissinger illustrates a book review in The New Yorker‘s May 18, 2020, issue. “Barry Gewen’s new book, The Inevitability of Tragedy (Norton), belongs… […]

Arnold Palmer, 1991 American golf champion Arnold “The King” Palmer was born on this day, September 10, in 1929. Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player were “The Big Three” in… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 On October 16, in 1993, Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were jointly named Nobel Peace Prize winners. De Klerk served as State President of South Africa… […]

Arthur Miller, 1990 Newly added to our database is this color portrait of Arthur Miller. Karsh photographed Miller and a whole host of other people across 1990 and 1991 for… […]

Viscount Alexander, 1946 Canada’s Storytellers: the Governor General’s Literary Award Laureates is out now from University of Ottawa Press. Editor Andrew Irvine included several Karsh portraits, both of Governors General… […]

Margaret Thatcher, 1976 Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first female prime minister on this day, May 4, in 1979. She was in office from 1979 to 1990, making her the longest-serving… […]

Ralph Nader, 1990 Another image freshly added to the website, American political activist and attorney Ralph Nader. Nader was also photographed for American Legends, in 1990…. […]

Billie Jean King, 1991 This portrait of the American former World No. 1 professional tennis player Billie Jean King is newly added to the database in honor of this year’s… […]

Angela Lansbury, 1946 The American crime drama “Murder, She Wrote” debuted on this day in 1984. In the role of the main character, Jessica Fletcher, Angela Lansbury was nominated for… […]

Yousuf Karsh with Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog, 1990 The beloved children’s television program Sesame Street debuted on this day, November 10, in 1969, and featured Jim Henson’s Muppets…. […]

Bob Cousy, 1990 Bob Cousy, born in 1928, is a beloved American former professional basketball player who was a point guard with the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963, and… […]

Judith Jamison, 1990 Judith Jamison is an American dancer and choreographer (b. 1943). She was photographed by Karsh in 1990, when she was the director of the Alvin Ailey American… […]

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1990 Mikhail Gorbachev was born on this day, March 2, in 1931. Repost from 2019: In an interview with the BBC earlier this month, former Soviet leader Mikhail… […]

Bobby Short, 1990 American cabaret singer and pianist Bobby Short died March 21, in 2005 (b. 1924). He was photographed in 1990 for Karsh’s “American Legends” project, and Karsh noted… […]

Jack Bush, 1974 John “Jack” Bush (1909-1977) was a Canadian abstract painter. A member of “Painters Eleven,” a group of Canadian abstract artists, his paintings are associated with the Color… […]

Mary Martin, 1960 Some glamor to get us through Hump Day. Mary Martin (1913-1990) was an American actress and singer. A muse of Rodgers and Hammerstein, she originated many leading… […]

Benazir Bhutto, 1989 Benazir Bhutto was born on this day, June 21, in 1953. She served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 On this day, July 18, in 1918, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born. The anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader was photographed by Karsh in June, 1990, just four… […]

…States, and the 6th United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He was born on this day, August 8, in 1908 (d. 1990). In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed… […]

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1990 Russian and former Soviet politician Mikhail Gorbachev has died. The eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, he was the General Secretary of the Communist Party… […]

Yousuf Karsh with Kermit and Jim Henson, 1990 A little late to this news, but HBO has a documentary out called Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, about… […]

Nelson Mandela, 1990 The South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 died on this day, December 5, in 2013. Mandela… […]

Kurt Vonnegut, 1990 Kurt Vonnegut died on April 11, in 2007 (b. 1922). He was an American writer and humorist known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. Vonnegut was… […]

Billie Jean King, 1991 One of the greatest tennis players of all time, Billie Jean King was photographed on this day, April 28, in 1991. King turned professional in 1959… […]

Marilyn Horne, 1991 Marilyn Horne is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer born in 1934. She is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, and has… […]

Walter Annenberg, 1965 Walter Annenberg (1908-2002) was an American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and diplomat. Karsh’s sitting record notes him as “Publisher, The Philadelphia Enquirer” – Annenberg owned and operated Triangle… […]

George Stavropoulos, 1987 George Stavropoulos (1920–1990) was a New York fashion designer best known for his draped silk chiffon dresses and evening gowns that seemed to float in air. He… […]

Ralph Nader, 1990 Ralph Nader is an American presidential candidate, political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes. Nader has… […]

Henry Kissinger, 1990 American politician, diplomat, political scientist, and geopolitical consultant Henry Kissinger has died. Kissinger was photographed by Karsh in 1972 and 1990. See more portraits from their sitting…. […]

Benazir Bhutto, 1989 On this day in 1988, Benazir Bhutto was named Prime Minister of Pakistan; she served in the role from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to… […]

Cornell Capa, 1990 In 2024, New York City’s International Center of Photography celebrates its 50th anniversary! Cornell Capa founded ICP in 1974 to champion “concerned photography” -images that have the… […]

Marilyn Horne, 1991 Marilyn Horne is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer born on this day, January 16, in 1934. She is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, the… […]

Walter Annenberg, 1965 Walter Annenberg was an American businessman, investor, prominent philanthropist, and diplomat.* Karsh’s sitting record notes him as “Publisher, The Philadelphia Enquirer”: Annenberg owned and operated Triangle Publications,… […]