Awards
The International Center of Photography in New York is one of the world’s most prestigious institutions dedicated to photography and visual culture. The Master of Photography Award is its highest award. Yousuf Karsh was the recipient in 1990. He was preceded by fellow colleagues and often friends such as André Kertész, Hiroshi Hamaya, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and Berenice Abbott. He was followed by honorees including Harry Callahan, Lennart Nilsson, Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eve Arnold, Horst P. Horst, Helen Levitt, Roy DeCarava, Arnold Newman, Robert Frank, and Roger Therond.
In 2000, “International Who’s Who” chose Karsh as one of the 100 most influential figures of the twentieth century. He was the only photographer and the only Canadian among the selected distinguished group of men and women. From this group, Karsh had photographed more than half.
The Order of Canada is the nation’s greatest honor. There are three levels of distinction: Member, Officer, and Companion. Companion is the highest honor and it is limited to 165 living individuals. Having already been an Officer, Yousuf Karsh was elevated to Companion of the Order of Canada in 1990.
Canadian citizenship, as a status separate from British nationality, was created by the Canadian Citizenship Act, 1946, which came into effect on January 1st, 1947. Canadians were chosen to represent the country and Yousuf Karsh was given the honor of representing the Province of Ontario. When this group was sworn in on January 3rd, 1947, all Canadians enjoyed citizenship in their own country for the first time.