MUUS Collection is an American 20th century photography collection that preserves, researches, and reveals work from the archives in its care.
Deborah Turbeville, L'École des Beaux Arts, Paris, France, 1977
Mission
MUUS Collection is an American 20th century photography collection that preserves, researches, and reveals work from the archives in its care.
How we work
MUUS Collection transforms archives by organizing and interpreting them, inviting study, and illuminating our photographers’ work through publication, exhibition, and strategic partnerships.
MUUSEUM
The MUUSEUM is the searchable online portal of the MUUS Collection. An evolving collection of over half a million images and related ephemera.
William Richards, Untitled, 1980
Impact
In 2025, the Fred W. McDarrah Estate was donated to The New York Historical, having completed a transformation of the estate through extensive research, organizing, and exhibition.
Fred W. McDarrah: Pride and Protest at The New York Historical
Sustainability
MUUS Collection is proud to join fellow arts organizations in enlisting with the Gallery Climate Coalition and is taking steps to ensure that our exhibitions and presentations are in line with best environmental practices.
Programming Partnerships
MUUS Collection is proud to partner with a number of other photography organizations on programming. Scroll for a selection of our partners.
Contact sheet of roll 7987-91 (Washington Square Park) New York, New York, 1985
MUUS Collection Research Fellowship
Created in 2026, the MUUS Collection Research Fellowship comprises a $20,000 grant awarded to a curator or academic. The grant will allow the Fellow to spend time in MUUS Collection's archives and use our new MUUSEUM Research Portal to develop an exhibition or publication concept based on works within the collections. The Fellow will also benefit from mentorship sessions with the advisory board.
As a part of the $20,000 grant, MUUS Collection will provide full coverage of travel costs to the archive. The winner will be decided in October and announced at Paris Photo.
The advisory board is composed of leading curators, publishers, and directors: Nathalie Herschdorfer, Director, Photo Elysée; Sarah Meister, Executive Director, Aperture; Paul Roth, Director, Image Centre; Mark Sealy OBE, Executive Director, Autograph ABP; Sophie Wright, Executive Director, MUUS Collection.
Application opens from May 1, 2026 until July 31, 2026. The grant will run from November 2026-November 2027.
Click below to apply.
How we Acquire Collections
We pride ourselves on excellence and focus. As a small team we prioritize our current work but will assess all submissions and will make our best efforts to respond. See our contacts below to get in touch.
Licensing
We make original prints available for display in exhibitions and work with publishing partners to license images. To inquire about image research, the availability of images or to find out more, please contact us below.
Contact
Acquisition Submissions
To submit collections for consideration, please contact:
contact@muuscollection.comLicensing
For licensing requests, please fill out the form below:
Licensing FormPress
For press enquiries, please contact:
press@muuscollection.comMailing Address
The collection is housed in Tenafly, NJ. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 400, Tenafly, NJ 07670
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