Yousuf Karsh

Born: December 23, 1908
Died: July 13, 2002
Place of Birth: Madin, Armenian Turkey

• As a youth, Yousuf Karsh witnessed the Turkish government's genocide of Armenians.

• Because of the turmoil in their homeland, Karsh's family fled to Syria when he was 14.

• In 1924, he arrived in Sherbrooke, Quebec, to live and work with his photographer uncle.

• His uncle saw Karsh's potential and arranged for Karsh to undertake a photography apprenticeship with John Garo of Boston.

• Garo trained his apprentice in making effective use of lighting with portraits.

• By 1932, he had moved to Ottawa and was making his presence known as a superior photographer.

• He held his first one-man exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada in 1959.

• With the help of then prime minister Mackenzie King, Karsh was introduced to historical political figures.

• Some of his portraits featured Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Grace Kelly, and John Kennedy.

• Karsh also authored several books featuring his photographs as a personal memorial to his work.

• In 1987, he sold his negatives, transparencies, and 50,000 original prints to the National Archives of Canada.

Last Updated: June 13, 2006
© Canada-Heros/Don Jones 2003