Harvard Releases Evans Tape After Dispute Over Ownership

After lengthy legal discussion, a tape recording of photographer Walker Evans's last public appearance at Cabot Hall. April 8, two days before his death, has been made available by the University.

For a long weekend, while reporters and other interested in Evans's last public address tried to gain access to the tape, the University withheld it until ownership could be established. A question was whether the tape belonged to the University or the Evans estate.

"I wasn't trying to secret the tape away from anyone," said Martin Peretz, master of South House, at whose seminar. "Lives Examined." Evans spoke.

"I asked the University to check the legality of letting the tapes be made public, and held it back until this simple precaution was taken. Now that I hear the University owns it. I certainly am not putting any restrictions on who can hear it."

Pioneering Photographer

Walker Evans was regarded as one of documentary photography's pioneers, his stark portraits expressing his belief that "there's a deep beauty in things as they are."

"I did things so straight and simple people thought they were art," he said of his haunting portraits of rural American life.

Mr. Evans last public statements are available at the Audial Visual Center in Boylston Hall.