GPO Photography Department National Photo Collection Government Press Office of Israel

Overview

The Photography Department of Israel's Government Press Office (GPO) manages the National Photo Collection, an official archive of historical photographs and video footage serving as a visual chronicle of the State of Israel. The collection spans the period from before Israel's founding in 1948 to the present and constitutes a primary source of photographic documentation of Israeli public life, government, and history.

History and Founding

The Photography Department was established in 1948 by David Eldan, by order of Moshe Pearlman, Director of the Foreign Press Office, with the purpose of preserving and distributing images of the newly founded state. The department was initially based in Tel Aviv. In 1983, when the Government Press Office relocated to Jerusalem, the collection was transferred to Beit Agron in Jerusalem. On Israel's 50th independence day in 1998, the GPO partnered with the Governmental Internet Committee (Tehila) to upload thousands of scanned photographs to the internet. The National Photo Collection was formally opened for free public use in 2011.

Collections and Holdings

The National Photo Collection comprises over 160,000 archived still photographs and thousands of hours of video footage dating from 1998 onward. Most photographs are in black and white, with modern additions in color. Subjects span Israeli heads of state, official ceremonies, military events, society, the economy, industry, landscapes, and daily life. The collection also includes donated works from photographers who were active before the state's founding, extending its coverage back into the British Mandate period.

Notable Materials for Journalism and Media Research

The GPO photographers serve as the official photographers of the State of Israel. The archive is an essential resource for journalists and media organizations covering Israeli affairs, offering contemporaneous documentary photographs of major events in Israeli history. The collection documents press conferences, state visits, and key political and social milestones from 1948 onward.

Access and Usage

The collection is available online at the GPO's National Photo website. Photographs may be downloaded in low resolution for non-commercial use under Section 27A of Israel's Copyright Law. Commercial use requires a license from the GPO Photography Department.