using photos in a book

Hello:

I'd appreciate some advice, should anyone be so inclined to give some.

I'm writing a book about a place called the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock New York. I have been given access to the CMS archives
(actually a loose uncataloged assemblage of photos, press clippings,
press releases, letters, and assorted brochures and administraive documents).

I intend to include many of these photos, most of which exist as contact sheets with no negatives or negatives with no contact sheets. Some have photographers' names on them; many do not.

Need I concern myself with copyright infringement if I am publishing what would seem to amount to found photos? No one seems to be able to identify the photographers.

A second question: Some of the photographs have photographers' names on them, but attempts to locate the photographers have not availed
(many of the photos are twenty years old). Can I simply publish the
photographers' names next to the photos and feel that I've done enough to comply with the law, even though no official permission to publish has been granted?

I'd be grateful for any advice.

Thank you,

Bob Sweet
University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute
Library
bsweet[_at_]umich.edu
(313) 936-1073
Received on Thu Apr 04 1996 - 18:26:53 GMT