Self Portrait
This website has been created to share the photographs of my grandmother, Laelia Goehr, one of the many women photographers who came to the UK in the 1930s as a Jewish refugee from Germany. She took up photography seriously when she started war work in the 1940s and continued until the 1980s.
Many of her photographs have been seen and published, such as her well-known portrait of her mentor, Bill Brandt; others are in the family archive and have not been seen for many years, if ever.
It has been a fascinating journey, piecing together the story of someone who was a refugee not once but twice over, who on arrival in the UK had to start again in a new place with yet another language, and who with determination and hard work became a successful and well published photographer.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the many friends and family who have helped me so much with the website including my father, Alexander Goehr, who has told me many stories about my grandmother. My sisters Lydia and Clare, and the many friends and colleagues who have offered advice, deserve warm thanks. Special thanks to John March for not only being supportive but for contributing his enlightening essay putting Laelia into context with her contemporaries.
Many thanks also to my husband, Richard, for writing the biographical section, editing the text and being such a critical eye.
Julia Crockatt
June 2020
All Laelia Goehr’s photos are copyright
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to identify the copyright holders of the photographs presented in this website. In the event of any errors or omissions please contact me via the contact page.