Deadly Intent: Crime and Punishment Photographs from the Burns Archive

by Stanley B. Burns, Sara Cleary-Burns

The Burns Archive, known for its 1980s studies of derangement of the mind and body and photographic histories of medicine and death, extends that study of crime with Deadly Intent: Crime & Punishment Photographs from the Burns Archive .

The book is divided into four sections: crime scenes, police action, punishment, and executions. It is concentrated between 1890 and 1950, a time when criminals often admitted their crimes and were quickly punished. Until the late 1940s, the period from arrest to execution for a capital offense averaged 33 days. The change in police attitudes and of the punishment prescribed for criminal behavior is documented here in iconic photographs.

Unlike many previous works on the subject, this compilation of crime scenes gives readers a forensic view, offering entire series of images used by detectives and criminologists. Other photographs reveal the evolving standards of the American criminal justice system, from water torture at Sing Sing prison, whipping posts, penitentiary life, and the notorious deadly work camps of the South, to executions: hanging, firing squads, and the electric chair. Only when all the evidence is presented can justice and humanity be properly served. This compilation of images, most published here for the first time, is a valuable new resource for historians and researchers.

Genres: True Crime, Photography, History, Nonfiction, Crime, Death

252 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2008

About the author

Driven by a deep commitment to share his discoveries, Dr. Stanley B. Burns’ name has become synonymous with historic photography. Dr. Burns began collecting medical, historical, and memorial photography in 1975, and founded The Burns Archive in 1977. Since then, he’s authored dozens of award-winning photo-history books, and has curated and exhibited at dozens of major museums and galleries worldwide. A New York City ophthalmologist, Dr. Burns’ keen eye for iconic imagery has helped rewrite inaccuracies in medical history and played a large role in the rediscovery of postmortem photography and nineteenth century mourning practices. An accomplished surgeon, author, historian, curator, collector, professor, publisher, and archivist, Dr. Burns has been referred to as “the Johnny Appleseed of photography” in New York Magazine, as he’s actively shared his encyclopedic knowledge and expertise. His contributions to medical and photography history are recognized by his official appointments at several institutions, including The National Arts Club, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, The American College of Surgeons and especially by New York University: Langone Medical Center where he is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry. Over the past 40 years, he has consulted and contributed to thousands of feature films, documentaries, television productions and publications. He has authored 43 photo-historical texts, over 1000 articles and served as editor of several medical journals. When not collecting, Dr. Burns spends his consulting, lecturing, creating exhibits, and writing books on under-appreciated areas of history and photography. Dr. Burns is the on-set Medical, Historical and Technical Consultant for the HBO-Cinemax series, "The Knick." His 44th book, Stiffs, Skulls & Skeletons: Medical Photography and Symbolism will be released October of 2014.

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Burns archives is well known for its extensive collection of crime related photographs and this book is a collection of some of the best or at least most interesting. Photographs that cover crimes, arrest and execution bound in one coffee table sized book for the serious collector and or student of historic forensic photography.
Powerhouse Books has released this volume to the public.

The book has a grisly cover, a photo of a murdered family. The cover lets you know that this will not be the most comfortable book to read. As a child of a police officer (now retired), I was always interested in forensic photography, to the extent that it was what first motivated me to pick up a camera. The photos within point to why it takes a special breed of person to do the job, something that I decided against doing myself.

Some of the great finds in the book are photos of Bonnie and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillenger. Distressing photos of executions and a man tarred and feathered show the effects of punishment, others are photos of lynchings and the people that carried them out.

This is not a book for the faint of heart, but it is an important look at the things that society wants to forget or ignore. For that reason alone I would encourage the purchase of this book.

[Oriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually one of the most intense and difficult books I've ever worked on. It's a huge book filled with pictures of dead people, primarily people killed in horrendous ways (lots of rape and torture and fire) and people put to death as punishment for crimes perceived or committed (including lynchings, crucifixions, beheadings, etc.).

The publisher warned me that this was not for the faint of heart, and I pretended I could handle it because I really wanted to work with this fabulous press. And actually I could handle it... provided I didn't look at about half of the pictures at all.

Anyway, this is a seriously fucked up book which most boys I know probably want on their coffee table, for shock value if nothing else. In fact, while I was working on it, I did show off spreads to some of my boyfriend's friends, which earned me some good cred.

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We believe Deadly Intent will be enjoyed as much for its detailed text as for its dramatic photographs," Stanley and Sara Burns wrote in the introduction to this book. For me, at least, that was spot-on -- the photographs are lovely, yes, but it's the informative captions that make this book really stand out. This book is not a gore-fest. Oh, it's gory all right, but everything is very tastefully presented and it's clear the authors intend to educate and enlighten the reader, not jut shock them. HIGHLY recommended.

[Themistocles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really nice (well, "nice" is a strange word for the subject matter) book. It's quite big with lots of material and -very important- good explanations.

I just wish the author had kept his sociological remarks for himself - the editor really should have protected him when he submitted those really amateurish attempts at philosophy and justice.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is the family on the cover? I had this book and lost it and I can’t seem to recall

[Anita Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be discussed soon on IROB.

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books! Beautiful collection of pictures with some interesting knowledge. Very well-done.