"Young Jackie On The South Fork" Photography Exhibit Debuts

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Before she was Jackie O, or the First Lady, or a fashion icon for scores of women worldwide, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born on July 28, 1929, in Southampton.

And now, a new exhibit presented by the East Hampton Historical Society, "Young Jackie on the South Fork," as captured through the lens of famed society photographer Bert Morgan, will debut with an opening reception on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Clinton Academy Museum, located at 151 Main Street in East Hampton.

The exhibition will run from Saturday through October 8, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

Curated and presented by the East Hampton Historical Society, "this collection of timeless images of young Jackie Bouvier are reminiscent of a bygone era, synonymous with the romantically rich history of the Hamptons," a release said.

From the time she was five years old, encouraged by Janet Lee Bouvier, Jackie’s socialite mother, Morgan would seek out young Jackie when she participated in East End events — horse shows, dog shows, and fashion benefits, photographing her as she grew from a child into a young adult, the release said.

"What makes this selection of rare images so striking is the way we feel the trust building between Jackie and Bert. From the first photograph of Jackie and her dog, we can see our future First Lady's path into fame. This is an intimate, and at times haunting, celebration of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis before the international limelight, the release added.

“It is a privilege to get to work with such an important icon in our society, for women, for leaders – in society, politics, fashion, and American culture. It was wonderful to see her as a child, to recognize this look in her eyes, the way she carried herself, not knowing what she would grow up to be, and seeing how it evolved”, said Jill Malusky, Executive Director of the East Hampton Historical Society.

Morgan was a high society photographer, covering the “social set” from the 1930s to the 198’s as they gathered in New York, Palm Beach, East Hampton, Southampton, Newport, and Saratoga, it was said that he agreed to never publish an unflattering photograph, which is why the rich and famous let him into their social functions, private clubs, and homes, the EHHS said.

Morgan left behind an extensive collection of over 500,000 negatives taken throughout his career by himself and his son, Richard Morgan. The collection was purchased from Morgan’s estate in 2009 by Shelter Island-based film and photo archivist Patrick Montgomery, the release said.

Working through Getty Images, Montgomery has made them available for use in magazines, books, and films. He has also combed through the archive, identified images which would be better served in their home communities, and donated these negatives to local historical societies and museums, including the East Hampton Historical Society, the EHHS said.

“Bert Morgan has many photographs of Jackie available, and some images had several options. We were able to really decide which look, which expression, which movement was telling a story we wanted to share”, said Malusky. “In learning more about ‘young’ Jackie, it was said by teachers that she was spirited and mischievous, and you can see that look captured in a few images. I’d like to think that this roguish spirit has a strength to it, and over time, she cultivated it into the grace and reserve that we see in her later images – that sort of self-preservation takes real power."

Admission to the exhibit is free but donations are appreciated.

Photos courtesy of the East Hampton Historical Society.