Gay Talese Archive Acquired by New York Public Library, Celebrating Legendary Career

Gay Talese, a towering figure in journalism whose career spans seven decades, is being honored with the acquisition of his professional and personal archive by the New York Public Library. Talese, renowned for his meticulous and immersive profiles, has crafted a legacy that includes seminal works like his 1969 bestseller, "The Kingdom and the Power," which chronicled the inner workings of The New York Times.

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I've always been a very slow writer.

Talese, who describes himself as a "very slow writer," has consistently sought to illuminate the lives of his subjects. His 1966 Esquire article, "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," remains one of the most celebrated magazine pieces ever written. Despite Sinatra's initial refusal to speak with him, Talese's respectful yet probing approach captured the essence of the iconic singer, demonstrating his unique ability to gain access and insight.

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Most journalists are restless voyeurs who see the warts on the world, the imperfections in people and places. The sane scene that is much of life, the great portion of the planet unmarked by madness, does not lure them like riots and raids, crumbling countries, and sinking ships, bankers banished to Rio and burning Buddhist nuns – gloom is their game, the spectacle their passion, normality their nemesis.

Reflecting on his early career, Talese recalled his first piece for The New York Times, which was about the newspaper itself, specifically focusing on the sign that broadcast headlines. He found his calling not in the headlines themselves, but in the unseen work behind them. "I wanted to be the lamplighter for those people who were in the dark," Talese said. His ambition was to write about individuals, making them so well-known that their lives would warrant an obituary, signifying their impact and recognition.

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I want the reader to have a picture in mind, as I have myself.

Robert Boynton, a professor at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, described Talese as "the most curious person I've ever met," illustrating his insatiable drive to understand people, even in casual encounters. Talese's work, particularly during the "golden age" of magazines like Esquire in the 1960s, set a standard for narrative journalism, influencing generations of writers with his dedication to deep reporting and compelling storytelling.

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There used to be a guy on the fourth floor of that building who would write in a machine that would put the bulbs around the building that made the headlines.