Study for "The Radio Gull"

1960

Progress Medal of the Royal Photographic Society

He is awarded the Progress Medal of the Royal Photographic Society.

28 March – 30 May 1961

The retrospective “Steichen the Photographer”

Steichen’s only solo show during his years at the museum, the retrospective Steichen the Photographer, takes place only after he has announced his retirement; it is organised by Grace M. Mayer.

1 July 1962

His successor: John Szarkowski

He hires John Szarkowski as his successor as director of photography (other accounts have Steichen leaving as early as 1961); Szarkowski promotes Grace M. Mayer to Curator. The culmination of his tenure is The Family of Man (1955): more than 500 photographs of life, love and death in 68 countries, with a prologue to the catalogue by Steichen’s brother-in-law Carl Sandburg; nine million people saw it, still a record for a photography exhibition, and at Steichen’s wish it was donated to Luxembourg, his country of birth.