Archive of historic Glasgow images donated to GCU

A priceless photography archive containing iconic Scottish images taken by the celebrated photographer Oscar Marzaroli are being donated by his family to Glasgow Caledonian University at a fundraising event.

Oscar Marzaroli’s photographs documenting the lives of ordinary people in the Gorbals became synonymous with 1960’s Glasgow.

The event, which coincides with the 31st anniversary of Oscar Marzaroli’s death, will see Deacon Blue singer-songwriter Ricky Ross launch a fundraising campaign to enable the entire collection of around 50,000 images to be made freely available online.

A selection of original prints, most of which were developed by Oscar himself, are being offered to the highest bidders in an online auction which opened on Monday and runs until next Thursday, 5th September.

The proceeds will go towards the £200,000 needed to carry out all the work required to preserve, catalogue and digitise the images into a searchable online collection.

Now a special event will see Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross launch a #200,000 fundraising campaign to make up to 50,000 images freely available online.

He said "Oscar's work is part of Scotland's social history.

"I got in touch with Oscar after I became fascinated with his work, and he ended up coming out with us and shooting some photographs for our first Deacon Blue album in different locations.

"I'd told him about the idea of Raintown and he called me one day to say there was a picture he thought suited it.

"It's the one of the sunshine coming through the clouds.

"We loved it and our music from that period has been linked to Oscar ever since.''

Italian-born Oscar moved to Scotland at the age of two.

He captured Scotland and its people at a time of great social change in the 50s, 60s and 70s, when city slums were being cleared to make way for new social housing.

The artist died aged 55 in 1988.

Marie-Claire Marzaroli, one of Oscar's three daughters, said: It was our mother's wish we find the right setting to preserve his legacy and the family are excited by the university's plans to make the photos available online.''

Money from the fundraiser will be used to preserve, catalogue and digitise the various photographic mediums.

There's more about the collection and the appeal on the university's website.

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