James W. Borcoman

James W. Borcoman D.F.A. LL. D. (January17, 1926 October29, 2019), also known as Jim Borcoman, was the founding curator of photography, National Gallery of Canada from 1971 to 1994, followed by Ann Thomas (1994-2021). He was a pioneer in promoting photography as an art form in Canada, having established the Photographs Collection at the National Gallery in 1967 as the first of its kind in Canada, and developing its growth to over 19,000 objects, resulting in a collection known for the quality of its nineteenth and twentieth century holdings and for its exhibitions and publications. He also promoted contemporary Canadian photographers and was himself a photographer with work in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada.

Career Jim Borcoman was born in Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army (1943-1945), then took an Honours BA, University of New Brunswick (1955). Afterwards, he had a Teaching fellowship at the University of British Columbia (1955-1956) and a Readership in History, University of New Brunswick (1955-1959).

He began working at the National Gallery of Canada in the Education Department (1960-1966). He became Director of Exhibitions and Education (1966-1968), and Director of Education and Audio-Visual Production (1968-1969). A summer workshop in photographic history and criticism at the George Eastman Museum, Rochester (1967) interested him in photography and he went on to take his MFA in the history of photography at the University of Buffalo (1969-1971) with Beaumont Newhall and Nathan Lyons, with two years of research at the George Eastman Museum (his degree was awarded in 1975). and work in the collection of the National Gallery.

James Borcoman died in Ottawa on October 29, 2019. Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa,Concordia University, Montreal (1996); Member of the Order of Canada (2014)