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Kosti Ruohomaa’s talent as a documentarian was grounded partly in his flexibility—he brought a unique perspective to built and natural landscapes, interiors, and events. Shining throughout all his work, however, is his gift as a portraitist. His connections through the publishing world and other local creatives he befriended gave him opportunities to work with some notable subjects. Thanks to his affinity for ordinary people, he also met and photographed his share of diamonds in the rough. In June, we’re publishing three smaller groups of photos which cover this gamut.
In December of 1949, Kosti met up with an unnamed antique dealer (he might be the Ripley whose name was given to the Rockland antique shop depicted in the photos) as he made his rounds to locals with old goods to sell. He’s a true Maine businessman—pinstripe pants, shirt and tie paired with hunter’s plaid wool outerwear.
Jacob Potofsky is not a household name in the 21st century, but this Russian immigrant lived an American dream. He worked his way into the garment industry as a seamster in a pants factory at age 14; decades later, he became president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America for Chicago. Kosti took only a few photos of this pro-labor diplomat and career trade unionist in 1944.
In February 1945, Ruohomaa visited another principled icon of his day, the journalist Drew Pearson. A book he wrote early in his career cut against the ideological grain of his employer, the Baltimore Sun; he was fired, then wound up carving out a career in radio, as a columnist for the Washington Post, and also as a minor actor in Hollywood films. Pearson presented himself as a crusader against bad faith politics, even provoking President Roosevelt’s accusation that he was a “chronic liar”.
To view the new content, visit the museum’s Kosti Ruohomaa site.
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