Leonard Freed, 77; documented civil rights events

GARRISON, N.Y. -- Leonard Freed, a documentary photographer who covered the US civil rights movement as well as societal issues in Israel, Germany, Cyprus, and other parts of the world, died Nov. 30 from complications of cancer, said his wife, Brigitte. He was 77.

Born in Brooklyn to Eastern European Jewish immigrants, Mr. Freed traveled extensively as a freelance photojournalist, most recently in Brazil last year, his wife said.

He joined Magnum Photos in 1972 and worked on assignment for numerous magazines, including Life, New York Times Magazine, and Der Spiegel.

Mr. Freed produced more than a dozen books, including his landmark "Black in White America" in 1968 on the civil rights movement and "Police Work" in 1980 on policing efforts in New York City.

He produced major essays on Poland, Asian immigration in England, North Sea oil development, the Romanian revolution, Spain since Francisco Franco, gambling in Atlantic City, and the Ku Klux Klan.

He also shot four films for Japanese, Dutch, and Belgian television.

According to Mr. Freed's wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes spread in the forest around his home in Garrison, in the Hudson Valley 50 miles north of New York City.

A memorial is planned on Jan. 21 at the Hamilton Fish Library in Garrison.