This is an amazing find.

Vivian Maier - Her Discovered Work

"Some have suggested that I add more information on the story of Vivian's work and such. Here is what I know.

"I acquired Vivian's negatives while at a furniture and antique auction. From what I know, the auction house acquired her belongings from her storage locker that was sold off due to delinquent payments. I didn't know what 'street photography' was when I purchased them.

"It took me days to look through all of her work. It inspired me to pick up photography myself. Little by little, as I progressed as a photographer, I would revisit Vivian's negatives and I would "see" more in her work. I bought her same camera and took to the same streets soon to realize how difficult it was to make images of her caliber. I discovered the eye she had for photography through my own practice. Needless to say, I am attached to her work.

"After some researching, I have only little information about Vivian. I cannot find any relatives or heirs after a diligent search.

"Central Camera (110 yr old camera shop in Chicago) has encountered Vivian from time to time when she would purchase film while out on the Chicago streets. From what they knew of her, they say she was a Jewish Refugee from wartime France who came to the U.S. in the early 1950's (some of her earlier work shows New York where she must have resided for some time). They say she was a very "keep your distance from me" type of person but was also outspoken. She loved foreign films and didn't care much for American films."

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John Maloof is putting these photos online and he also has a flickr discussion on what to do with them:

What do I do with this stuff (other than giving it to you)?