David Diamond was an American composer of classical music and figured among the leading composers of his generation. He studied with Nadia Boulanger, earned three Guggenheim Fellowships, and served on the faculty of the Juilliard School.

The photograph is by the Pach Brothers, German immigrants who opened a studio in New York in 1866 and took thousands of portraits, including some of American presidents. The business remained operational until 1994.