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Photographic Memories
The tradition of student photography and the sharing of photos has long been supported by developments in technology, but never more so than today.
Early photographic equipment was expensive and cumbersome, exceeding the reach of EHS students who found the equipment surpassed their budgets and the storage capacity of their dormitory cubicles.
This changed at the turn of the 20th century with the development of the Kodak Brownie camera, revolutionary for its price and ease of use and made popular by the slogan, “You push the button, we do the rest.” With its introduction, EHS students entered the photographic age. With the Brownie or a similar model camera in hand, students could document their school experiences in ways unimagined in the past.
In addition to the traditional, official photography of athletic teams, student organizations, and campus views, student photographers began capturing the candid shots that we have come to associate with snapshot photography. The new technology made it easier for students to share their photographs with each other as well. Individuals no longer processed their own film, but rather sent the entire camera to the Eastman factory in New York for processing and printing. A photographer also could request additional prints to share with friends.
In the 1970s, the School supported students’ photographic self-expression by incorporating photography into the multi-medium studio arts class. Today, the Arts Department fully supports the development of photographic skills and techniques with three classes devoted to the art of photography, teaching students both traditional and cutting-edge techniques and processes.
With the advent of digital photography, today’s students share their photos online with the click of a button. Once again, developments in technology revolutionize the ways EHS students document and share their experiences – Episcopal students display their photos on a dedicated page on the School’s website.
William Chamberlayne Bentley, Jr., an Episcopal student from 1918-20, captured the spirit and potential of early student photography with his collection of photographic prints and negatives from his years at EHS. His richly documented photography captured campus scenes, local views, individuals, and military-drill activities in support of World War I. After Bentley’s time at Episcopal, he went on to a distinguished military career.
Episcopal High School is deeply grateful to the Bentley family for their donation of his photograph and negative albums to the Episcopal High School Archives.
