Harvard University News Office photographs : portraits by Bill Tobey and subjects by other photographers, 1954-1985
Overview
Mostly enlargements of portrait photographs from the late 1950s and early 1960s taken by Harvard University News Office staff photographer Bill Tobey.
Dates
- Creation: 1954-1985
Creator
- Harvard University. News Office (Organization)
Researcher Access
The photographs are open for research use. Researchers will be expected to follow Harvard University Archives handling instructions.
Extent
0.5 cubic feet (46 folders)129 photographs
The collection includes 80 black-and-white portrait photographs of notable Harvard University faculty, administrators, visitors, and students taken by News Office photographer Bill Tobey, mostly in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many of the prints are enlargements mounted on cardboard that presumably were used for exhibition or public display. Also included are 49 black-and-white photographs by other photographers showing campus views, students, and events at Harvard from the 1950s to the 1980s. Most prints lack identifying information and some are marked for publication. Photographer stamps or credits are on the versos of some photographs.
Historical note
The Harvard University News Office was established in 1919. The first photographer was hired in 1943. During the early 1970s, the News Office was placed administratively under the Office of the Vice President for Government, Community, and Public Affairs. In 1994-1995, the name of the office was changed to Harvard University Office of News and Public Affairs and later was renamed Public Affairs and Communications.
Born in Waterville, Maine, William (Bill) H. Tobey (1923-2000) was a decorated World War II veteran who also served in the Korean War. After working at the Waterville Morning Sentinel and Colby College, Tobey joined the staff of the Harvard University News Office as a photographer in 1956. He became photograph editor in 1963 and also worked as News Office liaison for visiting photographers, media crews, and film companies until his retirement in 1986.
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged chiefly in alphabetical order by personal name, with buildings, student life, and events at the end. Photographs in each folder are arranged by size.
Acquisition Information
The photographs in this collection are Harvard University records and were acquired in the course of University business.
Online access
Some of these photographs have been digitzed and are accessible online. Links accompany photograph descriptions.
General note
This document last updated 2021 September 15.
Processing Information
This inventory was created in January 2014 by Robert Burton.
Titles were provided by the archivists unless otherwise noted.
Although the portrait photographs by Bill Tobey lack photographer credits, attribution is based on identification of his handwriting on the versos.
Creator
- Harvard University. News Office (Organization)
- Title
- Harvard University. News Office. Harvard University News Office photographs : portraits by Bill Tobey and subjects by other photographers, 1954-1985 : an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua27014
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
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