Amherst College Photographer Records

Official college photographers and their assistants have been employed by the college since at least the early 1960s. College photographers worked primarily at the direction of the Office of Public Affairs although work was also done for individual staff and faculty and for campus units such as the Mead Art Museum and Physical Plant. Individual jobs may also have been contracted out to local photographers, particularly for athletic events and large events such as commencement and reunion.

Images taken by the college photographers were used in campus publications of all sorts including the alumni magazine and admissions and fundraising materials. College photographers also took ID photographs and professional portraits for faculty and staff; took documentary photographs for various campus units and provided copy photography for faculty, Archives researchers, and campus departments.

Prior to the 1960s, it appears that independent photographers in Amherst and the surrounding area were hired to take photographs of college events, buildings and community members as needed. Lincoln Barnes and John L. Lovell both took many photographs of the college in this capacity.