Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture records
Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: RITArc-0145
Scope and Contents
The Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture collection contains materials related to the lecture series and its participants. The collection includes correspondence, a list of past recipients up to 1985, and a copy of Roy E. Stryker's speech, presented as the first lecture in the series. Additionally, there are copies of programs for several different years, announcements for the lectures, and clippings on several of the speakers. The collection also includes a short biographical sketch on Frederick W. Brehm for whom the lecture series was named.
Dates
- 1950-1951, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1972-1976, 1985-1990
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to researchers.
Biographical / Historical
The Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture series was started at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in honor of Frederick W. Brehm
(d. 1950), a former professor of photography at the school. Originally from Waterloo, NY, Brehm is best known for his role in developing
the Cirkut Panoramic Camera. Although this camera was invented by William J. Johnston in Wyoming in 1904, the design was perfected and
readied for mass production by Brehm. The camera worked by moving in an arc from left to right and utilized a timed exposure. When he
patented his design on January 17, 1905, Brehm established himself as a leader in the field of photography.
In 1917, Brehm joined the Eastman Kodak Company. At the time, the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (RAMI) was training individuals to work in a variety of fields, but not in photographic production. With the Eastman Kodak Company being one of Rochester’s largest employers, it made sense that a Rochester-based school would help support the company's employment needs. In 1930, Brehm was “leant” to RAMI to serve as one of two faculty members in the Department of Photographic Technology, a program started to educate individuals to work in the field of photographic materials and equipment production. The program was designed to be a two year cooperative study program, with the first year of classes being taught by Brehm and the second year being taught by Carroll B. Neblette.
Brehm continued to teach at RAMI until July 1944. After retiring, he remained at RAMI (now the Rochester Institute of Technology) as an instructor emeritus and field consultant. Because he was seen as a father-like figure by his students, Brehm was often referred to by his pupils as “Pappy Brehm.” He died in Rochester, NY in 1950.
The first Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture was held in 1950. Roy E. Stryker, best known for his work in organizing the documentary section of the Farm Security Administration (FSA), gave a biographical speech on Brehm. In addition to giving a speech, Stryker was honored with the Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Medal. The award and lecture series continued to be offered until at least 1989 with various figures in the field of photography being selected as recipients. In 1956 responsibility for the event was taken over by RIT's chapter of the Delta Lambda Professional Photographic Fraternity.
Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Medal recipients
Mr. Roy E. Stryker
Mr. Ralph M. Evans
Mr. Lloyd E. Varden
Mr. Beaumont Newhall
Dr. J. I. Friedman
Dr. Harold Edgerton
Dr. Edwin Land
Mr. Ansel Adams
Mr. Otto Storch
Dr. Cyril J. Staud
Mr. Gordon Parks
Brig. Gen. George W. Goddard
Mr. Yousuf Karsh
Mr. George Silk
Dr. H. F. Nitka
Dr. W. D. Wright
Mr. Bert Stern
Mr. Larry Burrows
Mr. W. Eugene Smith
Mr. Paul Linwood Gittings
Mr. Irving Penn
Mr. Stan Grossfeld
Mr. Anthony Suau
Mr. Paul Benoit
Mr. Manuel Alvarez Bravo
Mr. Richard W. Underwood
Mrs. Barbara Morgan
In 1917, Brehm joined the Eastman Kodak Company. At the time, the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (RAMI) was training individuals to work in a variety of fields, but not in photographic production. With the Eastman Kodak Company being one of Rochester’s largest employers, it made sense that a Rochester-based school would help support the company's employment needs. In 1930, Brehm was “leant” to RAMI to serve as one of two faculty members in the Department of Photographic Technology, a program started to educate individuals to work in the field of photographic materials and equipment production. The program was designed to be a two year cooperative study program, with the first year of classes being taught by Brehm and the second year being taught by Carroll B. Neblette.
Brehm continued to teach at RAMI until July 1944. After retiring, he remained at RAMI (now the Rochester Institute of Technology) as an instructor emeritus and field consultant. Because he was seen as a father-like figure by his students, Brehm was often referred to by his pupils as “Pappy Brehm.” He died in Rochester, NY in 1950.
The first Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture was held in 1950. Roy E. Stryker, best known for his work in organizing the documentary section of the Farm Security Administration (FSA), gave a biographical speech on Brehm. In addition to giving a speech, Stryker was honored with the Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Medal. The award and lecture series continued to be offered until at least 1989 with various figures in the field of photography being selected as recipients. In 1956 responsibility for the event was taken over by RIT's chapter of the Delta Lambda Professional Photographic Fraternity.
Extent
1 Box(es) (One small blue/gray document box.)
Language
English
Overview
Materials related to the Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture program. The program was established in 1950 in honor of Frederick W. Brehm, a former professor in the Rochester Institute of Technology's department of photography. The collection includes programs, announcements, correspondence, clippings and other records.
Arrangement
The folders are arranged alphabetically with materials in each folder arranged chronologically.
Physical Location
C.S.South, Shelf 313
Other Finding Aids
In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.
Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture records
Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture records
Processing Information
Finding aid created by Lara Nicosia in April 2011.
- Brehm, F. W. (Frederick W.)
- Burrows, Larry
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Delta Lambda Epsilon Professional Photographic Fraternity (Rochester Institute of Technology)
- Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture
- Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Medal
- Gittings, Paul Linwood
- Goddard, George W.
- Karsh, Yousuf
- Lectures and lecturing -- New York (State) -- Rochester
- Morgan, Barbara Brooks
- Photography -- Awards -- New York (State) -- Rochester
- Posters
- Programs (documents)
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Rochester Institute of Technology -- Lecturers
- Rochester Institute of Technology. School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
- Rochester Institute of Technology. School of Photographic Arts and Sciences -- Awards
- Speeches
- Stern, Bert
- Stryker, Roy Emerson
- Underwood, Richard W.
- Title
- Frederick W. Brehm Memorial Lecture collection
- Subtitle
- RIT Archives
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Lara Nicosia
- Date
- 04 April 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the RIT Archive Collections Repository
Contact:
RIT Libraries
Wallace Center
90 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester NY 14623 USA
(585) 475-4613
ritarchive@rit.edu
RIT Libraries
Wallace Center
90 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester NY 14623 USA
(585) 475-4613
ritarchive@rit.edu