Photos By Diane Anderson

The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum recently honored Kenny Rogers with the first-ever IPHF Lifetime Achievement Award. The singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, photographer, and author, was in St. Louis to accept the award. The 2017 class of Photography Hall of Fame inductees includes nine photographers or photography industry visionaries who demonstrate the artistry, passion, and revolution of the past and present craft of photography. They are:

Harry Benson, iconic portrait photographer
Ernest H. Brooks II, black-annd white underwater photographer
Edward Curtis, photographer of the American West and the North American Indian
William Eggleston, pioneer of color photography
Anne Geddes, portrait and infant photographer
Ryszard Horowitz, pre-digital special effects photographer
James Nachtwey, photojournalist and war photographer
Cindy Sherman, conceptual portrait photographer
Jerry Uelsmann, photomontage photographer

The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum is featured in Sophisticated Giving

Who We Are: When the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) association created the Photographic Art and Science Foundation, their purpose was to promote the history of art and industry. In 1965, that mission led the Foundation to establish a more permanent way to recognize historic photographers and inventors. The nonprofit International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum was born in 1977, opening as part of the University Museum at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. In 2012, IPHF did a national search for a relocation, and the Grand Center District was chosen to be the best location in the country. IPHF opened its doors in Grand Center in 2013.

What We Do: IPHF’s mission is to educate the public about photographic history, to collect, exhibit and preserve historical items and images, and to honor significant contributors to the evolution of the art and science of photographic imaging. The museum boasts 6,000 square-feet of gallery and exhibition space where we host photographic exhibits and competitions, display our photographic collection of over 30,000 prints and over 5,000 antique cameras, provide workshops in all aspects of historical and contemporary photographic techniques, present guest speakers and panel discussions, and honor photography pioneers in the Hall of Fame.

Why We Are Important: IPHF recognizes the work of pioneers, artists and innovators who have ushered photography into new eras. We are the only organization worldwide with the specific objective to recognize such contributions with a Hall of Fame. IPHF regularly hosts student and youth-oriented community groups, educating about and exposing them to the arts with gallery tours and workshops. We are also the home to the International Photography Collaborative, which connects artists in the U.S. with those abroad.

How We Impact The Community: IPHF is a valuable resource for all who wish to learn more about the history, technology, creativity, and important figures of photography. Art is a cornerstone of tourism, and IPHF has attracted visitors from across the United States and numerous countries abroad, fostering creativity in the hearts and minds of those close to and far away from us, helping to establish Grand Center and St. Louis as a Midwest cultural destination. IPHF serves audiences of all ages with a cultural diversity that heightens understanding through the story of photography. The Kids with Camera’s Program focuses on children ages 11-18 who can’t own a camera, to help them tell their story through photography with workshops, lectures and exhibitions. IPHF collaborates with the Urban League and Boys and Girls Clubs for this project.

How You Can Help: IPHF depends on financial support from memberships, grants, donors, and community and national/international volunteers to continue our mission to educate, collect, preserve, and honor the history, art, and science of photography. Consider joining our dedicated volunteer core as a museum greeter, as an assistant to our curators and archivists, or as an IPHF event photographer. Support IPHF by becoming a member at any one of our membership levels, which range from student to individual, to family and corporate levels of giving. IPHF also hosts a variety of events throughout the year in which we actively look for volunteer and donor support.