Rhode Island School of Design. Photography Department records (08.01)

Historical note

RISD offered a Photographic Design Workshop within the Painting Department, 1951-1957, primarily as an exploration of photography as a graphic medium in order to stimulate and train the eye. RISD moved photography to Graphic Design in 1957 and Dean of the College David L. Strout hired Harry Callahan in 1961 to teach the elective. Callahan developed an undergraduate photography curriculum that was offered as an area of special study to Graphic Design students, 1963-1970, after their sophomore year. Callahan created a photography curriculum for the Division of Fine Arts graduate program in 1962. RISD officially recognized the Photography Department in October 1969 for the 1970-71 academic year. Part of the Division of Design, 1971-1981, the Department moved to the new Division of Illustration and Photographic Studies in 1981 and then the Division of Fine Arts in 1992.