Eliot Elisofon

Eliot Elisofon Chronology 1911 -Born April 17 in New York City 1933 -Graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University 1935-1938 -Co-founds and operates a commercial studio, August & Co., in New York City 1936 -Joins the Photo League 1937-First public exhibition of his photographs First publication of his photographs in LIFE magazine 1937-1942-Freelance photographer for numerous American periodical publications First one-man show, at Marion Willard’s East River Gallery 1938-1942-Teaches photography at the New School for Social Research and the American Artists School 1939-Appointed by Beaumont Newhall as the first staff photographer for the Museum of Modern Art 1940-First visit to Vinalhaven Island, Maine, where he will later build a home Marries Mavis Lyons 1940-1941-Serves as president of the Photo League 1942-1945-Joins U.S. Army as photographer; serves in North African, Scandinavian and Pacific Theaters. Full-time staff photographer for LIFE 1943-Traveling exhibition "Tunisian Triumph" opens at Museum of Modern Art 1946-Divorced from Mavis Elisofon 1947-First full introduction to Africa in a five-month assignment for LIFE 1950-Marries Joan Baker Spear 1952-Birth of daughter, Elin Special Color Consultant for John Huston’s Moulin Rouge 1954-Birth of daughter, Jill 1958-Special Color Consultant and still photographer for Bell, Book and Candle 1959-Receives research grant in Primitive Art at the Peabody Museum at Harvard University 1961-Named Research Associate at Harvard University 1963-1965-Color Consultant for The Greatest Story Ever Told 1964-Leaves the LIFE staff but retains his office and continues to contribute stories and photographs 1965-Divorced from Joan Elisofon 1966-Directs the prologue for Khartoum 1966-1967-Creative Director for ABC-TV series, Africa 1971-1972-Produces, writes and directs Group W/Westinghouse series, Black African Heritage Wills his African art collection and his photographic archive of African images to the Smithsonian Institution. Final weekly issue of LIFE 1973-Dies April 7 in New York City