Club History
The London Camera Club was founded by six or eight photo enthusiasts in 1934. Our club was incorporated as a non-profit organization on November 3, 1961.
The London Camera Club held its first International Salon of Photography in 1936 in conjunction with its second annual exhibit at the Western Fair. This International Salon continued until 1952. (No further record of this Salon can be found.) Each Salon was held at the Elsie Perrin Williams Library and Museum. This International Salon became one of the outstanding International Salons in comparison with the best Salons in the U.S.A. (London Free Press, August 24, 1942)
The first Western Ontario Slide Salon was sponsored by the London Camera Club in 1945 in conjunction with the annual International Salon of Photography. (London Free Press, August 24 1945) By 1945 this Salon had grown in importance until it ranked with the 10 leading International Salons. (London Free Press, November 1, 1945)
The London Camera Club was one of the founding clubs of the Western Ontario Federation of Camera Clubs (WOFCC) in 1956. Bill Armes was the first president. The WOFCC letterhead was produced by Ray Manto of London in 1956.
Our Club has hosted Rally Day, the first in 1956 and the first WOFCC Salon in 1962. The London Camera Club has held two The first, in 1978, featured John and Joan Powell. The second, Photo Experience 1987 featured four different photographers including Claus Anderson of London and Peter Van Rhijn of Mississauga. Early officers and representatives from the London Camera Club include: Elsie Jefferies, Fred Dempsey, Bill Armes, C. Lockhart, G. Pittman, K. Boudreau, William Franks, Mary Abbot and W.D. Sutton.
Our Club hosted Rally Day in the spring of 1995 and hosted the 40th WOFCC Salon in the spring of 1996.
The London Camera Club joined the then newly formed Association of Photographic Art (APA) in November 1968. The first copy of Photo Flash was received in January 1969. APA was renamed the National Association for Photographic Art (NAPA) in 1971.
In 1997 NAPA joined CPAC (Colour Photographic Association of Canada) and was renamed CAPA (Canadian Association for Photographic Art). Our Club has participated in NAPA/CAPA competitions for many years .In 1988 the London Camera Club was chosen by the executives of CAPA to host Camera Canada College 90 (CCC 90). This is a National Conference sponsored by CAPA and hosted by a member club. Because of our long association with the London Public Library, The second National Print Exhibition in association with CCC9O was held at the London Art Gallery and Historical Museum. The accepted prints were exhibited at the Museum from July 1, 1990 to August 12, 1990.
In 1988 our club was reorganized into Advanced, Intermediate and Novice divisions. A revised constitution was approved by the membership in the same year. This constitution has since been revised again.
In November 1992, our club hosted a one day Seminar presented by Visual Perspectives, a group of photographers from the Toronto area. This Seminar was held at the new theatre at Huron College.
In November of 1994, The London Camera Club presented a one day seminar given by Freeman Patterson, an Internationally acclaimed Canadian Photographer.
On November 20th , 1999, The London Camera Club held a one day seminar with Richard Martin, "The Intuitive Eye". It was held at the University of Western Ontario in the McKellar Room, UCC Building.Canada2.gif updated June 15th, 2003
Compiled by Rosemarie Culver
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Glen Cunroe, London Room Librarian for his valuable help researching the history of our club; Mac. Brown, club member and past president in 1951, who provided articles and catalogues on International; Salon. Norma Kennedy, Executive Secretary/Treasurer, WOFCC, for her complete outline of our participation in this organization.