Artist
Eliot Elisofon
(1911 - 1973) American
Biography
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
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