Illinois College of Photography

The Illinois College of Photography and Bissell College of Photo Engraving was founded in the late 19th century and was located initially on the Austin College campus in Effingham County, Illinois. It later moved to its separate studio and buildings in 1900 at 910-945 Wabash Ave in Effingham. At one time the school had several hundred students from the U.S., Canada and 52 countries.

It was founded by L.H. Bissell and welcomed students from ca. 1900 to 1932, when it closed due to poor enrollment during the Great Depression.

Graduates were expected to "go out fully equipped and the fact that they are alumni of the Illinois College of Photography is a guarantee that they are artists in their lines. A diploma from this institution assures them the most remunerative positions in the best studios in the country."

Personnel 1905-1906

LEWIS H. BISSELL, PRESIDENT
HON. WM. B. WRIGHT, VICE-PRESIDENT
Grand Master Mason of Illinois
JOHN A. RINEHART, SECRETARY
HON. BENSON WOOD, TREASURER
President Effingham State Bank
Commander Illinois G. A. R.
THEODORE F. MOCK, SUPERINTENDENT
GEORGE ROSCOE GRUBB
Instructor in Half-tone Operating
A. V. LESLIE
Instructor in Three-Color Work, Etching and Re-etching
FELIX RAYMER
Demonstrator in Department of Lighting, Posing, Composition and Flashlight
CHARLES W. FISHER
Finisher and Proofer
0. E. REYNOLDS, B. S., A. M.
Instructor in Latest Approved Methods of Chemistry, Optics and Laboratory Work
RUBY W. BISSELL
Department of Retouching and Etching
F. A. STRICKLAND
Instructor in Department of Retouching and Etching
DAVID J. COOK
Instructor in Negative Making, Process and Laboratory Work
THEODORE HOWE
Instructor in Department of Carbon and Platinotype
LEON S. DUDLEY
Instructor in Department of Printing and Finishing

Notable Graduates

* Robert Bagby

* Arthur Serviss Dudley, graduated 1903

* Avery Edwin Field, graduated 1906

* Fred Hultstrand (1888-1968), graduate 1911

* Amando Céspedes Marin (1881-1976), graduated 1900

* Edward Weston (1886-1958), attended 1908-11

* Ellery Vladimir Wilcox (1882-1960)

* Tomar J. Hileman (1882-1945), Glacier National Park photographer

External references

* Citation
last=Banbury
first=Larry Francis
title=The Sesquicentennial of Effingham Co., 1831-1981
publisher=Banbury Publishing Company
place=Illinois
year=1982
url = .

* Citation
last=
first=
title=The Illinois College of Photography Bulletin, 1905
publisher=
place=Illinois
year=1905
url = http://ia341207.us.archive.org/0/items/illinoiscollegeo00illi/illinoiscollegeo00illi.pdf .

* Citation
last=
first=
title= Avery Edwin Field Panoramic Photographs
publisher=
place= Riverside, CA
year=
url = http://www.riversideca.gov/Library/history_aids_averyfield.asp .

* Citation
last=
first=
title= TI4NRH: Estación pionera Costarricense
publisher=
place=
year=
url = http://www.qsl.net/ti0rc/historia.htm .