Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/10/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]For my final act as an undergrad at Temple University I'm putting on a public show of Sal DiMarco's work with the "Philadelphia Evening & Sunday Bulletin" as well as what little of his personal work I will be able to work through. Dr. Ed Trayes, the director of the photography sequence as well as the sponsor for my independent study was a friend of Sal's as well and is looking forward to his work being shown and installed at the school. The date of this exhibit is TBD but tentatively will be held in mid-December. There is a chance that I will host it in late January or early February of next year. I never got the chance to meet Sal but just looking at the Urban Archives collection in the Paley Library at Temple, his work pervades Philadelphia history from the early 70's on. Of course, every LUG member is invited. One aspect of this project is a multimedia record and presentation of what Sal's friends and family wish to say about him and his work. I've learned recently that there are 40 boxes of Sal's personal negatives which are largely uncatalogued and not archived digitally or in print at all. The custodian of the Urban Archives, which holds this personal work said that it was on long-term loan from Sal's brother Joe for use by Temple students. The show is also an aim to get this personal work archived for future use. This is a giant project that I could work on for easily 5 more years but its time has come. Here is my letter to the journalism chair and faculty: Throughout his life, Salvatore "Sal" C. DiMarco Jr. was a Philadelphia photographer. He worked for the "Philadelphia Evening & Sunday Bulletin" from 1967 when he began there until the day it closed in 1982. His tenure at the "Bulletin" saw him move up the ranks from intern all the way to chief photographer. The photographic vision of DiMarco during those 15 years helped to shape the visual record of Philadelphia as we know it. After the "Bulletin" closed in 1982 DiMarco worked full-time as a freelance photojournalist. He contributed to TIME magazine, was a photographer with the Black Star photo agency, was a member of the White House News Photographers Association in addition to several professional journalism organizations. DiMarco died suddenly on June 11, 2004 at the age of 57, leaving behind an immense photographic collection of professional and personal images, many of the Philadelphia area. The photographic record which Temple University holds in the Urban Archives is invaluable and the contribution which DiMarco made during his time at the "Bulletin" cannot be overlooked. I intend to bring light to the work of this Temple alum and very important member of the Philadelphia journalism community through a memorial show of his work with the "Bulletin" and permanently displaying some of his photos with stories throughout the School of Communication and Theater as well as in the Urban Archives themselves. Further, I hope this memorial show and installation will help me in my effort towards getting 40 large boxes of DiMarco's personal negatives archived for future use by Temple students and researchers in the Philadelphia region. Respectfully, Philip Forrest Temple Photojournalism Class of 2012" Again, I will be updating the LUG on the date when this event will be held and where the images will be displayed permanently. I look forward to possibly meeting more of the LUG for this show and prominently bringing Sal's very important photographic work in Philly to the students in the journalism school as well as the whole University. Thanks all, Phil Forrest