Minor White

Minor Martin White (July 9, 1908 – June 24, 1976) was an American photographer, theoretician, critic, and educator.

He had an intense interest in how people viewed and thought about photographs and a personal vision guided by several spiritual and intellectual philosophies.

His grandfather, George Martin, an amateur photographer, gave White his first camera in 1915.

From 1916 to 1922, White's parents went through a series of separations.

During those periods, White and his mother lived with her parents.

His parents reconciled in 1922, remaining together until they finally divorced in 1929.

When White graduated from high school, he was aware of his latent homosexuality.

In 1927, he wrote about his feelings for men in his diary, which his parents read without his permission.

After this, he left home for the summer in what he called a brief crisis period.

In the fall, he returned home and entered the University of Minnesota, majoring in botany.

His parents never spoke of his homosexuality again.

By 1931, when he should have graduated, he did not meet the requirements for a science degree and left school for a year.

During this time, he became very interested in writing and started a life-long personal journal he called "Memorable Fancies."

He journaled poems, intimate thoughts about his life and sexuality struggles, excerpts from letters he wrote others, occasional diary-like entries about daily life, and later, extensive notes about his photography.

In 1932, White re-entered the university, studied botany and writing, and graduated in 1934.

The next semester, he took some graduate botany classes.

After six months, he decided he lacked the interest to become botanist.

He spent the next two years doing odd jobs and exploring his writing skills.

During this time, he created a set of 100 sonnets on the theme of sexual love, his first attempt at grouping his creative output.

From 1937 until his death in 1976, White made thousands of black-and-white and color photographs of landscapes, people, and abstract subject matter.

They showed technical mastery and a strong sense of light and shadow.

He taught many classes, workshops, and retreats on photography, including at schools like the California School of Fine Arts, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his home.

He lived much of his life as a closeted gay man, not expressing his sexuality out of fear of losing his teaching jobs.

Some of his most compelling images are figure studies of men he taught or with whom had relationships.

He helped start the photography magazine Aperture, considered the only periodical produced for, and by, photographers practicing the medium as a fine art.

He served as its editor for many years.

In late 1937, White decided to move to Seattle.

He purchased a 35mm Argus camera and hopped a bus to his intended destination.

After stopping in Portland, Oregon, he decided to stay there.

For the next two and a half years, he lived at the Portland YMCA and explored photography in depth.

He taught his first photography class at the YMCA to a small group of young adults.

He also joined the Oregon Camera Club and learned how photographers discuss their craft and work.

In 1938, White was offered a job as photographer for the Oregon Art Project, funded by the Works Progress Administration.

He continued with the journal until 1970, when most of his energy was directed to teaching.

After his death in 1976, White was hailed as one of America's greatest photographers.

White was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He was the only child of Charles Henry White, a bookkeeper, and Florence May Martin White, a dressmaker.

His first name was the same as his paternal great, great-grandfather.

His middle name was his mother's maiden name.

During his early years, he spent a great deal of his time with his maternal grandparents and enjoyed playing in their large garden, later influencing his decision to study botany in college.