G. G. Granger Photography
GERALD G. GRANGER
BIOGRAPHY
Career Highlights
Gerald began his photographic career as a hobby in the early 1930’s and in the years that followed, rose to international fame, placing fifth among exhibition photographers of the world during the 1943-44 salon season.
In 1945 he accepted an invitation to give a one-man show of 50 of his pictorial prints at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., fulfilling one of the ambitions of his career. He was an associate of both the Photographic Society of America and the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and an honorary officer of the Lansing Camera Club.
He exhibited his pictures in hundreds of salons throughout the United States and in most foreign countries, where he received acclaim and honors for his work. From 1937 – 1941, he exhibited 412 prints in 185 salons in 23 countries. In addition to exhibitions, he served as a juror for the Toledo, Detroit, and other photographic salons, and was the author of many magazine articles on the topic of photography.
His photographs were reproduced in the 1925, 1936, 1940 and 1941 American Annuals of Photography and 13 different prints in photographic magazines and salon catalogs from 1932 – 1941.
In 1945 he accepted an invitation to give a one-man show of 50 of his pictorial prints at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., fulfilling one of the ambitions of his career. He was an associate of both the Photographic Society of America and the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and an honorary officer of the Lansing Camera Club.
He exhibited his pictures in hundreds of salons throughout the United States and in most foreign countries, where he received acclaim and honors for his work. From 1937 – 1941, he exhibited 412 prints in 185 salons in 23 countries. In addition to exhibitions, he served as a juror for the Toledo, Detroit, and other photographic salons, and was the author of many magazine articles on the topic of photography.
His photographs were reproduced in the 1925, 1936, 1940 and 1941 American Annuals of Photography and 13 different prints in photographic magazines and salon catalogs from 1932 – 1941.
Background
He was raised in Lansing and graduated from Central High School. He joined the editorial staff of The State Journal in 1924, as radio editor. He was later elevated to the position of day state editor, serving in that capacity for approximately seven years.
He was made chief staff photographer in 1932, and took thousands of photographs during the next 15 years, which appeared in the daily columns of the newspaper. Hundreds were circulated throughout the country by picture syndicates.
His action shots of football and other amateur sports were outstanding and he became well acquainted with many stars of the sports world with whom he came in contact through his photographic duties.
He had a liking for modern things and pictures and said he preferred “pure photography”.
In addition to his photographic activity in the newspaper and salon field, in his last few years he had done considerable commercial photography and his work appeared in the house organs and sales literature of central Michigan firms circulated throughout the world.
Combining his knowledge of photography and electronics, he was chief technician of telephoto equipment for The State Journal and received and processed the first pictures-by-wire ever provided newspaper readers of the Lansing area.
He was made chief staff photographer in 1932, and took thousands of photographs during the next 15 years, which appeared in the daily columns of the newspaper. Hundreds were circulated throughout the country by picture syndicates.
His action shots of football and other amateur sports were outstanding and he became well acquainted with many stars of the sports world with whom he came in contact through his photographic duties.
He had a liking for modern things and pictures and said he preferred “pure photography”.
In addition to his photographic activity in the newspaper and salon field, in his last few years he had done considerable commercial photography and his work appeared in the house organs and sales literature of central Michigan firms circulated throughout the world.
Combining his knowledge of photography and electronics, he was chief technician of telephoto equipment for The State Journal and received and processed the first pictures-by-wire ever provided newspaper readers of the Lansing area.
Electronics
He was also an authority on radio and certain branches of science. He was among the first in Lansing and the state to build and operate his own amateur radio stations both before and after WWI, when wireless telegraphy was in its infancy.
With the development of radio in Lansing from the days of WREO, the pioneer local station operated by the Reo organization, reception for the listener was beset with interference originating on power lines and in faulty electrical installations. He was employed in those first days by the Board of Water and Electric Light Commissioners as a “trouble shooter” for radio disturbances and for more than 15 years was radio engineer for the Board on a part-time basis.
Another “first” was in the field of electronics. He built and operated the first television set in Lansing and regularly received the broadcast programs of pictures in the pioneer, experimental days in that field.
He had given lectures before high school science classes and from that occasional activity stemmed the nickname “Doc”, by which he was known not only to all office associates but to hundreds of others as well.
He was a charter member of the Lansing Camera Club and a past president. He arranged programs for the club which brought nationally-known photographic experts to Lansing for the club’s annual banquets. He was also a pioneer member of the local chapter of the Amateur Radio League and developed programs for one or two state conventions in Lansing of the “hams.” He was a charter member of the Lansing Newspaper Guild.
Since its beginning, he had been active in the Lansing Press Club and his photographs, as well as paintings, hung on the walls of the Hotel Porter in Lansing.
He was an enthusiastic sportsman making many treks to northern Michigan on hunting and fishing expeditions. He also collected records and enjoyed playing golf. And in his last few years became interested in oil and water color painting and had developed his skill to a high degree prior to his death, having finished several pictures which he had intended to exhibit.
With the development of radio in Lansing from the days of WREO, the pioneer local station operated by the Reo organization, reception for the listener was beset with interference originating on power lines and in faulty electrical installations. He was employed in those first days by the Board of Water and Electric Light Commissioners as a “trouble shooter” for radio disturbances and for more than 15 years was radio engineer for the Board on a part-time basis.
Another “first” was in the field of electronics. He built and operated the first television set in Lansing and regularly received the broadcast programs of pictures in the pioneer, experimental days in that field.
He had given lectures before high school science classes and from that occasional activity stemmed the nickname “Doc”, by which he was known not only to all office associates but to hundreds of others as well.
He was a charter member of the Lansing Camera Club and a past president. He arranged programs for the club which brought nationally-known photographic experts to Lansing for the club’s annual banquets. He was also a pioneer member of the local chapter of the Amateur Radio League and developed programs for one or two state conventions in Lansing of the “hams.” He was a charter member of the Lansing Newspaper Guild.
Since its beginning, he had been active in the Lansing Press Club and his photographs, as well as paintings, hung on the walls of the Hotel Porter in Lansing.
He was an enthusiastic sportsman making many treks to northern Michigan on hunting and fishing expeditions. He also collected records and enjoyed playing golf. And in his last few years became interested in oil and water color painting and had developed his skill to a high degree prior to his death, having finished several pictures which he had intended to exhibit.
Family
Gerald was born in Sunfield, Michigan, on November 24th, 1903, and passed away at the young age of 42 on June 17, 1946, as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage.
He has now been joined by his wife Catherine Dutcher (1905-1995); daughter, Gloria (1929-1964); grandson, James Dawson (1957-1985) and son, Gerald Jr. (1930-2009). He is survived by Gerald Jr.'s wife, Virginia, four grandchildren; Sharon Edgerly-Hanratty, Linda Granger, Jerry Granger, Lori (Jon) Arendsen, great-grandchildren, Steven (Cathleen) Edgerly, Jonathan (LeeAnn) Edgerly, and Katrina and Sasha Granger; great-great-grandchildren Gianna, Dominic, Jacob, Ella and Anya Edgerly.
He has now been joined by his wife Catherine Dutcher (1905-1995); daughter, Gloria (1929-1964); grandson, James Dawson (1957-1985) and son, Gerald Jr. (1930-2009). He is survived by Gerald Jr.'s wife, Virginia, four grandchildren; Sharon Edgerly-Hanratty, Linda Granger, Jerry Granger, Lori (Jon) Arendsen, great-grandchildren, Steven (Cathleen) Edgerly, Jonathan (LeeAnn) Edgerly, and Katrina and Sasha Granger; great-great-grandchildren Gianna, Dominic, Jacob, Ella and Anya Edgerly.
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