Douglas Lyttle photographs
Scope and Contents
The Douglas Lyttle photographs consist of photographs, contact sheets, and negatives of images captured by Lyttle. Most of the items in the collection depict people, places, and events at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). For instance, there are photographs of faculty members and students, a photography department honor show, the 1983 graduation ceremony, and the Henrietta campus's Student Alumni Union (SAU) building. There are both black and white and color photographs in the collection and the images are various sizes.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1970-1985
Creator
- Lyttle, Douglas A. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to researchers.
Biographical / Historical
Douglas A. Lyttle (1919-2017) began his career as a research chemist before switching to photography. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1941 with a degree in chemistry. Upon graduating, he worked for Merck & Co. before joining the Upjohn Company, a pharmaceutical manufacturer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. While working at these companies, Lyttle conducted research in a variety of areas including vitamins and steroids. Then, in 1961 he left the chemistry field to pursue a career in photography.
Lyttle started his career transition by opening his own studio where he focused on portraiture and architectural photography. In 1969, Lyttle accepted a faculty position in the Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) College of Graphic Arts and Photography. He had been awarded a Master of Photography degree by the Professional Photographers of America in 1966 and was granted the title of Photographic Craftsman by the organization in 1970. The latter designation was based on his performance as well as service to the profession. Additionally, Lyttle belonged to the American Society of Photographers and the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. He retired from RIT in 1983 and was offered a position as a professor emeritus at the university.
In 1972, Lyttle traveled to Greece for the first time. Wanting to capture images of a non-western culture, he began photographing the Greek Monastic Republic of Mt. Athos, an area that was home to many Eastern Orthodox monasteries. During his 22 trips to the region between 1972 and 1998, Lyttle captured over 50,000 images and developed a respectful relationship with the area's inhabitants. As a result of his time spent there, he decided to convert to Orthodoxy in 1997 and took the name Douglas Demetrios Lyttle. His photographs were published in a book, Miracle on the Monastery Mountain, in 2002.
Extent
1.33 Linear Feet (1 lid box)
Language
English
Overview
Photographs taken by Douglas Lyttle, a former professor of photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The collection includes photographs, contact sheets, and negatives, all related to the university.
Arrangement
This collection is currently unprocessed. Contents are contained in a single box.
Physical Location
C.S. Mid-Range, Shelf 41
Other Finding Aids
In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.
Douglas Lyttle photographs
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number: 2011:005
Processing Information
Finding aid created by Lara Nicosia in April 2011.
Subject
- Title
- Douglas Lyttle photographs
- Status
- Published
- Subtitle
- RIT Archives
- Author
- Lara Nicosia
- Date
- 15 April 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the RIT Archives Repository