Reflections of the 1960s and '70s: Photography by Patricia Anne Prout
August 1, 2015 - February 28, 2016
Without byline or fanfare, Patricia Anne Prout captured many poignant moments throughout the tumultuous late-1960s and early-1970s as a staff photographer with KQED public broadcasting. Tasked with documenting the unique artists, musicians, and entertainers of the time – such as Georgia O’Keefe, Janis Joplin, and Leontyne Price – Prout was ultimately able to record the spirit of the culture as well. This collection, recently gifted to the Northwestern Michigan College Archives located in the Osterlin Library, portrays a snapshot of Prout’s successful career while offering a rarified glimpse into the cultural scene of 1960s San Francisco.
A native of Traverse City, Prout studied photography at Michigan State University where she was also the photo editor of the yearbook. Following her graduation, she moved west with the counter-culture scene and joined KQED in 1967. With the goal of “telling the whole story in a picture,” she was intent on blending into the background and photographing her subjects without interaction. The results show her appreciation for candid portraiture as well as her keen eye, intriguing compositions, and masterful darkroom skills.
Presented by the NMC Archives.
