About the Whiting Collection

We spend so much time focusing on established and important images that we tend to overlook the snapshots of our everyday moments. And often we discard photographs for a lack of knowing who or what they are. Although they are anonymous, these are the photographs that weave together the collective view of our past. And far too often, these photographs are tossed into the trash. This is how I came upon this collection. A client brought to me several negatives to print, and what beautiful negatives they were! Large 4×5 black and white negatives shot by someone who definitely knew what they were doing. Of course I inquired about them, and was told that the rest were in the trash. So, sight unseen, I asked for them. A couple of days later I was brought a clear garbage bag filled with mainly 4×5 negatives, but also 6×6, 112, a handful of original prints and a couple of spent muffin wrappers. Later, when I began to view them over a light box I began to see what an incredible collection it was.

The photographer is believed to be J.D. Whiting of Pittsford, New York. His business was in-ground pool installations and much of the collection is a documentation of this, from ground breaking to the finish. But there are also images of family, a wedding, vacations and so much more. I have spent considerable time archiving, printing, organizing and researching over 600 images showing life here in Rochester, New York during the 1950’s. And they are just too good to hide away. So here I will present to you these images with as much information as I have. If you have any information about any of the images posted here, contact me and I will gladly update.