University of Arizona

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Ray Manley Photograph Collection

Ray Manley was a famous photographer whose images were published in Arizona Highways, Life, Look, Saturday Evening Post, Popular Science, National Geographic and his own books. He established Ray Manley Commercial Photography in 1953 with partners Naurice Koonce and Mickey Prim. Manley was born September 4, 1921 in Cottonwood, Arizona and died July 15, 2006. He took an early interest in photography and attended Arizona State College (later renamed Northern Arizona University) where he met his wife, Ruth. He was known as a persistent photographer who insisted upon photographing his subjects in the best light.

The Ray Manley commercial photography company was hired by various units and departments on the University of Arizona campus to document campus activities, from individuals, performances, ribbon cuttings, events, aerial photographs and campus buildings. The collection is primarily comprised of black and white 3x5 negatives, but includes a few color photographs. The collection includes images of departmental and student activities, musical and theater performances, award ceremonies, graduations, athletic events and photos of individuals such as “Pop McKale,” President Harvill, President Schaffer and his family, Senator Amherst and Robert Frost. Also included in the collection are student artwork, architectural models, museum displays, copies of paintings and photographs and miscellaneous museum objects. In Series VI there are various shots from around Tucson and Arizona. Images from multiple photographers employed by Ray Manley are included in this collection. The Ray Manley Collection contains the original envelopes for the negatives as they contain information regarding the purpose, dates and reasons for the photos being taken.