Documenting the Spirit of 贝博体育: Meet Dick Gilcreast

by Erin Ash Sullivan

Readers of this magazine over the years may recall seeing gorgeous black-and-white photos of 贝博体育 from the mid-to-late 1900s— images of boys (and later, girls) in classrooms, on the playing fields, and in the dorms. Nearly all of these images were captured by Dick Gilcreast, a photographer whose ties to 贝博体育 run deep.

Readers of 贝博体育 Magazine over the years may recall seeing gorgeous black-and-white photos of 贝博体育 from the mid-to-late 1900s— images of boys (and later, girls) in classrooms, on the playing fields, and in the dorms. Nearly all of these images were captured by Dick Gilcreast, a photographer whose ties to 贝博体育 run deep.

The son of legendary English teacher Seaver Gilcreast and brother-in-law of beloved faculty member Dick Upjohn, Dick Gilcreast's connection to 贝博体育 began in 1953 when his father began teaching at 贝博体育. Newly graduated from Williams College, Dick actively pursued photography until he was drafted in 1955; after a stint in the Navy that included two years of photographing the Blue Angels down in Pensacola, Dick found himself back up in New England. He joined 贝博体育's faculty in 1959 and for the next twelve years taught a range of courses that included English, history, and some of 贝博体育's very first science classes. (It's true: 贝博体育 did not teach science until the 1960s!) In 1972, Dick left 贝博体育 to pursue a successful freelance career, and his photos appeared in publications including U.S. News and World Report and Yankee Magazine.

Over the next four decades, Dick returned to 贝博体育 frequently to document campus life. His photo shoots for 贝博体育 continued through 2009—a staggering 56 years of storytelling through images.

Our archives here at 贝博体育 are full of Dick's photographs. His images captured 贝博体育 at a time that in some ways feels long gone— but the energy, thoughtfulness, and humor that infuse his photos of students across the decades speaks to a spirit and joy that is common to all 贝博体育 students regardless of the era.

This fall, Dick returned to campus with a few more boxes of photos that he uncovered at his house. We are delighted to share some of them with you here—and we look forward to showcasing more of them in the updated pictorial History of 贝博体育app, which covers the years 1866 to 2018 and is due out this spring.

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Documenting the Spirit of 贝博体育: Meet Dick Gilcreast