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Belle Johnson (August 4, 1864 – July 19, 1945) was an American photographer, active primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Described as "eccentric, independent and unorthodox," Johnson was a charter member of the Federation of Women Photographers, and has been inducted into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame.〔Brent Engel, "(Museum Project Showcases Pioneering Photographer )," ''Hannibal Courier-Post'', 19 February 2010.〕 Her work, which included character studies, photographs of animals (especially cats), and still lifes, won numerous awards and frequently appeared in contemporary photography journals in the early 1900s.〔 ==Life== Johnson was born in Mendota, Illinois, to George C. Johnson, a successful farmer, and his wife, Hanna.〔Juanita Yates, ''The Legacy of Belle Johnson: A Pictorial Collection'', Vol. 1, (Monroe City Arts Council, 2000), pp. 1-13. ISBN 0970641109〕 She attended St. Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana, from 1882 to 1884, graduating at the top of her class.〔 Afterward, she worked as a teacher, but found it unfulfilling.〔Fayette J. Clute, "(Miss Belle Johnson and Her Work )," ''Western Camera Notes'', Vol. 6, No. 10 (October 1903), pp. 243-244.〕 While spending the summer with her sister, Mary Walker, in Monroe City, Missouri, in 1890, Johnson answered a newspaper ad for an assistant at Rippey's photography studio. After just three weeks on the job, she bought the studio, with the understanding that the previous owner would stay on for a year to teach her the trade. He stayed for only six months, however, providing such scant instruction that Johnson later recalled that she had welcomed his departure. She subsequently learned primarily from photography magazines.〔 Johnson was a charter member of the Photographers' Association of Missouri in 1894. At the group's statewide convention that year, Johnson's photographs won third place out of thirty-five entries, and missed first place by a narrow margin.〔 In 1899, she won a gold medal at the Association's state convention, and was elected the group's treasurer.〔"(Items of Interest )," ''Anthony's Photographic Bulletin'', Vol. 29 (1898), p. 266.〕〔"(Miss Belle Johnson )," ''Monroe City Democrat'', 31 August 1899, p. 1.〕 After a fire destroyed her studio that same year, she worked briefly in a photography studio established by local cigar maker, C.S. Robertshaw.〔 By 1901 she was again advertising under her own name. In 1902, she opened an elaborate new studio on the floor above the jewelry store of her brother-in-law, R. Manning Walker.〔 In 1904, Johnson photographed the St. Louis World's Fair for a booklet distributed by the Missouri State Commission. In 1906, she was one of twenty-five photographers (and the only woman) invited to exhibit at the Photographers' Association of America's annual convention at Niagara Falls. She exhibited again at the PAA's Dayton convention the following year.〔 Johnson was a member of the Missouri delegation at the PAA convention in Rochester in 1909,〔"(Photographers' Association of America )," ''The Professional and Amateur Photographer'', Vol. 14, No. 10 (October 1909), p. 430.〕 and was elected the first vice president of the PAA's Federation of Women Photographers.〔 Her work was displayed at the National Photographers' Exhibition in Toronto in 1910,〔"(Miss Belle Johnson )," ''Monroe City Democrat'', 28 July 1910, p. 5.〕 and received praise at the PAA's Art Exhibit in 1913.〔David J. Cook, "(The Art-Exhibit of the P.A. of A. )," ''Photo-Era'', Vol. 31, No. 4 (October 1913), p. 188.〕 Johnson frequently traveled to stay up-to-date on the latest photography techniques. In 1913, she attended the Eastman Photographic School in Illinois,〔"(Miss Belle Johnson )," ''Monroe City Democrat'', 6 March 1913, p. 8.〕 and began advertising Kodak printing services that same year.〔"(Kodak Films )," ''Monroe City Democrat'', 4 September 1913, p. 5.〕 She won third prize in the 1913 Kodak Advertising Competition.〔(The Awards: Kodak Advertising Competition )," ''Studio Light'', Vol. 5, No. 11 (January 1914), p. 3.〕 In the early 1910s, Johnson made plans to establish a new studio in Pittsburg, Missouri, in partnership with Roy Moose, though these plans never materialized.〔"(Notes and News )," ''Wilson's Photographic Magazine'', Vol. 51 (1914), p. 94.〕〔(Will Remain in Monroe )," ''Monroe City Democrat'', 17 September 1914, p. 1.〕 By 1914, Johnson had won over 30 gold and silver medals in various photographic competitions.〔 She was a member of the Missouri delegation at the PAA's Milwaukee convention in 1920, and three of her photos were displayed at the PAA'S 1930 convention.〔 Among her last published works were photographs of local soldiers preparing to depart to fight in World War II in the early 1940s. She died in her studio on July 19, 1945. Businesses in Monroe City closed on the day of her funeral.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Belle Johnson」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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