Works of Famous Photojournalist on Permanent Display at DCC

Release date: June 23, 2008

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Twenty six photographs taken by renowned photojournalist W. Eugene Smith can now be viewed in a permanent display in Hudson Hall on the main Dutchess Community College campus in Poughkeepsie.

The photos were donated by Smith’s son, K. Patrick Smith, and the new display will be introduced to the press on July 7 at 1 p.m.

Smith entered Notre Dame University in 1936 at age 18, and his work impressed the faculty so much that a photography scholarship was created for him. He eventually joined the staff of Newsweek, and soon after began freelancing for Life, Colliers and The New York Times. In 1942 Smith became a war correspondent for Flying, Popular Photography and also Life magazines. During this time, he was involved in 26 carrier combat missions and 13 invasions. His photos from this time have become legendary. In 1945 he was seriously wounded when he was hit with a Japanese shell fragment while shooting a photo essay on the battlefield in Okinawa. Following his recovery, Smith continued to photograph for Life magazine and popularized photo essays for Life that were to redefine the term. He also self-financed monumental photo essays on the cities of Pittsburgh and New York. He died in 1978.

Carmen Smith Wood, Eugene Smith’s first wife, was a 1979 graduate of DCC’s Nursing program. Twelve other works have been donated to DCC’s Francis U. and Mary F. Ritz Library Art Collection by K. Patrick Smith.

For more information, call Ann Winfield at 845-431-8405.

Founded in 1957, Dutchess Community College is a two-year community college with more than 50 years of service to the residents of Dutchess County. It is part of the State University of New York and is one of 30 community colleges in the state system. The College offers a wide variety of associate degree programs, as well as career programs in major technical, human service and business areas. The College also offers non-credit courses through its Office of Community Services to meet the continuing education needs of civic, cultural, business and professional groups and the community at large. The main campus is at 53 Pendell Road in Poughkeepsie, while the Dutchess South extension site is in Hollowbrook Park, Building #4 at 31 Marshall Road in Wappingers Falls.

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