-
Birth
Born into an affluent socialite family in Manhattan, her privileged upbringing yields a huge effect on her photography career and she takes full advantage of the connections with which it provides her. Marjorie Kaufman. "Photographer 'Plucked From Oblivion.'" The New York Times. August 28, 1994. -
First Published Work - Town and Country
After being fired from caption-writing at Vogue, she turned to professional photography. Her first photos to be published were called Beauties at Newport in 1931 in Town and Country, which were simply photos of her friends on the beach. Her first published work foreshadows her eventual pioneering of taking fashion photos outdoors, like the one pictured. "Toni Frissel." Vogue. http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/photographer/toni-frissell/#59067 -
Death of Brother; Photography as Solace
Her brother, Varick, died at sea while making a documentary near Newfoundland. The ship he was on exploded. Photography became a way that Frissell coped with her grief. Jeff A.Webb, “FRISSELL, LEWIS VARICK,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 16, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 10, 2015, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/frissell_lewis_varick_16E.html. -
Creative Camera Angles
Frissell became known for experimenting with unique camera angles early on in her career. This one appeared in the December 1937 issue of Vogue. "Toni Frissel." Vogue. http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/photographer/toni-frissell/#59067 "Toni Frissell, 81, Dies; A Noted Photographer." The New York Times. April 20, 1988. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/20/obituaries/toni-frissell-81-dies-a-noted-photographer.html -
Underwater Photography
Began to pioneer underwater photography in her fashion photoshoots. This one appeared in the June issue of Vogue. "Toni Frissel." Vogue. http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/photographer/toni-frissell/#59067 Marjorie Kaufman. "Photographer 'Plucked From Oblivion.'" The New York Times. August 28, 1994. -
Red Cross
Ready for a new challenge, Frissell joined the Red Cross shortly after Pearl Harbor. Her first assignment for the Red Cross was to produce photography to be used as a recruiting poster for the Red Cross. Her fashion photography style was apparent in her work. The poster was a great success. Keith Greenwood. "Photographing What She Knew: Toni Frissell’s Impact on Photojournalism.” Presented at the American Journalism Historians Association Annual Convention in Tucson -
WAAC-Womens Army Auxillary Corp
Frissell went on to photograph for the WAAC to help improve the public's perception of the organization. Frissell's photographs helped dismiss negative opinions and rumors of the female military branch. Vogue Magazine published an article on the unit featuring Frissell's photographs.
Greenwood, Kieth. "Photographing What She Knew: Toni Frissell’s Impact on Photojournalism.” Presented at the American Journalism Historians Association Annual Convention in Tucson, Ariz., Oct 7-9, 2010., 2010. -
Photographing Tuskegee Airmen
Frissell travelled to Italy to photograph the 332nd fighter pilot squadron, an all black detachment known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The purpose of the photography was to show the American public that black men were capable of working demanding and complicated military jobs.
Greenwood, Kieth. "Photographing What She Knew: Toni Frissell’s Impact on Photojournalism.”." Presented at the American Journalism Historians Association Annual Convention in Tucson, Ariz., Oct 7-9, 2010., 2010. -
Freelance Photographer (continued)
After her work photographing the events of World War II, Frissell returned to her life as a freelance photographer – creating portraits for a range of magazines. Now contributing her work to LIFE and Harper’s Bazaar, Frissell continued to pioneer fashion photography by making images in nontraditional places. Jessica Vaillat. "Frissell, Toni: Photography, History." Frissell, Toni: Photography, History. Accessed November 7, 2015. http://theredlist.com/wiki-2-16-601-793-view-fashion-1-profile- -
“Mother Goose” – Photographic Illustrations
Over Frissell’s lifetime, she produces a few books, all illustrated with her photography. Mother Goose is a term for an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and/or nursery rhymes. U.S. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, "Acquisition Notes," Library of Congress Information Bulletin, v. 30, May 27, 1971: 303-304. "Mother Goose." Accessed November 8, 2015. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/mother-goose. -
Sports Illustrated
Through her success as a freelance photographer, and her connections to the wealthy elite, Frissell was able to land a job as the first female photographer for Sports Illustrated. "Toni Frissell Papers." Accessed November 7, 2015. http://rs5.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2012/ms012195.pdf. -
The Kennedy Wedding
Born into a well-off family, Frissell was able to photograph the wealthy elite throughout her life. This culminated in her opportunity to photograph the wedding of John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy. A letter written from Jacqueline to Frissell expressing her pleasure with the photographs resides in the Library of Congress’ archive. "Toni Frissell Papers." Accessed November 7, 2015. http://rs5.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2012/ms012195.pdf. -
Library of Congress Donation
The Collection
In 1970, Toni Frissell donated her entire photographic archive to the Library of Congress. The archive consists of nearly 270,000 black-and-white negatives, 42,000 color transparencies, and 25,000 enlargement prints. U.S. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, "Acquisition Notes," Library of Congress Information Bulletin, v. 30, May 27, 1971: 303-304. -
Death
After a long and successful career as a photographer, Frissell dies of Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 81. "Toni Frissell, 81, Dies; A Noted Photographer." April 20, 1988. Accessed November 8, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/20/obituaries/toni-frissell-81-dies-a-noted-photographer.html.
