Winter 2005 - University Photographers' Association of America

LATENT IMAGE
Vanderbilt Photographer Gerald Holly dies
Gerald Holly, who captured on
film 15 years of Vanderbilt growth,
beauty and history after retiring from
a lengthy and distinguished career
in journalism that included publication
of pictures in some of the
nation’s top magazines, died May
19 at his Nashville home after a long
battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Holly, 87, was considered an
artist at “composing” a photograph
and was especially fond of including
people in his pictures.
Wearing his
trademark beret,
Holly was often seen
roaming the campus
with his camera,
looking for unusual
pictures. His perceptive
eye was responsible
for some of the
most creative photographs
ever made at
Vanderbilt.
Holly
”Gerald’s excellence
as a photographer
complemented Vanderbilt’s excellence
as a University,” said Jeff
Carr, vice chancellor for university
relations, emeritus; general counsel,
emeritus; and secretary of the university,
emeritus. “His superb photographs
recorded the campus and
its people in an enduring way that
will forever be a part of the
University’s history.”
Holly was hired as a photographer
for Vanderbilt University Publications
and Design in September
of 1983. He took pictures for countless
University periodicals, brochures
and catalogues over the
years. His last photos for Publications
and Design were taken in December
1997, when Parkinson’s disease
forced him to take disability
status.
A number of his framed shots
remain on the walls in Suite 850 of
the Baker Building. There is even a
1995 photo of the entire staff of Publications
and Design, including
Holly, that he took with a self-timer
on the roof of the Baker Building,
according to Judy Orr, assistant vice
chancellor for Creative Services. His
photographs can also be seen in a
number of offices around campus
and throughout Nashville.
Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, Holly
Wearing his trademark
beret, Holly was
often seen roaming
the campus with his
camera, looking for
unusual pictures.
worked as a staff photographer for
The Tennessean for 30 years. Holly
also was a 15-year stringer for the
Black Star Agency in New York. He
was one of the photographers commissioned
for the 1986 book Tennessee:
A Homecoming.
One of Holly’s pictures appeared
on the cover of Time magazine.
His photos also made the
pages of National Geographic, Life,
Newsweek and Forbes magazines.
In January of 1987, the
Vanderbilt Department of Fine Arts
presented an exhibit of Holly’s photographs.
The exhibition was retrospective,
with some 50 photographs
made throughout his professional
career. The exhibit included portraits,
feature shots and nature pictures.
About half the pictures were
of Vanderbilt campus subjects. The
same exhibit was shown later at the
Cobblestone Gallery and Mills
Bookstore in Hillsboro Village.
Two of Holly’s photographs
were awarded medals in annual
competitions sponsored by the
Council for Advancement and Support
of Education (CASE). One
award-winning photo appeared in
the spring 1987 issue of the
Vanderbilt Magazine and the other
appeared in the 1987-88
Law School catalogue.
In 1991 Holly received
a President’s
Publication Award in
the annual University
Photographers of
America print competition
for photos that appeared
in a group of
Vanderbilt brochures
and posters.
Holly once taught at a
University of Missouri
workshop for photojournalism
and also
taught photography classes at
Nashville Tech.
A native of Marshall County,
Holly was born on May 7, 1917 to
T.C. and Flossie Luna Holly. He
graduated from Cornersville High
School and attended Watkins Institute
in Nashville. He also served in
the U.S. Navy. Holly is survived by
his wife of 36 years, Paulette Burger
Holly. He also has three daughters,
Alice Carlyn McGhee, Joy Holly and
Carol Ann Scarborough; and two
sons, Thomas Holly Jr. and Joshua
Holly. In addition, he has a sister,
Lurline Turner, and four
grandchildren.
Printed with permission from the
Vanderbilt Register. The original publication
date was May 24, 2004.
UPAA Contact Sheet 23