Updated: 18 Apr 2007
The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
December 27, 1940
Obit includes photoEARL H SHELLEY, PHOTOGRAPHY PIONEER, DIES.
Veteran of 28 Years' Camera Work Victim of Heart Ailment.Five days before he was to retire from 28 years as father confessor to Oklahoma photographers, Earl H Shelley, 1327 Northwest Twenty-fourth street, died of a heart ailment in Wesley hospital Thursday. He was 69 years old.
As demonstrator for the Eastman Kodak Co, Shelley influenced the modernization of portrait photography in Oklahoma, northwest Texas and part of Arkansas. Professionals in this territory welcomed his twice yearly visit for the genial, expert counsel he gave.
Only one studio, he recently told friends, clung to the old-fashioned glass plates against his advice to change to film. Black hoods, the headrests which kept subjects from moving, and skylights, gave way to modern lighting equipment and faster cameras which he introduced, frequently only after good-natured persuasion.
Shelley was recognized nationally as one of the firm's best authorities on retouching, lighting and makeup and was an expert retoucher. When he was presented with the Eastman company's 25-year service award at the Southwest Photographers' association convention here three years ago, his clients gave him a smoking stand as a testimonial.
From Topeka, Kan., Shelley came to Oklahoma City in 1906 to become a retoucher for Watton's studio. Shortly after, he opened his own studio until he was employed by the Eastman company in 1912. Eligible for retirement in 1937, he planned to quit the road January 1, but he was stricken at Little Rock last September.
He was married in 1932 to Faye Carlton, Tulsa. Also surviving are a son, J H, 6 years old; a daughter by an earlier marriage, Mrs. Everett Rood, Rochester, N Y; a sister Mrs. Abbie Hubbard, Kingman, Kan; and three brothers, Charles A, of Kingman, Kans; and Jay and Clyde, both of Wichita.
Street and Draper funeral home will announce arrangements.
Submitted by Fronia.