GENEVA CAMERA CLUB

Club History

The Geneva Camera Club was formed in 1955. The first meeting was held on March 16. The all male group held its first meetings in a storeroom above the Western Auto Store which at that time was on West Main Street. The store and the club later moved to South Broadway.

At the meetings, the members would unroll a ten foot wide roll of paper and take portraits or photos of still life setups. They worked mostly in black and white film. A few members had darkrooms which they opened to the members who didn't.

Some of the early members were Jack Rosebrugh (owner of the Western Auto Store), Paul Fleming, Laddie Kubichek, Tom Knowles, Ken Weir, Dwight Euverard, Ralph Dorman, Jim Dean, and Bill Maresic. The first woman member was Thelma Clark who was learning more about photography and became an expert in underwater photography. Eventually many of the wives began taking photos, too.

During some years, meetings were held in member's homes. Slides became more common and slide programs of member's summer trips were presented. With the start of the Grape Jamboree in the 1960's, the club began the annual print show that continues today.

Currently, the club has 35 to 40 members of all ages and photographic skills. Travel programs are interspersed with educational and hands on programs. Meetings are open to all interested people.