The Mark Jacobs Collection Abstract

Mark Jacobs (1951-2022) was a lifelong photography enthusiast, with extensive photographic knowledge. Mark’s interest in photography started in junior high when he volunteered to help process film in a darkroom for one of the teachers. He was a member of the Old Orchard Press Club in 8th grade, continuing on to being the head photographer and editor for his school yearbook. In 1969 Mark won second place in the Illinois Photographers Association HS Photographer of the Year Contest. Throughout his high school years he photographed the Hubbard Street Dance Company in Chicago, IL, and was routinely flown to New York to work with choreographers such as Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais. Additionally, he had the fortuity to photograph musicians such as Lou Reed, and David Bowie. His work was exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mark started working part-time at Foto Tec Camera store in Skokie, IL when he was fifteen and by twenty-two, he owned the camera store until he sold it in 1985. During these years he was enrolled at Chicago’s Illinois Institute of Technology in their photography program, building a portfolio while studying under Aaron Siskind.

Traveling abroad, his work was showcased in European venues as well as at BatSheva Dance Company in Israel.

Throughout that time he developed courses and wrote interrelated textbooks on photography for secondary school curriculums which have been widely used and published. His textbook, Photography in Focus: A Basic Text, was first published in 1975 and had four major revisions to end in a 5th edition in 1996. A companion book, Photography in Focus: Teacher’s Guide, was published in 1976, and had three editions. These books have been translated in both Spanish and French.

Mark was a recognized historian and collector of early color photography, frequently consulting with institutions like The Amon Carter Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Colorado Historical Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as The National Geographic Magazine. His collection of early color photography and Autochromes is recognized as one of the preeminent private collections of color photography in the world.  (written by his daughter Hannah)