John Swope
Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
1927 Member along with Henry Fonda, Joshua Logan, and James Stewart of Harvard University Players.
1936 An avid sailor, takes camera along on Los Angeles-to-Honolulu yacht race; develops interest in photography.
1937 In Los Angeles (rooming with Fonda and Stewart) as Leland Hayward's production assistant.
1938 Commissioned by Henry Street Settlement House to document the work of nurses in Harlem and the Lower East Side.
1939 Accompanied by Logan as writer, tours South America photographing for Harper's Bazaar. At invitation of Bolivian government remains nine months photographing for state tourism program.
1940-43 U.S. Army flight instructor. With John Steinbeck produces Bombs Away, an illustrated book explaining pilot-training program to families of married trainees.
1943 Reassigned to Steichen's U.S. naval photographic unit.
1946-58 Freelance photographer for Life.
1952 Photographs Julius Caesar; photograph of star, Marlon Brando, appears on Life cover.
1956-1978 Extensive worldwide travel. Continues photographing; works published and exhibited throughout the U.S.
See all photos by John Swope