1980 Saint John Spring Convocation
Patterson, Freeman W.
Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.)
Orator: Stanley, Eric
Citation:
CONVOCATION, MAY, 1980
FREEMAN W. PATTERSON
to be Doctor of Letters
Born in Saint John, Freeman Patterson received his early education on the Kingston Peninsula, attending schools at Grey Mills, Long Reach and Kingston. From Acadia University he received an Honours degree in Philosophy and from the Union Theological Seminary, New York, his Master of Divinity degree. While in New York he studied photography under the distinguished American photographer and teacher, Helen Manzer. Although Freeman Patterson started his professional career as a teacher of theology at Alberta College, it soon became clear that he was to find his true vocation in the fields of photography and writing. Lord Melbourne once said, "God help ministers who dabble in art." If this was a prayer, that prayer has been answered. Freeman Patterson during the last fifteen years or so has risen to international fame as one of the greatest photographers in the world.
The short history of photography began about one hundred and fifty years ago. The art and the science developed by pioneers like Daguerre, Niépce and Fox Talbot, reached a peak with such practitioners as Ansel Adams and Yousuf Karsh, who raised the techniques of black and white photography to its rightful place amongst the arts. The advent of colour photography from its early clumsy forms in the 1930’s to its sophisticated simplicity today was rejected by most serious photographers until relatively recently.
Freeman Patterson has embraced modern colour photography and raised it to the highest level. Honoured by the National Film Board, the Photographic Arts of America Society, and by the Federation Internationale de l'Art Photographique and the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, he is better known internationally than he is at home. The New Brunswick scene is appreciated throughout the world through the eyes of Freeman Patterson. He is New Brunswick's greatest ambassador abroad.
As a writer Freeman Patterson has had articles published in journals devoted to photography as well as national magazines. But he is best known for his two books, Photography, for the Joy of It and Photography and the Art of Seeing which have enjoyed immense popularity in North America and are now making inroads in the European market.
lf this was not enough for one young man, Freeman Patterson for many years ran a school of photography on the Kingston Peninsula which attracted students from all over the North American continent and from as far away as Africa and Australia. For ten years he was editor of Camera Canada, has served on many society committees, and acted as judge at exhibitions.
Outside his chosen profession Freeman Patterson has served on the District 19 School Board for two succeeding terms. The proceeds from his slide presentation, "Two Faces of Africa," were donated towards the education of an African student in Canada, Joseph Legwaila, who is now the Ambassador to the United Nations for Botswana.
Joining the august company of Yousuf Karsh and Roloff Beny, Freeman Patterson has become one of the three best known Canadian photographers whose work is admired throughout the world.
Widely travelled throughout Canada, The United States, Africa, and Fiji, Freeman Patterson always returns home to his beloved Kingston Peninsula. He has demonstrated that in the world of the arts, it is possible to stay at home, in New Brunswick, and become an internationally known figure.
Insignissime Praeses, tota Universitas, praesento vobis Freeman W. Patterson ut admittatur honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Litteris in hac Universitate.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2
FREEMAN W. PATTERSON
to be Doctor of Letters
Born in Saint John, Freeman Patterson received his early education on the Kingston Peninsula, attending schools at Grey Mills, Long Reach and Kingston. From Acadia University he received an Honours degree in Philosophy and from the Union Theological Seminary, New York, his Master of Divinity degree. While in New York he studied photography under the distinguished American photographer and teacher, Helen Manzer. Although Freeman Patterson started his professional career as a teacher of theology at Alberta College, it soon became clear that he was to find his true vocation in the fields of photography and writing. Lord Melbourne once said, "God help ministers who dabble in art." If this was a prayer, that prayer has been answered. Freeman Patterson during the last fifteen years or so has risen to international fame as one of the greatest photographers in the world.
The short history of photography began about one hundred and fifty years ago. The art and the science developed by pioneers like Daguerre, Niépce and Fox Talbot, reached a peak with such practitioners as Ansel Adams and Yousuf Karsh, who raised the techniques of black and white photography to its rightful place amongst the arts. The advent of colour photography from its early clumsy forms in the 1930’s to its sophisticated simplicity today was rejected by most serious photographers until relatively recently.
Freeman Patterson has embraced modern colour photography and raised it to the highest level. Honoured by the National Film Board, the Photographic Arts of America Society, and by the Federation Internationale de l'Art Photographique and the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, he is better known internationally than he is at home. The New Brunswick scene is appreciated throughout the world through the eyes of Freeman Patterson. He is New Brunswick's greatest ambassador abroad.
As a writer Freeman Patterson has had articles published in journals devoted to photography as well as national magazines. But he is best known for his two books, Photography, for the Joy of It and Photography and the Art of Seeing which have enjoyed immense popularity in North America and are now making inroads in the European market.
lf this was not enough for one young man, Freeman Patterson for many years ran a school of photography on the Kingston Peninsula which attracted students from all over the North American continent and from as far away as Africa and Australia. For ten years he was editor of Camera Canada, has served on many society committees, and acted as judge at exhibitions.
Outside his chosen profession Freeman Patterson has served on the District 19 School Board for two succeeding terms. The proceeds from his slide presentation, "Two Faces of Africa," were donated towards the education of an African student in Canada, Joseph Legwaila, who is now the Ambassador to the United Nations for Botswana.
Joining the august company of Yousuf Karsh and Roloff Beny, Freeman Patterson has become one of the three best known Canadian photographers whose work is admired throughout the world.
Widely travelled throughout Canada, The United States, Africa, and Fiji, Freeman Patterson always returns home to his beloved Kingston Peninsula. He has demonstrated that in the world of the arts, it is possible to stay at home, in New Brunswick, and become an internationally known figure.
Insignissime Praeses, tota Universitas, praesento vobis Freeman W. Patterson ut admittatur honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Litteris in hac Universitate.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2
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