Mary Wood Forman lived only what could be described as an exotic - well traveled life. She was born to American Presbyterian missionaries that were stationed in India and was born in Mussoorie. It is located north of the capital of New Delhi and at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. During her childhood it was a scenic place of beauty, likewise a place where she was captured by the cross-culture of being an American child in a truly foreign land, even though Britain ruled India at this time.
Her parents returned to Columbus, Ohio in 1923 so the children could attend school. Forman went on to get a degree from Ohio State University (1940) and a graduate degree in Social Work from Western Reserve University in 1944. After college she spent many years abroad, lived in New York City, and then moved to Hartford, CT in 1956.
It was in Connecticut that she become interested in photography. She continued with her travels to Europe and the American West, recording what she saw in photographs. A significant numbers of her images were published in the Hartford Courant. Her favorite photographic subjects in Hartford were the children of the city, although she was also interested in urban structures.
Below is a photo estimated from the early 1970s, where she captures the street aesthetic with an intercity African American child with her white ragdoll. The contrast between the child and the doll elevates the photograph from a snapshot to art. Forman's background in social work gave her an eye and talent for chronicling the street life of the poorer neighborhoods. And her love of children gave her a socially conscious subject matter: Children in Poverty. This photographic portrait emphasizes formal composition and social concerns that presented itself right before her lens.
Now she is most remembered for her photographic essay of children in poverty that was published by the Hartford Times. This photographic essay from 1969-1972 told the story of how the Hartford Black Panthers convinced a Catholic Priest to help them create and administer a "Free Breakfast Program for Children". It was stated that even J. Edgar Hoover had to admit that this group of Black Panthers were doing remarkable things for children in poverty. The program was designed to feed children before they went off to school for the day.
During her lifetime she took two trips back to India, resulting in a major Hartford show of her work. She preferred to develop and print her own images, in order to bring out her individual perspective. Forman lived and worked for the Hartford area school district until her death in 1989.
Today most of her photos and negatives are archived at the University of Connecticut’s Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, located at: 405 Babbidge Road, Unit 1205 Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1205.
References:
Her parents returned to Columbus, Ohio in 1923 so the children could attend school. Forman went on to get a degree from Ohio State University (1940) and a graduate degree in Social Work from Western Reserve University in 1944. After college she spent many years abroad, lived in New York City, and then moved to Hartford, CT in 1956.
It was in Connecticut that she become interested in photography. She continued with her travels to Europe and the American West, recording what she saw in photographs. A significant numbers of her images were published in the Hartford Courant. Her favorite photographic subjects in Hartford were the children of the city, although she was also interested in urban structures.
Below is a photo estimated from the early 1970s, where she captures the street aesthetic with an intercity African American child with her white ragdoll. The contrast between the child and the doll elevates the photograph from a snapshot to art. Forman's background in social work gave her an eye and talent for chronicling the street life of the poorer neighborhoods. And her love of children gave her a socially conscious subject matter: Children in Poverty. This photographic portrait emphasizes formal composition and social concerns that presented itself right before her lens.
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| "Ragdoll" Black and White Photograph Signed in Pencil Lower Right Corner: Mary Forman |
During her lifetime she took two trips back to India, resulting in a major Hartford show of her work. She preferred to develop and print her own images, in order to bring out her individual perspective. Forman lived and worked for the Hartford area school district until her death in 1989.
Today most of her photos and negatives are archived at the University of Connecticut’s Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, located at: 405 Babbidge Road, Unit 1205 Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1205.
References:
- Thomas J. Dodd Research Center - The Guide to the Mary Wood Forman Photography Collection
- Hartford Times Essay: Mary Wood Forman, Photographer, Hartford Black Panthers (Community Service Project) "Free Breakfast Program for Children" 1969-1972.
- B. Nov. 17, 1918 - D. Aug. 22, 1989 (age 70)
- Photograph of her photograph - Apr. 11, 2019
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