Todd Walker miscellaneous acquisitions collection

Todd Walker (born Harold Todd Walker) was born September 25, 1917 in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1922, his family moved to California and from 1930-1934 he attended Hoover High School in Glendale, California. After graduation, Walker became a painter for the Scenic Department of RKO Film Studios in Hollywood, where he worked until 1942. While working as a painter, he attended the Art Center School in Los Angeles as a part-time student. Walker was primarily a self-taught artist with a passion for photography.

In 1939, Walker begins a lifelong interest in making his own books by publishing his photographs in Harold T. Walker (one edition, self-published). From 1941-1943, Walker is a photographer with Tradefilms, Inc. in Hollywood. From 1943-1945, Walker serves in the Air Cadets of the US Army Air Corps. He is a pilot instructor in Arizona; second lieutenant. During this time, he marries Betty Mae McNutt (1944) and they have two children: Kathleen and Melanie.

From 1946 to 1970, Walker is a freelance photographer in advertising in Beverly Hills, California. During this time, he exhibits his work, with his first solo exhibition held in 1963 at the California Museum of Science and Industry. In 1964, Betty gifts Walker a small printing press as a Father’s Day gift, and he begins to make and distribute his own images. By 1965, he founds Thumbprint Press in Tarzana, California.

From 1966-1970, Walker is an instructor in photography at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. During this time Walker closes his commercial studio (1969). From 1969-1970, Walker is an instructor in non-silver photography at the University of California Extension in Los Angeles. In 1970, he becomes Associate Professor of Photography, Department of Art, in California State College but soon after moves to Gainesville, Florida. He also moves Thumbprint Press to Gainesville.

From 1970-1977, Walker is the Associate Professor in Photography and Printmaking, Department of Art, University of Florida in Gainesville. From 1976-1977, he applies for the Florida Council for the Arts Grant. In 1977, Walker settles in Tucson, Arizona and begins teaching for the University of Arizona alongside Harold Jones and W. Eugene Smith. Walker teaches photography at the University of Arizona until 1985. During this time, Walker receives a photography fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (1983-1984). In 1981, Walker begins teaching himself machine language and became interested in digital photography, and was considered a pioneer in many forms. In 1987, Walker retires from teaching to pursue individual projects. He continued his research into the digital realm until his sudden death on September 13, 1998.