Images of Salem Photojournalist Gerry Lewin featured in photo exhibit at the Willamette Heritage Center.

Monday, May 1 – Saturday, June 24, 2017

Gerry Lewin. WHC Al Jones Collection, 2007.001.0436.

Gerry Lewin. WHC Al Jones Collection, 2007.001.0436.

Gerry Lewin started his 35-year career in Salem’s newspaper scene in 1962, as a photo engraver at Salem’s afternoon paper, the Capital Journal.  His work as an engraver included half hour periods in which he had to wait for the machine to process the photographers.  He made good use of the time, popping out to take quick photo assignments and getting back in time to start the next batch of photos.  His talent, developed through his commercial photography work in his native Germany, Switzerland and Portland, was quickly recognized and he was promoted to chief photographer in 1966.   With his boundless energy, Lewin documented the notable and the mundane and his work can truly be read as a unique and valuable visual history of the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Watch an oral history interview with Gerry Lewin featured in this past exhibit here: