JC Allen & Sons Vintage Farm Photographers - An Archive of American Agriculture

Vintage farm photographs by JC Allen & Sons Joe Mischka interviews John Allen, grandson of JC Allen and son of Chester Allen all of West Lafayette, Indiana. J.C. Allen began his photography career in 1909 when he sold his farm and started photographing for the agricultural department at the, then, new Purdue University. Shortly thereafter he was commissioned as the Purdue Photographer, working on publicity for the entire university. He photographed everything from agriculture to sporting events. He retired from Purdue in 1951 and moved the business to his home in West Lafayette. After graduating from Purdue, his son Chester joined the business. And after a stint in the military and also graduating from Purdue, his grandson John joined the two. This photography business is particularly well known for subjects on the farm including draft animals and horse drawn equipment and work, domestic activities and children on the farm. Photographs were also used in many text books and children's books and as teaching tools. In early 1970's J C Allen donated a large portion of his photographs to the Purdue University Archives. John Allen sets up a 100+ year old camera and tripod and demonstrates how it would have been used. Joe also interviews Fred Whitford, PhD from Purdue who is utilizing the archives to prepare a history of the Extension Department and their work through the years.