History of PSA Stereo Division
By Ron Fredrickson - SD Historian & Curator
The information below was collected from Ron's numerous articles by George Themelis, aka DrT. Ron can be reached via email at rlf3d@jps.net
A CAPSULE HISTORY OF THE
PSA STEREO DIVISIONBy Ron Fredrickson, Stereo Division Historian and Curator
Published in the Stereogram, May 1998Although it was considered unnecessary by at least one member of the PSA Board of Directors, the Stereo Division (SD) was established in November of 1951 as announced in the PSA Journal (PSA J) in both February and May of 1952. Prior to the founding of the SD, however, there was already a good deal of stereo activity in PSA as shown by articles in the PSA J (1951), the beginning of stereo slide circuits (1951), and PSA approved stereo international exhibitions. The first of these sponsored by PSA itself was at the New York Convention in 1952.
The first SD Chairman, Chicagoan Dr. Frank Rice (later FPSA), issued the first STEREO Bulletin for Members of the Stereo Division, PSA in April of 1952 when the membership of the division hit the 100 mark. Since that time there has always been some form of bulletin for the SD, although it has gone through a number of names with varying frequency of publication as the years have passed. The bulletin above was followed by the Stereogram, the same name used by this Ohio Stereo Photographic Society newsletter, from about 1953 to 1970. Beginning in 1971 each PSA Division had space in a Quarterly Supplement (heading: Division News) to the pages of the PSA J, and that supplement continued until mid-1978. After that the continuation was simply called “Division News” and continues as “News” to this time in the regular pages of the PSA J. Currently, Mary Ann Rhoda, FPSA, is Editor of the Stereo Section. The stereo division is a forward-looking one, and a new periodical, Dimensions Three, began with an August/September 1992 issue under the capable editorship of Stan White, APSA. All SD members currently receive this illustrated newsletter, filled with news and information, three times per year.
Many activities have been sponsored by PSA SD over the 46+ years of its existence, one of the most important of which has been the setting of standards for stereo exhibitions. Although the SD membership includes many persons who are collectors of stereo equipment and images, SD is primarily devoted to stereo photographers and their efforts to improve their stereo work. This has been accomplished by means of stereo circuits, personalized slide analysis, individual competitions, instructive stereo programs for loan to members, stereo programs for loan to clubs, and many other activities.
In order to encourage variety, the annual PSA International Stereo Exhibition has, over the years, offered special awards for various categories: landscapes, portraits or figure studies, humor, everyday people, image-of-the-year, contemporary, flowers, etc., and individuals who wish to do so can endow such awards for a period of five years, subject to PSA approval. Most of the other stereo exhibitions also offer special awards in various categories in order to encourage innovation on the part of stereo photographers.
The SD Service Awards were established in 1963 in order to recognize those hard working persons who kept the many SD activities moving smoothly along. These awards have been offered sporadically but, for reasons unknown, none were apparently presented between 1974 and 1992. In addition, SD workers too numerous to mention have received Honors (APSA, FPSA, PPSA, and EPSA) from the Society itself.
From the 100 members in early 1952, SD has grown over the years, with some ups and downs, to its current membership of about 500+. At one time PSA membership included one divisional membership for the annual membership fee, and an additional fee was paid for each additional division membership. Now, however, a PSA member may belong to all divisions for just one annual fee and is requested to list those which are of particular interest. It is from this latter group that the current membership number is derived, i.e., those who said that stereo was a major interest.
Interest in stereo is growing, and the SD is now encouraging exhibitions to include a stereo card section in their shows. Many have responded to this, including the annual PSA Stereo Exhibition, and it is hoped that others will also promote this new/old form of stereo imaging. Similarly, the SD is encouraging the application of electronic imaging techniques to both stereo cards and stereo slides in the hope of interesting a new generation in the solid (pun intended) hobby of three dimensional images and imaging. See the PSA SD Website at for information about joining PSA SD and for a look at some beautiful examples of stereo art.
Ron Fredrickson
Ron Fredrickson has been with PSA for 41 years now and the Historian of PSA SD since 1991. He is a Master 4 exhibitor in stereo. Member of PSA, Chicago Stereo CC, NSA, ISU, Third Dimension Society (also U.S. Rep for TDS). He is also a collector of stereo cameras and viewers and all kinds of 3-D images (cards VM, comic books or other magazines with 3-D, lenticulars), and stereo literature.
I recently did a little “historical search” of my own and found Ron’s name listed numerous times in PSA publications. The earliest reference was in “The Stereogram” in 1959 having just received his first star. - Ed.
Short History of the
PSA-SD NewsletterBy Ron Fredrickson, Stereo Division Historian and Curator
Published in Dimensions Three, 5.1, January 2002Throughout its history the PSA Stereo Division (SD) has had a news publication for the benefit of division members. Authorized by the PSA Board in November of 1951, SD, under its first chairman, the late Dr. Frank Rice, FPSA, began publishing The Stereogram in April of 1952. This date coincided with a promise to issue Bulletin #1 when SD membership reached the 100 mark. This 8.5 x 11" publication, issued monthly, was continued through April of 1953.
In October of 1953 The Stereogram, Series 2, was begun in a new 6 x 9" format on a quarterly basis (later bimonthly) until the issue of December, 1969 - January, 1970 (Vol. XVII, - No. 6) brought it to an end. At this time the PSA Journal began a new Quarterly Supplement with Division News, and The Stereogram was gone, replaced by the Quarterly Supplement until April of 1978. Since then the PSA Journal has continued offering news from the various divisions in each issue, and a column entitled "Stereo" is part of this.
The items in the PSA Journal are necessarily brief so that, in August/September of 1992, Volume 1, Number 1, of a new publication, Dimensions Three (D3), was issued under the capable editorship of Stan White, APSA. In 8.5 x 11" format, this publication has often been 12 pages long and filled with first rate material on stereo subjects. After a two year hiatus, publication of D3 will be resumed with this issue under the editorship of George Themelis (Dr.T.).
Another publication known as Stereogram was first issued in August of 1982 and continued until August of 1986. This was a limited circulation newsletter which the late Melvin Lawson, FPSA, used to communicate with his officers and directors during his tenure as Chairman of SD. It may not be completely germane to the contents of this article, but it should be mentioned in passing.
D3 is the culmination of all of its predecessors--- The Stereograms, the Quarterly Supplements, the Stereo Columns (which continue)--- and has been the very best in the opinion of your historian, who has had the opportunity to see all of them. Thanks to the generosity of many of the “old timers” I have virtually complete files of all the SD publications from these many years, and they constitute a valuable part of the Historian's records.
Not to be overlooked here is the fact that just a few months ago SD celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Happy 50th Birthday Stereo Division!
Ron Fredrickson
The first PSA Stereo Division Bulletin (top) was published in April 1952 by Dr. Frank Rice. The title is simply “Stereo”. Later the name changed to “The Stereogram” (1953-1971). The current Stereo Division publication is “Dimensions Three”. It is distributed three time a year to PSA members who indicate Stereo as their main photographic interest. Note the variety of stereo formats reflected in the ever-changing logo. - Ed.
TOP of the TOPS in STEREO
By Ron Fredrickson, Stereo Division Historian and Curator
Published in Dimensions Three, 5.3, September 2002After the establishment of the Stereo Division in 1952, it wasn't long before the results of the stereo international exhibitions were published as a Who's Who section in the May edition of the PSA Journal. The first of these appeared in 1954 showing the standings of exhibitors for the exhibition year 1953. Also shown was “Tops in Stereo”, featuring a group with the best exhibition records.
From “Tops” I have compiled a list of the very top stereo exhibitors, those in the number one position, from 1953 through 2001. As you will note, there were ties in several years of the compilation. As you will also note, the photographic ability of some of these stereographers is well demonstrated by the number of times they have been in the number one position.
Ron Fredrickson
Year
Top of the Tops
1953
Ted Laatsch
1954
Conrad Hodnik, Ted Laatsch, Fred Wiggins
1955
Jack Stolp
1956
Fred Wiggins
1957
Lew Miller
1958
Fred Wiggins
1959
Lew Miller
1960
Lew Miller
1961
Lew Miller
1962
Conrad Hodnik, Lew Miller
1963
Vic Pagel
1964
Art Neill
1965
Art Neill
1966
Art Neill
1967
Art Neill
1968
Al Sieg
1969
Al Sieg
1970
Art Neill
1971
Lorraine Vokoun
1972
Art Neill
1973
Ted Lambert
1974
Art Neill
1975
Ted Lambert
1976
Stergis Stergis
1977
Stergis Stergis
1978
Martin Folb
1979
Martin Folb
1980
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1981
Martin Folb
1982
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1983
Martin Folb
1984
Gene Kirksey
1985
Charles Jones (Australia)
1986
Gene Kirksey, Colma Jones (Australia)
1987
Martin Folb
1988
Martin Folb, Joe Maskasky
1989
Valeria Sardy
1990
Martin Folb
1991
Valeria Sardy, Al Sieg
1992
Bob Bloomberg
1993
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1994
Valeria Sardy
1995
Valeria Sardy
1996
Valeria Sardy, Peter Schnehagen (Germany)
1997
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1998
Bob Bloomberg, Allan Griffin, Al Sieg
1999
Allan Griffin (Australia)
2000
Allan Griffin, Al Sieg
2001
Dennis Hanser
STEREO PHOTO OF THE YEAR
By Ron Fredrickson, Stereo Division Historian and Curator
Published in Dimensions Three, 5.4, January 2003The announcement of the new Realist Slide of the Year Award appeared in the PSA Journal for December 1959 (see D3, August/September 1994, page 9). The winners of this award from 1959 to 1965 were published in D3 (December/January 1997, page 7) and are also reproduced here.
After 1965 the award was no longer sponsored by Realist but was continued as the Stereo Slide of the Year by the Stereo Division. Winners of this honor over the years are shown here. After 1994 the name of the award was changed to Image of the Year because stereo cards were introduced into the competition. In 2002 the name was changed again, to Stereo Photo of the Year, to emphasize that photography must be the basis of the image
This prestigious award is given to the best stereo photo image (slide or card) which has received an Award or Honorable Mention in a PSA recognized stereo international exhibition. The judging of all of these eligible images is held at the annual PSA International Conference as one of the Stereo Division program offerings.
Ron Fredrickson
Year
Realist Slide of the Year
1959
John Paul Jensen
1960
Mattie C. Sanford
1961
Lucille Kosinske
1962
Lewis F. Miller
1963
Arthur Y. Neill
1964
Paul S. Darnell
1965
Victor Pagel
Year
Stereo Slide of the Year
1966
Conrad Hodnik
1967
Lorraine Vokoun
1968
Rudolf Ströbl (Austria)
1969
Ted Lambert
1970
Charlene Kulha
1971
Marjorie Griffin
1972
Arthur Y. Neill
1973
John Paul Jensen
1974
Dorothea van Westrienen
1975
Lester L. Lauck
1976
Colma Jones (Australia)
1977
Gerhard H. Mildner (Austria)
1978
Stergis M. Stergis
1979
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1980
Charles W. Jones (Australia)
1981
Susan Pinsky
1982
Steven L. Aubrey
1983
Franz Lieser (Germany)
1984
Stan White (Canada)
1985
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1986
Stan White (Canada)
1987
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1988
Robert Brand (Australia)
1989
Allan Griffin (Australia)
1990
Martin A. Folb
1991
Albert L. Sieg
1992
Martin A. Folb
1993
Albert L. Sieg
1994
J. Perrin
Year
Stereo Image of the Year
1995
Stan White (Canada)
1996
Albert L. Sieg
1997
Paul Milligan
1998
Günther Gerlich (Austria)
1999
Rolf-Joachim Skolaster (Belgium)
2000
Boris Starosta
Year
Stereo Photo of the Year
2001
Albert L. Sieg
SD SERVICE AWARDS
By Ron Fredrickson, Stereo Division Historian and Curator
Published in Dimensions Three, 5.2, May 2002
Name of Recipient
Year
Paul S. Darnell
1963
Ray B. Doherty
1963
Lawrence A. Dormal
1963
Marjorie Griffin
1963
Helen Brethauer
1964
Dorothy Hodnik
1964
Harold Tregallas
1964
John T. Chord
1965
Everett A. Huffine
1965
Alfred Mahring
1965
Helen Erskine
1966
Dorothea van Westrienen
1967
John T. Chord
1970*
James H. Dinwiddie
1971
Ron Fredrickson
1974
No awards given from 1974-1993 **
Marie Francoise Brasquies
1993
Jerry Walter
1993
Valeria Sardy
1994
William Papke
1995
Paul S. Darnell
1995*
Caryl Chaplin
1996
Warren Callahan
1996
Francis Walling
1997
Stan White
1997
David Thayer
1998
Allan Griffin
1999
Mary Bury
2000
Paul Milligan
2000
Pauline Sweezey
2001
H. Lee Pratt
2001
* Special Service Award
** There is a long gap between Service Awards from 1974 to 1993, and I have been unable to learn why this was. Certainly there were deserving persons during that period. If I have made an error and Service Awards were made to anyone during that time, please let me know so that I can correct my records. For brevity I have omitted PSA Honors in this listing but many of those named are/were APSAs, FPSAs, and Honorary PSAs.
Ron Fredrickson
