Origins & Early Life

William Eggleston (born July 27, 1939) is an American photographer. He is widely credited with increasing recognition of color photography as a legitimate artistic medium. Eggleston's books include William Eggleston's Guide (1976) and The Democratic Forest (1989). Eggleston received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1974, the Hasselblad Award in 1998, and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in 2003.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

William Eggleston was born in Memphis, Tennessee and raised in Sumner, Mississippi. His father was an engineer and his mother was the daughter of a prominent local judge. As a boy, Eggleston was introverted; he enjoyed playing the piano, drawing, and working with electronics. From an early age, he was also drawn to visual media and reportedly enjoyed buying postcards and cutting out pictures from magazines. At the age of 15, Eggleston was sent to the boarding school, the Webb School.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Eggleston later recalled few fond memories of the school, telling a reporter, "It had a kind of Spartan routine to 'build character'. I never knew what that was supposed to mean. It was so callous and dumb. It was the kind of place where it was considered effeminate...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alphonse Mucha — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Master of Art Nouveau, famed for decorative posters and The Slav Epic.
• Amelia Earhart — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Iconic American aviator whose pioneering flights shaped early 20th-century aviation.
• Barry Mann — Contemporary (Born in 1939) (1939): American songwriter and musician known for successful collaborations, especially with Cynthia Weil.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Shared historical date (07-27 · Died) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Alex Rodriguez — Shared historical date (07-27 · Born) (1975): Legendary baseball player and businessman, known as "A-Rod"
• Bobby Hull — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Iconic 'Golden Jet' of hockey, celebrated for speed and scoring prowess.
• Bobby Jones (singer) — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering gospel singer and television host from Nashville, Tennessee.
• A Day at the Races (album) — Historical peer (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Adolph Zukor — Historical peer (Died in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.
• A. J. Ayer — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• 1939 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1939
• July 27 (07-27) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 27