For Photography In Central Massachusetts
Click here to read our Constitution And Bylaws
We compete in a variety of ways. Click here for more information.
The club meets at 7:00 PM, every third Wednesday in the months from September to May. We meet in Merriman Hall at 6 Institute Road in Worcester. (This is part of the United Congregational Church complex on Main Street (east) next to The Aud, which is the old Worcester Auditorium).
Our club has yearly dues, but we open up each meeting to the public for free. Only club members, however, are allowed to participate in competitions, voting, and so on.
This year, 2006, marks the 60th anniversary of the Seven Hills Camera Club. The organization was founded in 1946 by Leon Bascom and Paul G. Larson. Both men were members of the Norton Camera Club, and decided to get together in each others homes to view their color slides. Color slide film was relatively new then, having become popular with the general public in 1945. They soon invited others to join them, and the group grew quickly. The meetings went public on April 20th (an announcement was paced in the newspaper) and the meeting place moved to the Worcester Museum of Natural History (now the Ecotarium) on State Street. The Constitution and By-Laws was adopted in June, and the club was "dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of color slide photography". The name Photo-Color Club was chosen by vote and Leon Bascom became the first President. There were 35 charter members. Dues were $2.00.
In the early years, the club was unique among camera clubs in that it did not have competitions. The club was primarily a place to enjoy each other's slides and help members improve their technique through constructive comments and technical programs. Technical programs and frequent field trips were credited as being important reasons for the continued growth of the club. The year 1957 saw a few important changes. In February, the first issue of the club newsletter, "Highlights," was printed and in April, members voted to join the New England Camera Club Council (NECCC). Popular field trip destinations over the years were Northfield, MA, Cape Cod, the maine Coast and Old Sturbridge Village. Memberfship in 1960 reached 112, and included Wilfred Beriau, still an active member today.
A longtime club project called "Slides for Vets" began in the 1950's, when the American Red Cross, through the Photographic Society of America, requested slides from all camera clubs to be sent to Veterans Hospitals. When the project was discontinued in 1973, the Photo-Color Club had collected and sent over 18,000 slides over the years.
In 1974, the club voted to participate in the first Multi-Screen Competition with the Camera Club of Fitchburg, Wachusett Camera Club and the Monadnock Camera Club. The competition was held in Winchendon. In August of 1976, eight members took the ultimate field trip; a three week tour of Scotland, England and Wales. Also in that year, Dorothy Hayes resigned as "Highlights" editor after nearly 20 years of work on the newsletter as either printer or editor. After leaving the Museum of Natural History, meeting places over the years included the Museum of Science & Industry on Cedar Street, the YWCA, and the Chestnut Street Congregational Church. In 1984, meetings were moved to 6 Institute Road, in what was is now the United Congregational Church, where meetings are still held today.
With membership on the decline, January of 1990 saw a major change for the club, when an executive committee voted to open the club to all forms of photography. To reflect this change, the name Seven Hills Camera Club (7HCC) was chosen by vote in June of that year. Membership numbered 33 in December of 1991. February 1992 saw the club's first print competition. In December, 1993, member Roland Knight proposed creating an "Electronic Imaging Division" of the 7HCC to explore the use of computers to manipulate or enhance an original image. It would be several years before this would become a reality. The October, 1995 edition of "HIghlights" included an article by member Richard (Casey) Danek asking members to face the challenges of innovation in the new digital computing age. He predicted the creation of a club homepage on the World Wide Web, and talked of the possibilities of using the web to share photographs. A few members were using e-mail to exchange information. Jonathan Sachs presented a program on "Picture Window", a digital imaging program developed by his company.
Casey's club homepage prediction came true in May, 1996, when he created the club's website, and he continues to maintain the site today. Another member who was an early advocate of digital imaging, Bob Israelian, made the club's digital imaging division a reality in November of 2001. Led by Bob with help from Casey, the "7HCC Digital Group" began monthly meetings at the Worcester Public Library. They continue to be very popular meetings. The club newsletter was now being sent to all members via e-mail. Bob Israelian began a yearly digital archive of members' images, and Kodak would announce discontinuing the production of slide projectors in 2004. In our 2005-06 season, with digital photographers equaling, if not outnumbering, film photographers in the club, the decision was made to purchase a digital projector with club funds.
The incredibly fast-paced technical innovations and growth of digital photography remain both exciting and challenging. Instead of signaling the demise of our club, this has been the catalyst for growth. And although so much has changed for our club, some things stay the same. Club leaders past and present have struggled with the same basic question: how to make the club more helpful and enjoyable for members. May our club continue to meet the challenge to grow and enjoy photography for many years to come.
by Carol Morocco, based on previous club histories by Roy Bourgault, and Paul G. Larson, notes by Thora Fieldsend and "Highlights" archives.