William Spencer 'Dad' Lively-Southern School of Photography
 

A view from the east of the Southern School of Photography, McMinnville, Tenn.
	In a disastrous fire in 1928, the west and central wings were destroyed along with the world's largest camera and other valuable equipment. The school was continued for two years after the fire, and was discontinued due to advanced age. "Dad" spent sixty years in photography. The world's largest camera was constructed on the third floor of the school through cooperation of the Eastman Kodak Company. The camera measured eleven feet long, six feet high, and five feet wide, and was constructed by Sam T. Lively. Eastman furnished the negatives, glass plates 30 x 60 inches. Pictured below are greatly reduced copies of three photographs made from the large camera, each 30x60 inches, one and one-third times natural sizes. All photos were widely acclaimed and the center photo is permanently displayed in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. "Dad" Lively was referred to as the "Dean of American Photographers." His book on Lighting was sought by photographers everywhere.