Brooks Institute occupied a unique place in American visual communications education for 70 years. With a unique professionally focused hands-on learning mode, it equipped photographers, videographers, and other visual communicators with career specific knowledge and a passion for high standards.
The Brooks tradition is alive through the memory of its 9,000 alumni who impacted media, arts, education, corporate communications, advertising, the sciences, and of course, underwater exploration. Brooks grads were known for excellence throughout the profession and around the world. Hear their story and be inspired.
JAMES NEIHOUSE, CLASS OF 77 WITH
JAMES O’KEEFE, CLASS OF 76
MARK SAYLOR, CLASS OF 80 WITH
JAMES O’KEEFE, CLASS OF 76
While Brooks Institute as we all knew it is gone, the Brooks spirit is alive in The Ernest Brooks Foundation. For many of us, our Brooks educational experiences—whether photographic, cinemagraphic, visual journalism, graphic design, or the fine arts—launched careers not otherwise possible. This oral history project, like the Brooks method, is unique. We will be the raw material, the producers, and the product. Brooks grads interviewing other Brooks grads.
We believe future generations will benefit from hearing our experiences. And as our beta testers have already discovered, rekindling friendships with colleagues after years or even decades is sublime and joyful.
Most importantly, we want to tell the story of Brooks through tales of individual careers – yours. Brooks grads have found success not only behind cameras, but also as producers, directors, teachers, and many other avenues of visual communications and allied professions. Their success – your success – is testament to the Brooks method.
We invite you to participate and ask for nothing except your time and commitment to tell your story. Follow the link here and let us hear from you.
