Randlett, Mary, 1924-

Nancy Blankenship Pryor was born in Walla Walla, WA in 1925. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, WA. She attended Whitman College and the University of Washington School of Librarianship. She was the chief librarian of the Washington/Northwest Room and the custodian librarian of the Washington Author's Collection. She served as the chief librarian of the Washington/Northwest Room for 15 years. In 1966 she helps create the Governor's Writers Awards. During the 1970's she served as chair woman of the Governor's Writers Day. She also authored a number of historical articles, collaborated or compiled historical books, and occasionally was a speaker on historical topics. She married Thomas Pryor and they had two children. She and her husband moved to Dixie, near Walla Walla, WA, to spend their retirement years. Ms. Pryor passed away on 3 March 1991.

Mary Randlett is a well known Northwest photographer. She was born Mary Willis on 24 May 1924 in Seattle, WA to Elizabeth and Cecil Willis. She and her sisters spent many of their summers on Bainbridge Island with her grandparents. Mary graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA in 1947. She was an apprentice photographer with Hans Jorgensen in Seattle, WA after graduation. By 1950 Mary had married Herbert Randlett and they had four children. She became earnest with her photography when her children began school in 1963. By 1972 Mary had divorced her husband and went to Virginia. In 1975 she returned to the Northwest where she became an established and known photographer. Ms. Randlett shot her photographs in black & white Tri-X film. She shoots in sharp focus and prints them in her dark room. She has five distinct bodies of work: architecture, nature, Northwest artists, Northwest writers and public art. She has won several awards including the 2001 Nancy Blankenship Pryor Award.

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