Melvin "Dutch" Hedine was born on December 29, 1913, in Montana. His parents were Alfred and Josephine Hedine. Hedine graduated from Missoula County High School and attended the University of Montana. At the university, he was active with the Masquers drama club theatre productions between 1930 and 1935. Hedine graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 1935. Hedine went on to receive a P.P.A. from the Los Angeles Art Center School and an Education Credential at Los Angeles State College. During World War II, he served as a U.S. Army combat photographer. In the early 1950s, he remained in the U.S. armed services.
Melvin Hedine went on to work as a technical illustrator at Hoffmann Electronics, Miller Dial, and Lockheed Aircraft Co. He was also involved in producing educational filmstrips and national display photography. Hedine had photography accounts with such companies as Chanel, Sunkist, and Max Factor. He was a senior precision photographer at Northrop Laboratories for a period of time. At Northrop, Hedine worked on electronic circuitry and in the early 1960s, he developed new procedures to reduce photograph development time. Hedine died on May 7, 1982 and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Escondido, CA.
From the guide to the Melvin Hedine Papers, 1930-1972, (Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)
