Beck, Henry C. (Henry Charles), 1919-2004

Kent State began offering classes in journalism in 1927, the same year the official campus newspaper, The Kent Stater, was founded. With increasing enrollment Journalism was established as its own department in 1932 and as a school in 1940. Professor William Taylor was hired to head the department in 1936 and it remained under his leadership for the next 27 years. Features of the department/school have included the support of several journalism honorary societies, the establishment of a strong alumni association and the operation of a number of annual conferences, clinics and institutes, including the Northeastern Ohio Scholastic Press Association Clinic. The school moved from Merrill Hall to Taylor Hall in 1967, and today Kent State University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication is housed in Franklin Hall.

From the guide to the Kent State University, School of Journalism records, 1926-1988, 1938-1965, (Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.)

Henry C. Beck Jr. was the Chief Photo-intelligence Officer of the 397th Bombardment Group (M)

Henry C. Beck Jr. (1919-2004) was born to Henry C. Beck Sr. and Lorena Black Beck of Cleveland, Ohio on February 16, 1919. His interest in photography began at the age of 12 when he was part of a school program for talented children. He graduated from Kent State University with a four year degree in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Army that October. He requested to be a photographer in the Army Air Corps. A week after the attack on Pearl Harbor he was asked to attend Officer Candidate School and after a short assignment in Boca Raton, Florida he attended air intelligence school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Upon completion of the air intelligence school he was sent to MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida and assigned as a photo interpreter in the 397th Bomb Group. The 397th moved to England in April of 1944 and was assigned to the 9th Air Force. From their base in Rivenhall the 397th helped prepare for D-Day by attacking coastal defenses, V-weapon facilities, bridges, airfields and marshalling yards. The 397th moved to France in August of 1944 and Holland in April of 1945 providing support for the allied drive to Germany. Beck rose to become the Chief Photo Intelligence Officer for the Bomb Group. In 1946 Beck edited and published a collection of photographs from the Bomb Group entitled The 397th Bomb Group: A Pictorial History. Beck married Carol Nellie Crites on September 3, 1950. He worked as a color editor and photo editor for various newspapers and in 1960 returned to Kent State University to teach Press Photography. Retiring from the university in 1984 he remained active travelling, planning exhibits and as a member numerous organizations including the B-26 Marauder Historical Society and Ninth Air Force Association.

From the guide to the B-26 Marauder Archives, Henry C. Beck Jr. Collection 1928-1992, 1928-1992, 1943-1945, (Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron)