McKay, Rollin H., 1878-1960

Born in Nebraska in 1878, Rollin H. McKay came to Missoula, Montana, from Coos Bay, Oregon, in 1905. He practiced barbering with George Miller who operated a barber shop in the First National Bank building on East Front Street in Missoula.

By 1911, he was in business as a commercial photographer in the Higgins Bank building. The noted Missoula photographer of the day was F. M. Ingalls who had been photographing Missoula people and scenes since the 1880s. By 1915 Ingalls no longer was in the photography business and McKay had moved to the First National Bank building on the corner of Higgins Avenue and Front Street, the former location of Ingalls' studio. In 1924 McKay built his own building at 120 North Higgins. During his career, McKay was the prominent photographer of Missoula. He photographed Missoula street scenes, outdoor views of the Missoula vicinity, native American scenes and Missoula area people.

In addition, during the years that the University had no photographic facilities, and following Morton J. Elrod's disability, McKay photographically documented University buildings, people, and events.

He was active in the business community in Missoula and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1929. He was also a emember of Rotary and the Elks, and helped start the Boy Scouts in western Montana. He was also a member of the Methodist Church.

McKay and his wife, Ethie, had one daughter, Betty.

In 1946, he retired and his son-in-law, Richard C. Butler, took over the business. McKay died in Missoula on February 21, 1960.

From the guide to the R. H. McKay Photographs, 1880-1965, (University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)