Collection consists of photographic images of the Vitone family in Akron, Ohio and other locations, as part of an ongoing photographic document called "Family Records." This is an ongoing portrait project which for the past 20 years has used large-format negatives to document families living around the Rust Belt City of Akron, Ohio, former home to the country's major rubber and tire producers. These portraits offer personal yet unsentimental views of the subjects finding purpose and evolving family structures in these largely blue-collar communities that at times wrestle with job insecurity and problems accompanying alcohol and opioid use.
Scope and Contents:
The collection consists primarily of 37 photographic prints, portraits of Vitone's extended family in the Akron, Ohio, area, plus other locations, forms part of an ongoing photographic document called "Family Records"; also two CD-Roms containing images and text.
Most of the images are posed environmental portraits showing the subjects' homes or other personal contexts. The original negatives are large-format; 4" x 5". The collection is arranged into two series. Series one is the photoprints and series two contains other materials.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into two series.
Series 1: Photoprints
Series 2: Other Materials
Biographical / Historical:
Joseph Vitone holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Fine Arts degree in photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is Professor of Photocommunications at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. In 1998, he began a photographic document project called "Family Records" using for the most part, immediate and extended families of both Vitone and his wife. The Vitones grew up in north-eastern Ohio. While the series also includes photographs taken in other states of farther flung family, the majority of the portrait subjects live in or near Akron, former home to the country's major rubber and tire producers including Goodyear, Goodrich, and Firestone. Norton and Barberton and other more rural communities neighboring Akron, serve as locations for many of these images along with Akron proper. He is the father of photographer Dylan Vitone.
Provenance:
These photographs were printed by Mr. Joseph Vitone in 2004 from the original negatives, especially as a gift to the Archives Center.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Reproduction restricted due to copyright. Copyright retained by Joseph Vitone.
