Ansel Adams at Langson Library. Photograph by Richard Schlesinger, 1966.

On this day in 1902, the great Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, California. In 1966, less than one year after UCI admitted its first students, Adams came to photograph the distinctive buildings on the Irvine campus. This was part of a project commissioned by UC President Clark Kerr to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the University of California in 1968. The photographs were published in the commemorative book, Fiat Lux, and are currently in the California Museum of Photography, Sweeny/Rubin Ansel Adams Fiat Lux Collection at UC Riverside.

Ansel Adams getting his beard trimmed. Photograph by Liliane De Cock, ca. 1966.

Here Adams is shown having his beard trimmed by Nancy Newhall, who wrote the accompanying text for his photographs in Fiat Lux as well as numerous other books.

Photos from AS-061, Box 128.  Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.