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Melvin Allison Ivory came to Ann Arbor in the mid-1920s from Lansing, where he had done amateur photo finishing for his father's two drugstores. While an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, Ivory became a photographer for the Alumni Association. He continued to handle photo finishing "both amateur and professional" for Calkins-Fletcher Drug Company after graduating from the university in 1931. In addition, Ivory Photographic Services became the official photographer for the Michigan Alumnus, Michiganensian, and the Bureau of Alumni Relations. In 1937 Mel Ivory and his brother Gail Ivory founded the Ivory Photo Engraving Company at 1030 East University Avenue in Ann Arbor. In 1944 Mel Ivory bought the business of photographer Oscar Mahlke, including his photo finishing equipment and contracts with local businesses. Eventually, Ivory was doing daily photo finishing for more than forty stores in Ann Arbor and neighboring towns. Ivory Photo moved to 606 South Main Street in 1948. When Mel Ivory died in 1972, his daughter Susan Ivory Shipman and her husband Robert Shipman took over the business. In 1982 the Shipmans sold Ivory Photo to Diane and Michael Hough. Ivory Photo is no longer in business.
Content Warning
The Bentley Historical Library aims to describe materials in this and every other digital collection respectfully. However, the items in this collection - which represent perspectives from predominantly white photographers in Ann Arbor in the 20th century - contain sensitive material or material that may be harmful to encounter. Reproducing these photos does not represent an endorsement from the library but are offered for research purposes and to preserve the cultural record. While preparing this material for online public access, Bentley staff identified problematic content including, but not limited to, images of racist practices, cultural insensitivity or appropriation, photographs of deceased adults and children, and the aftermath of accident scenes.
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