Ned Westover Papers

Born in Reno, Nevada in 1917 to Pauline E. and Charles W. Westover, Ned Beryl Westover spent his early years there and received his extensive photographic training at a commercial and portrait studio in Reno while studying engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. During his time at the University, he worked as a student photographer for the Artemisia yearbook and the U. of N. Sagebrush, the student newspaper. He graduated from the University in 1938.

Westover's college experience led to freelance work for Reno newspapers, United Press International (UPI), Associated Press (AP), and, later, the New York Daily News. His work was published in Life, Look, and other magazines. This lucrative hobby paid for his education. Other commercial assignments included the Reno Rodeo Association, Nevada Chamber of Commerce, and colleges in five western states.

Snapping photos of celebrities in Reno enabled him to work for two years as a still photographer for a major Hollywood studio following World War II. He took portraits of many familiar faces, including Hedy Lamarr, Joan Crawford, and Bing Crosby. After those two years, Westover returned to engineering, but continued to take photographs in his spare time.

In 1964, Westover and his wife, Elsie "Mac", took their first trip abroad to Asia. Delighted with the interesting people and exotic landscape, Westover decided to make photography a vocation. His experience as a photojournalist helped him photograph people in their everyday environment. Since 1966, Westover took more than 120,000 photographs in over 80 countries.

As a member of the Photographic Society of American, Westover's images have been seen in over 56 juried shows across the United States. Since 1975, select photographs have been exhibited in invitational shows and galleries throughout Oregon, Washington, and California.

Ned Westover died on November 27, 2007 in Otis, Oregon at the age of 90.