#tbt - Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the “successful business venture” of Ross Harold Kramer and Carolyn Gabbard Kramer

For the couple who became a “Miami Merger” fifty-four years ago, it’s been a “long and interesting road” chronicling the world with cameras in hand.

Today Ross Harold Kramer and Carolyn Gabbard Kramer, Miami University grads who married in 1965 (thereby attaining “Merger” status) are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the “successful business venture” that has taken them around the world, capturing images of the celebrated and the unknown along the way.

As the Kramers celebrate the golden anniversary of “Photography, Etc.,” MidPointe Library is pleased to present an additional 250 photos to its already-popular “R. Harold and Carolyn G. Kramer Photograph Collection.” When completed, the collection will total around 825 local photographs. The collection can be accessed on MidPointe’s Digital Archives: http://www.midpointedigitalarchives.org/digital/collection/p16488coll14

The Kramer collection is one of several photo compilations generously donated to MidPointe by several individuals and institutions.

In addition to their online appearance, some Kramer photos are now available for viewing on a 70-inch interactive touchscreen (above) in MidPointe-Middletown's “Local History and Genealogy Gallery.” To find the Gallery, look for a model of the popular red-and-yellow Aeronca airplane flying overhead. The Gallery is just steps away from the “Ohio Room,” MidPointe’s mecca for genealogists and historians.

Among the stars in the Kramer photo compilation are Middletown area merchants, churches, schools, entertainers (like the popular singing group, the Determinations, pictured below) and so many more – all photographed by a couple who share those local roots. Harold, from Middletown, met Carolyn, from Franklin, in 1963 while working in the retail advertising department of the Middletown Journal. They eventually left the Journal, married in 1965 and established their popular photography business in 1969.

The Miami grads still recall the days they provided photos and wrote pamphlets and booklets about the university for C. Eugene Bennett, then director of Miami’s Middletown campus. They also produced basketball programs for Athletic Director and basketball Coach W. Lynn Darbyshire.

Having celebrated their 78th birthdays, the Kramers say they “still haven’t retired.” Instead, they “have decided to slow down, maintain their current clients and spend more time with forever friends.”

One of their joys is reflecting upon a shared career that’s taken them to Alaska twice, to Hawaii ten times, as well as to Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, many countries in Europe, Monaco, Greece, Turkey and the far corners of the world including Russia, Botswana, Zambia, Australia and New Zealand. Harold has also been to China and South Korea.

The Kramer lens has also captured images of some of the world’s most famous personalities. They include former presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, actor/former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, astronaut John Glenn, many entertainers from movie star Kevin Costner to musicians Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, the Florida Georgia Line and the Three Tenors (in Italy), and legendary sports figures Coaches Paul Brown, Urban Meyer, Lou Holtz and Bobby Knight.

That’s quite a resume for a 9-year-old lad who started developing black-and-white film in his parents' basement laundry tubs and a little girl who was always encouraged by teachers to take their art classes and eventually became editor of her high school newspaper.

These days the Kramers enjoy memberships in the Middletown Historical Society. Carolyn is also a charter and life member of the Franklin Area Historical Society. Both she and Harold have supported many youth programs in Middletown and Franklin and have volunteered at Butler County’s animal shelter since 1966. In fact, Carolyn served as the first woman president of the shelter’s Board of Trustees from 1983-1985. The couple continues to do photography for the newsletter of what is now known as the Animal Friends Humane Society.

When they’re not serving their community, the Kramers enjoy the “nearly forgotten memories” that return upon looking at photographs they’ve taken taken over the years.

“We talk about the things we used to do and relive the incredible travels we are able to experience again, vicariously through our photographs,” muses Harold, one half of a very proud Miami Merger.

*The following photos are from the Middletown Journal :

Top photo : Kramers (standing) at work, January 26, 1975

On picture slide : Harold Kramer with animal shelter supporters, October 22, 1978

Carolyn with animal shelter supporters, October 22, 1978

Carolyn at desk during renovation of Sorg Opera House, February 1, 1976

Advertisement for Kramer Photography Etc. from August 23, 1977

The photo slide also includes the following Kramer photos :

Restaurateur Jerry Brown with horse, Miss America 1978 Middletonian Susan Perkins with Quinton R. Reeder, and an aerial view of Middletown’s Smith Pond.

Previous copies of the Middletown Journal are available for viewing on microfilm at MidPointe Library-Middletown and online through MidPointe’s website:

www.midpointelibrary.org > eLibrary > Research Databases > Magazines and Newspapers > Newspaper Archive > Middletown Journal