Background
Macdonald, Pirie was born on January 27, 1867 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Doctor George and Margaret (Reilly) Macdonald.
Macdonald, Pirie was born on January 27, 1867 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Doctor George and Margaret (Reilly) Macdonald.
Engaged as photographer since 1883. Since 1900 exclusively photographer of mentor Has been awarded Cramer grand prize cup, grand prise for portraiture, diamond decoration, the laurel wreath, and 7 gold and 2 silver medals by Photographers’ Association of America. Bronze trophy, Boston, special silver medal and later gold medal, Indianapolis, diamond medal, Omaha.
Gold medal, Philadelphia, gold medal, Saint Louis Exposition, and medals in London, Birmingham, Belfast, Frankfort, Trier, Amsterdam, Brussels, Nancy and Paris.
First and third president Professional Photographers Society of New New York Member Chamber Syndicale Française de la Photographie.
Decorated Officier d’Academie, 1906. Palmes Academique, 1st class, 1920.
Honorary fellow Royal Photographic Society (Great Britain).
Member of council London Salon Photography. Member Saint Andrews Society.
He photographed over 70,000 men in the span of his career, including international heads of state, religious leaders, and artists. Born in Chicago, MacDonald moved to Hudson, New York in 1883, where he worked as a photographer"s apprentice prior to opening his own studio in Albany. Upon gaining a reputation in portraiture, MacDonald made the decision to only photograph men, a decision that even applied to family photos, and from that point on dubbed himself "Pirie MacDonald – Photographer of Men".
His prolific body of work encompasses many well-known men of the early to mid-20th century including Spencer Trask, Woodrow Wilson, William Ralph Inge, Seán O"Casey and Antoine Lumiére, all of which were taken within New York City save for Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Christian X of Denmark.
When asked about his most memorable portrait sittings, he listed Theodore Roosevelt as his most difficult subject.
Clubs: Pilgrims, Rotary, Professional Photographers of New New York Studio: 576 5th Avenue, New York, New New York
Married Emile VanDeursen, 1890.