Linda Kaye, a 1963 graduate of Texas Christian University, photographed many of the school's events from 1959 until her death in the fall of 2007. Kaye was a well known independent professional photographer and her clients included the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the University of Texas, among others. She was a fixture on campus and played an important role in TCU's development throughout her career. In recognition of her contributions and accomplishments, the Schieffer School of Journalism inducted her into its Hall of Fame in October of 2007.
For nearly five decades Linda Kaye photographed people and events on TCU's campus and helped document the school's growth and development. Kaye was a well known freelance professional photographer, but as a TCU alumna (class of 1963) and avid Horned Frog sports fan, she dedicated much of her time to the university. Kaye is recognized for her pioneering role as a woman sports photographer, and she is perhaps most appreciated for her sports photography. She took candid shots as well as portraits and, in addition to documenting action on the sports field, was one of the first to capture players and coaches on the sidelines and in buses. Kaye eventually worked for every department on campus and photographed campus activities including convocations, graduations, and other university ceremonies.
Inspired by her father Max, also a photographer, Kaye first took up photography as a student at Paschal High School in Fort Worth. As a freshman at TCU in 1959, majoring in English and journalism, she joined the photography staff of the school's yearbook and student newspaper. She eventually became the sports editor of the newspaper, the Daily Skiff, and rose to the position of editor-in chief of the yearbook, the Horned Frog (a position she gave up to become Head Photographer).
Kaye continued to take pictures for TCU after her graduation in 1963. During her career as a photojournalist, she worked for the Associated Press, area news media, and local sports teams including the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, and the University of Texas. Among her mentors was Al Panzera, renowned sports photographer during the 1960s and 1970s for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Kaye photographed numerous professional athletes, politicians, and other celebrities during her career and her reputation as an influential photojournalist and sports photographer spread. Throughout her career she remained committed to TCU, and was a dedicated Horned Frog fan. TCU recognized Kaye's contributions and achievements by inducting her into the Schieffer School of Journalism's Hall of Fame shortly before her death from cancer in October, 2007.
Arranged in two series: Series I. TCU Photographs, 1962-2007. Series II. General Photographs, 1969-2007.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has been transferred to Texas Christian University.
Linda Kaye Collection. Special Collections, Mary Couts Burnett Library, Texas Christian University.
Gift of Linda Kaye, 2007.
The collection documents Linda Kaye's career, particularly her time spent photographing TCU events. Series I consists of images taken at TCU events or of TCU faculty, staff, and students. Photos of sporting events and the performing arts comprise the majority of the series. TCU athletics are thoroughly represented. Even though photos of football, basketball, and baseball are most common, this collection includes photos from nearly all men's and women's sports in which TCU fielded a team during Kaye's time as photographer (intramural teams not included). Photos of campus are spread throughout the series, under various titles. Series II includes images from Kaye's assignments outside of TCU. The series includes family and personal portraits, along with photos from business grand openings and other ceremonies, and photos of sporting events in which TCU teams did not participate.
The series includes photo negatives, prints, slides, CDs, publications, and ephemera documenting events relating to or sponsored by TCU. The series consists of two subseries: athletics and general university events.
The athletics subseries is arranged alphabetically by sport and chronologically within each sport. Game or action photos comprise the great majority of the material in the subseries, but still photos of the athletes, as well as photos of coaches and staff, facilities, special events, and summer youth camps are also present. In addition, schedules, rosters, scorecards, and promotional materials are included for many sports. The subseries consists of photographs of both men's and women's sports. The men's and women's basketball teams have separate entries in the inventory, the other sports that field both men's and women's teams are listed under a single entry. The mascot (SuperFrog), cheerleaders, and showgirls are featured in some of the game photos. The "general athletics" section contains photographs and memorabilia not specific to one particular sport. Photographs of Athletics Department events and employees, Frog Club events, fundraisers, awards and banquets, and sports facilities are part of this general section as well as photos of unidentified athletes, trainers, and athletic staff.
The general university events subseries consists of photographs of faculty and staff, students, campus, and events sponsored by TCU. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by last name, department name, or event title. There are many photographs of performing arts in this subseries, featuring performances by TCU's dance, music, opera, and theatre programs. Photographs of campus appear under the heading "campus views" and throughout the series according to the titles Linda Kaye assigned to them. Therefore, listings such as "fog on campus" or "Frog Fountain" may be of interest to those seeking shots of campus. Faculty and staff are listed alphabetically by last name or under the department in which they worked.
The series includes images from Linda Kaye's photo assignments not connected to TCU. It is arranged alphabetically by the name of the business or the last name of the person featured in the photos. The series includes family portraits as well as photos of business events and non-TCU sporting events.