Orlin R. Kohli was born January 18, 1897 in Pandora, OH to Emanuel D.
and Sarah (Schumacher) Kohli. He was the youngest of six sons in a
family of ten children. He matriculated from Pandora High School and
attended Wheaton College from 1916-1920. During WWI he was stationed at
Camp Sherman, in Sherman, OH and maintained a correspondence with
college president Charles Blanchard. Due to a health problem following
WWI he went to Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado,
Boulder in 1922 with a bachelor's degree in social science. He married
Alice Kelley of Wheaton in 1922 and had a son and two daughters. He
taught at the State Agricultural school at Ft. Lewis, CO and at Hammond,
IN high school. After this brief teaching career, Mr. Kohli began
developing his early enthusiasm for photography into a lifetime
profession. He opend his first studio in the Smith building shortly
after moving back to Wheaton in 1936. Ten years later the Kohli Studio
was relocated at 212 N. Hale St., Wheaton. Early in his career Mr. Kohli
was awarded scholarships to the Winona School of Photography, and his
portraiture work was recognized in the Wheaton community and by members
of his profession. The Professional Photographers of America have twice
honored him, first in 1953 by conferring him the degree of Master of
Photography and in 1966 when he was presented the organization's
National Award for service to professional photography. In 1968 he was
named Wheaton's Official Photographer by the city council. He was active
in regional professional organizations, such as the Chicago Association
of Photographers, the Northern Illinois Photographers Asssociation and
as president of the Illinois Photographers Association in 1948-49. In
1962 he was elected to membership in the American Society of
Photographers. He retired in 1945 from the Wheaton Public Library Board
after serving 12 years, including a term as president. He was also
involved in other community, civic and school organizations. He was a
charter member of the Wheaton Kiwanis Club, president of the Lions Club
(1949-41) and charter member of the Geneva Road Baptist Church in
Wheaton, IL. He died on May 20, 1983 (age 74) in Winfield, IL and was
survived by his wife, three children and five grandchildren. |
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