The Hall of Fame would love those as a donation.
“I saw some pictures I’ve never seen before — and most people have never seen,” said Pat Kelly, a picture archivist at the Hall of Fame.
Kelly was able to see some of the images through e-mail. She hasn’t seen all of them, but understands what they represent.
The photos — some of them autographed — were taken by the late Forrest S. Yantis, a Troy insurance salesman who dabbled in photography. He took the photos in the 1920s and ’30s and Whitaker, his daughter, always figured that the 16-by-20 inch pictures stored in an old box under her mother’s bed would stay in the family.
Now, she’s not so sure.
“I’m having a meeting with my family,” Whitaker, 80, said.
On the collectables market, the 100 photos and 70 graflex 4-by-5 negatives, likely are worth thousands.
“I’ve been here 25 years and maybe have seen one collection like this one, and that was a long time ago,” Kelly said.
Keep reading: Woman cherishes father's photos
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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