Veteran photographer Chick Harrity, celebrated for his powerful images of the Vietnam War and eight U.S. presidents, died on September 15 at the age of 87. Harrity began his career in 1956 at a newspaper in his hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, before joining the Associated Press (AP) where he spent 26 years, including 13 in the Washington bureau.
Iconic war photography and White House coverage
Among Harrity’s most famous photographs is the haunting picture of a baby girl lying in a cardboard box beside her brother in Saigon, a stark reminder of the war’s human cost. He also captured a teary‑eyed Richard Nixon on August 9, 1974, as the president bid farewell to White House staff during his resignation.
Harrity served on the White House press corps for 33 years, documenting presidents from Lyndon B. Johnson through George W. Bush. His work earned him the Associated Press Managing Editors’ award for excellence in photography, the National Press Photographers’ Association’s Joseph Sprague memorial award, the Leica Medal of Excellence, and the White House News Photographers Association’s lifetime achievement award.
Personal life and legacy
He served in the Air National Guard and attended Kent State University. After retiring from U.S. News and World Report on April 1, 2001, Harrity moved to northern California, where he contributed to the Calistoga Tribune and local arts groups. His wife of 51 years, Yvonne Henry, remembered his “fantastic sense of humor” and his belief that life had been “a wonderful ride.”
Colleagues praised his ability to quickly build relationships that enabled him to capture compelling images in unfamiliar settings. Retired AP photographer Nick Ut called Harrity “an amazing photographer,” while fellow veteran Neal Ulevich highlighted his skill at getting along with anyone on a story.
Harrity is survived by his wife, Yvonne, and a close‑knit circle of family and friends who remember him as both a talented visual storyteller and a beloved, witty individual.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
