John Alley was a photographer throughout his life. He was born in Rome, N.Y., and
graduated from Western Michigan University; he served in the U.S. Army primarily in
Europe from 1956-1960. He traveled all over the world and resided primarily in
Milwaukee, Wis., later in life.
Alley was Chief Photographer at UW-Milwaukee and taught various photography classes
there across different departments starting in the late 1960s. Before coming to UWM,
he was Chief Photographer at the University of Michigan and Director of Photography
for the government of American Samoa.
Alley won hundreds of awards over his lifetime of photo work, including from
National Press Photographers, Industrial Editors Association, Biological
Photographers Association, University Photographers Association and the Professional
Photographers of America.
