Wright, Frank, 1908-1976 : Frank Wright, photographer, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, was educated at Hamilton Technical Institute, and became a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. During World War II, he worked in ammunitions at Canadian Westinghouse and the United Carr Fastner Co. of Canada.
Following an industrial accident, Wright free-lanced for the Toronto Telegram before establishing his own photography studio, the Frank Wright Photography Studio, in Burlington, Ontario. He was a member of the Commercial and Press Photographers Association of Canada and of the Professional Photographers of Ontario. He was president of the latter, 1965-1967, and became custodian of its records, including those of its predecessor, the Photographic Association of Canada/Professional Photographers of Ontario.
In 1884, members of the Huron Photograph Society, Ontario, founded the Photographers Association of Canada during a convention in Toronto. The Association represented the first attempt to establish a large scale association of photographers in Canada. It encouraged its members to establish standard prices for their work in order to upgrade the standard of photography by reducing the number of itinerant photographers who sold poor quality work at cut-rate prices. Aspiring "to improve the science and art of photography by diffusing scientific knowledge among its members", the association held annual conventions where guest speakers lectured on the problems of photographic technique or demonstrated new products and methods.
Canadian photographers exchanged ideas with their American counterparts from time to time by attending the annual conferences of the Professional Photographers of America.
By 1921 the association realized that most members came from within Ontario, and changed its name to the Ontario Society of Photographers. The problems posed by inexpensive, inferior photography continued to arouse the concern of the membership over the years. During the Second World War the Society drew up a Code of Conduct by which each member pledged to adhere to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, to avoid unfair competitive practices, i.e. discount prices, and the use of coupons, to refrain from copying another member's work and to maintain a high standard of professionalism in their work and business affairs. The association incorporated itself as the Professional Photographers of Ontario in 1961.
