Merle Junk, Mid-Twentieth Century Olympia Photographer

Olympia has been home to many professional photographers over the decades. One of the leading commercial photographers in the mid-20th century was ...

May 27, 2023
12:54 PM

Olympia has been home to many professional photographers over the decades. One of the leading commercial photographers in the mid-20th century was Merle Junk. From snapshots of events and buildings to weddings and family portraits, his work offers a window into history, bridging the past and present. Merle Junk Early Life Merle Pinkerton Junk was born on June 2, 1899 in Fairfax, Iowa to James Junk (1848-1936) and Lucretia Loomis Junk (1853-1944), the youngest of six children. The family soon moved from their farm in Iowa to Montesano, Washington before relocating to Olympia in 1908.

Jennifer Crooks