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Biography

As an amateur photographer, Solomon Fabricant used the pen name Sol Prom when he joined the Photo League in the 1930s. In his professional life he was an economist. Starting as a research assistant, he rose to become Director of Research at the National Bureau of Economic Research where he did pioneering research on the measurement of productivity. He was also a Professor of Economics at New York University and served on many private and governmental commissions and boards.

Photo League Chronology
1906Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., August 15.
1934Married Bessie Blacksin.
1936Joined the New York Photo League.
1936-1939Member of Feature Group of New York Photo League. Projects participated in include:
1937-1938: "Dead End: the Bowery"
1937-1938: "Park Avenue North and South"
1937-1939: "Harlem Document"
1938Prom Bowery photograph published in the American League for Peace and Democracy's journal, The Fight for Peace and Democracy (p. 17), October.
1939Participated in "Toward a Harlem Document" -- an exhibition that was first shown at the 135th St. YMCA and then at the Harlem Branch Library (135th St.) (February-March). In May exhibit moved to the New School for Social Research and then to the walls of the Photo League in June.
1939 Photographs by members of the Feature Group were published in Fortune, Look, U.S. Camera and Good Photography.
1940 Within a larger exhibit entitled "Pageant of Photography," Ansel Adams mounted an exhibition: "Toward a Harlem Document" which was exhibited at the 1940 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco.
1940-1970 Remained an amateur photographer throughout the 40's, 50's, and 60's using his home darkroom. From then on, subject matter was primarily family and people and sights on travels throughout the world.
1989Died September 13.

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