Tracy W. O’Neal (1900-76) had a long career as a newspaper and commercial photographer in Atlanta. He was a longtime staff photographer for the Atlanta Georgian. When it ceased publication in 1939, he went to work for the Atlanta Journal, heading its photographic department from 1942 to 1952. He opened his own “commercial and photo news service” in 1952 and remained active as a commercial photographer until shortly before his death in 1976. He photographed events, people, and facilities for numerous corporations and nonprofits and was a skilled portrait and wedding photographer. His studio was located first at Auburn Avenue and Peachtree then in the Walco Sporting Goods Building on Pryor Street.
A Georgia native, O’Neal married Vera Williams, niece of the Lane brothers, photographers at the Georgian who started their own successful commercial photography company in Atlanta. The O’Neals had one son. Like his father, Tracy W. O’Neal, Jr. (1922-2003) was an active Shriner and Mason. Both O’Neals served as master of the W. D. Luckie Masonic Lodge in Atlanta and Tracy W. O’Neal, Sr. was the official photographer of the Yaarab Shrine Temple for many years.
Ringling Brothers circus setting up at Lakewood Park, Atlanta, 1950, N02-082_05. Hamel’s Food Store, exterior, N10-104_a.World’s Largest Sofa (at Sterchi’s Furniture Store), N24-227_a.First National Bank, Girl’s Softball Team, N09-037_a.Minesweeper building at Savannah, Georgia, N01-82_a.Atlanta skyline looking from top of City Hall, N01-28_a.Photographer Tracy O’Neal, 1959, N07-080_09.Tracy O’ Neal’s camera, 1959, N07-080_07.
Commercial Buildings
Some photographs of the famous buildings that still exist today taken by O’Neal.
Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Georgia Tech, was opened in 1956, this picture was taken by Tracy O’Neal in 1957, N05-127_a.Picture taken by O’Neal of a view looking south on Peachtree Road of the Georgian Terrace Hotel, Lucky Strike Bowling, Krystal Hamburgers, Commercial Trust building and the Fox Theatre in November of 1956, N05-030_c. Hurt building, back view, 1950s, still stands today accross from the Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design along Peachtree Center Avenue, N02-100_01Georgia Savings Bank building showing intersection at Peachtree and Broad Street, N02-96_01.Broad Street, looking north towards Peachtree Street, 1960, N08-092_a.Image includes the Fox Theater at right, Franklin Simon department store on left, 1956, N05-030_a.Alabama Street Looking toward Rich’s department store, 1953, N04-02_01.Envelope description: Varsity; North Avenue; For H. J. Heinz Company; Interior showing service counter and customers, 1958, N06-059_a.
