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Spelman Spotlight December 1981 Page 13 Faculty Focus: Jo Moore Stewart Keeping Spelman’s Image Alive By Kimberly Harding Whenever there is an impor tant event around Spelman College’s campus, you will almost always find Spelman’s current Director of Publications and Communications present at the scene. A woman who loves her work, Ms. Jo Moore Stewart can often be seen at campus - related activities with pen and paper in one hand, and in the other, her 35mm camera. Although her written 'contract only employs her as a writer and editor of school publications, Ms. Moore contributes her photography, designs, and layout skills as well because she enjoys exercising her skills. “I just make it a part of the total package that represents me,” she says. Ms. Stewart is employed under the Office of Development. Her department is kept busy presen ting the Spelman image through press releases, radio an nouncements, publications of Student Life Bulletins, catalogs for the Office of Admissions, and poster promotions for the different educational departments. “Our job is to make the college look very good and positive. It’s a part of our public relations," she explains. Born and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa, Ms. Stewart says she has been interested in photography since age two, when she owned an empty box camera.” I was influenced by my grandfather, Fielding S. Johnson, who was a photographer by hobby. He owned his own dark room, and he had a good sense of camera work. I remember his photographing me when I was two years old. I looked like someone from “Our Gang."Still another vehicle that led me towards photography was the beautiful photography in the movie “Gone With The Wind.” I have a vast collection on that movie.” During the ensuringyears,Ms. Stewart’s interest in the visuals grew. “I’ve always liked people and pictures. I didn’t have any technical training initially. I had to pick that up in college. But, I did have the ability to see things a certain way, and that is probably the important aspect of photography.” After receiving a degree in photojournalism from the Un iversity of Iowa, where she was chief photographer for the school newspaper, she became a staff photographer for the Mason City Globe Gazette in Mason City, Iowa. The duration of her employment with the Globe was seven years in which time her first book was publish ed, entitled “The Camera’s Choice: Children," a photography guide for amateur parent photographers. She ad mits, “Since I was influenced by photography indirectly at such an early age, I've always enjoyed pictures and children in com bination.” Ms. Stewart’s love for children directed her towards free lance photography for a children's photography business for another seven years. Inthattime, another book was published entitled “Child of Hope,” a pictorial focus on a migrant family whom Stewart had been photographing for a year. Leaving Mason City after es tablishing 15 years residency, Ms. Stewart moved to Des Moines, where she managed to become associated with Better Homes and Gardens books and magazines. "While I was on staff with the book department, I was craft editor. My job was to edit crochet instructions, and I didn’t even know how to crochet,” she says. Shifting to a more fulfilling area, Ms. Stewart became assis tant editor of magazines and was later promoted to associate editor and cartoon editor. Non-black Iowa offered little social life for Ms. Stewart. Now, she and her children - David, 16, and Alyssa, 12, reside in east Atlanta. “I was only editing and writing at Better Homes and I missed the photography. Leav ing Iowa, I was not only looking for better job opportunities, but I was also looking for a place where my children would have a better social life, so I chose Atlanta. That is why I like Spelman. My job combines my photography, editing, and writing skills in one package, and working for the Development Office has also given me the opportunity to meet some very interesting people.” The Spelman Messenger, a quarterly publication whose main readership is alumnae, reflects Ms. Stewart’s talent. Presiding as the magazine's staff editor, she states, “I think you want to keep a magazine exciting and growing along with your readership. This is what we attempt to do.” The month of November marks the fourth year of Ms. Stewart’s career at Spelman, and she has seen many issues of the Messenger leave the press. Of all the magazines she has publish ed, the “Celebration” issue is her favorite. "I was particularly pleased with the centennial issue, because it was the biggest undertaking! have had thus far,” said Ms. Stewart. "It was not just a matter of compiling materials from the Centennial Celebration (Spelman’s historical book written by Beverly Guy- Sheftall), but it entailed taking the same material and repackag ing it so that the magazine would not replicate the book. I think the “Celebration” issue is my favorite, also, because it is the best of the past as well as the current, and hopefully, the ob jective future. You can only do the one - hundredth once. At least, once in my lifetime.” Other campus involvements for Ms. Stewart have included editing, selecting photos and preparing layouts for the book "Spelman’s Centennial Celebra tion.” She also helped organize the Centennial Room located under Packard Hall, and she has edited 40 tapes of Spelman’s talking history for the "Sounds of Spelman” Corner, She, along with Mr. Christopher Reynolds of the media department, also produced a promotional film focusing on Annie Alexander (Spelman’s oldest living alumna) and she has plans for a 2nd century promotional film. Ms. Stewart does not plan to remain in the academic environ ment. Her future goal is to open a black toy museum. Ms. Stewart feels that, “when you looked at the toy market and the toys they produce, particularly dolls,quite frequently you feel shafted. We (Blacks) are either characterized improperly, or not dressed as fancy as the white dolls. I would like to see some changes in that area. My mother was a doll collector, I was a doll collector, a v nd my daughter is now a doll collector, and I thought, 'since we lived in a museum, why not open one?” Ms. Jo Moore Stewart is a warm, talented young woman with a confident sense of self. For students uncertain about their career objectives, she suggests that, as we talk about careers here at Spelman, they under stand it’s okay to change or careers. At one time, I was going into motion picture research writing, and then I got interested in photojournalism. It is impor tant that you enjoy what you are doing, and I certainly enjoy what I’m doing here at Spelman.” Compiling the Spelman Messenger’s “Celebration” issue, editing tapes for the “Sounds of Spelman” corner, and selecting photos & preparing layouts for the “Spelman Centennial Celebration” book are some of Ms. Stewart’s proudest accomplishments.