Allen Ayers Dutton

Allen Ayers Dutton

Phoenix - Allen Ayers Dutton, 95, renowned photographer and eccentric artist, passed away on December 9, 2017. Allen was born in Kingman, AZ. He served four years in the British and American Armies in North Africa and the Middle East during WWII. After he returned to Arizona in 1946, he attended ASU, and received a Master's Degree in History with a minor in Art. He taught at North High School in the 1950s. He was a professor of photography at Phoenix College from 1960 to 1982, where his classes were in high demand. He treasured life-long friendships with many of his former students. His photographic works are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Bibliotheque Nacionale in Paris, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC. His published photographic books include "Arizona Then and Now," "Phoenix Then and Now," "Strange But True: The Arizona Photographs of Allen Dutton, and "Real to Surreal." He photographed every community in Arizona, donated the body of this work to the Arizona Historical Foundation. He was also an accomplished painter, depicting the lives of wranglers and rhinos on the legendary Rocking AD Ranch. In his later years, he was a prolific writer of novels, poetry, and highly anticipated Christmas letters filled with tall tales of his exotic adventures with his beloved wife, Mary Ann Enloe Dutton. He was the recipient of many awards, acknowledging his contribution to the arts in Arizona. Allen was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriett (Tudie) Dutton, and by Mary Ann. He is survived by his three children, Nels Dutton, Elisabeth Dutton (David Bush), and Wendy Dutton (Paul Bussey). A Celebration of Life will take place in early 2018, at a date and location to be announced. Those wishing to commemorate Allen may contribute to the Allen A. Dutton Scholarship Fund at Phoenix College, or contribute to organizations he supported--The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, St. Mary's Food Bank, or The Union of Concerned Scientists.