Onffroy, Roland T.
Biography
Roland Tancrede Onffroy was born January 30, 1911 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Roland Onffroy and Johanna C. Numons. Onffroy graduated from Syracuse University in 1934 with a degree in electrical engineering, and went on to serve in the 805th Signal Service Company during World War II. Onffroy was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service.
Onffroy's career as a commercial photographer appears to be realtively brief. According to advertisements in the Idaho Statesman, he partnered with Paul M. Shanafelt to launch Shanafelt and Onffroy in 1946. The pair dissolved their partnership in May of 1947 when Onffroy launched The Roland Studio, which operated out of the back of 714 Main Street in Boise, Idaho. None of Onffroy's work extends beyond 1949.
Roland was an amateur radio enthusiast (W7JE), a regular volunteer with the American Red Cross, a square dance caller, and a fixture of the Boise theater scene, having appeared in 31 productions between 1964 and 1983. He died November 1, 1994.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Roland T. Onffroy photograph collection
This collection contains 2440 black and white photographic negatives photographed by Roland T. Onffroy during his years working as a commercial photographer in Boise, Idaho between 1946 and 1948. Subjects include Boise Junior College athletics, fairs, weddings, Falk's department store, and equestrian competitions.