Bill Ericson and His PCC Legacy

A distinguished publisher who owned the South Pasadena Review, a weekly community newspaper, and The Quarterly Magazine, an upscale lifestyle magazine in the San Gabriel Valley, William “Bill” Ericson considered himself first and foremost a photographer. 

Raised in South Pasadena, Bill received his associate degree from PCC before earning his B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley. 

“He was a successful and highly sought-after advertising photographer,” says Nancy Lem, President of the William G. Ericson Foundation. “Though he spent his life in the publishing business, photography was his true passion and profession.” 

In 2022, the William G. Ericson Foundation partnered with the PCC Foundation to promote the advancement of photography studies through the compilation, publication, and distribution of Bill’s collected works to libraries and art schools. Additionally, the William G. Ericson Photography Competition and Scholarship Program was established, which will generate photographic art competitions and scholarship awards among students at PCC and within local high schools. 

“The Ericson and PCC Foundation partnership will give aspiring photographers resources and support for their art through the generosity of Bill’s legacy,” says Linda Wah, a member of the Ericson Foundation Board. “This is an awesome partnership that will maximize our outreach to many students in this field of study.”

“He was inspired by his parents’ love for community,” adds Nancy. “So it’s no surprise that his artistic legacy will live on this way and provide great opportunities to many talented PCC and local high school students.”

Bill’s newly published collected work, William Ericson Photography—A Retrospective, is available in the Shatford Library.