🕰️ Where It All Began
Founded on 27 July 1891, the Port Elizabeth Camera Club is the second oldest camera club in South Africa.It began as the Port Elizabeth Amateur Photographic Society, formed by a group of enthusiasts eager to share knowledge and explore the science of photography. A Herald article from that same week noted that the Society aimed “to provide a good studio and conveniences for the study and practice of the science of photography.”Membership was ten shillings and sixpence per year — and, notably, ladies as well as gentlemen were welcome. 💬 Inclusivity has been part of our DNA since day one.🏛️ The Athenaeum LegacyEarly meetings were held in members’ homes, but the club soon became instrumental in reviving the Athenaeum, a shared cultural space for arts and science.By 1896, a new building was completed on the hill — and the Photographic Society helped fund it. In return, the club was granted permanent, rent-free use of the space. Today, we meet in Walmer, but the Athenaeum remains a proud part of our story and legacy.
The Beanie Tradition
In the 1960s, PECC members led by the late Barrie Wilkins made their mark at the PSSA Annual Congress — sporting black beanies with white pom-poms for group photos.The quirky look became a much-loved PECC tradition, symbolizing unity and spirit.
After Barrie’s passing, the beanie was retired — but the sense of belonging remains stitched into the fabric of our club.
🧤 Tradition, humour, and heart — the PECC way.
Our Emblem
Our badge features a camera lens crowned by a ship — the Chapman, the first 1820 Settler ship to arrive in Algoa Bay.It reflects our club’s vision: rooted in history, focused on the future.
Milestones:
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1891 – Founded as Port Elizabeth Amateur Photographic Society
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1934 – Renamed the Port Elizabeth Camera Club
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1960s – Famous “Beanie Tradition” born
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2000s – Transition to digital photography
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Today – A thriving creative community in the Friendly City