Van Deren Coke

Frank Van Deren Coke, F. Van Deren Coke, or Van Deren Coke (July 4, 1921 – July 11, 2004) was an American photographer, scholar and museum professional. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and died in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Early career Coke's introduction to photography began as a practicing photographer. He studied with Nicholas Haz at the Clarence H. White School of Photography and later with Ansel Adams. He had his first exhibition at the University of Kentucky in 1940 while he was there studying history and art history.

Museum jobs Coke was the founding director of the University of New Mexico Art Museum from 1962 to 1970. In 1970—during Beaumont Newhall's final year—he served as Deputy Director and from 1971 to 1972 as Director of the George Eastman Museum (then George Eastman House). From 1979 to 1987 he was director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's photography department.

Notable publications