Harry T. Becker, a Fairbanks photographer, lived in Alaska from 1932 to 1945. He specialized in photography at Syracuse University and while serving in the U.S. Signal Corp, recorded many scenes in France during World War I. He was employed in Alaska as photographer for the U.S. Geological Survey and later worked on the Alaska Railroad.

Becker's services as a photographer/cook on hunting and fishing expeditions were in great demand. Around 1934, Becker settled in Fairbanks and opened the Photo Shop. Becker's wife and partner hand-tinted many of the photographs since much of his work predated color film.

In 1935, he photographed Wiley Post and Will Rogers just before their flight to Barrow. These photographs, the last views of Rogers and Post before their fatal plane crash near Point Barrow, have been published many times without credit to Becker. The original prints were donated to the Will Rogers Museum in Los Angeles.

Becker eventually moved the Photo Shop from Fairbanks to Kodiak. After a few years in business in Kodiak, he closed because of poor health. In 1945 he left Alaska for Whidbey Is. where he stayed from 1945 to 1957. However, the winters became an increasing burden on his health and he eventually retired in Cayucas, California, where he grew flowers and fished until his death at age 87 on April 12, 1977. Source: Stanton H. Patty, Seattle Times, 2/1/76; Letter from Samuel Becker, nephew.