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A slideshow of some of Phyllis’s photography.

About Phyllis

Photographer, activist, English teacher at CRLS

Since she moved to Cambridge in 1964, Phyllis Bretholtz has become one of the hardest-working custodians of the city’s history and culture. From 1970-1998, she worked as an English teacher at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, where she inspired generations of Cambridge students to actively engage with their community.

Bretholtz’s photography has documented a half century of evolution and change in Cambridge since she studied the medium at MIT from 1966-67. Her many projects have always centered the vibrancy and character of the community, such as her 2010 exhibition Central Square: Then and Now.

As the area changes, Bretholtz has dedicated herself to preserving Cambridge’s longstanding commitment to social justice. She has lent her time and photography skills to the Cambridge Arts Council, Cambridge Women’s Commission, and she has widely advocated for locally-owned businesses and affordable housing.

In 2020, the Cambridge Community Foundation named 20 exceptional artists and creators as Cambridge Cultural Visionaries, a diverse and talented group of individuals who have had a major impact on cultural richness in Cambridge and beyond. In October 2020, the Foundation joined forces with the City of Cambridge to establish the Cultural Capital Fund, to address urgent needs in the sector due to the pandemic. The Foundation also committed to building a long-term endowment for the arts and culture sector through the Cultural Capital Fund, drawing inspiration from its Cambridge Cultural Visionaries, who credit the city with fostering their creativity. MEET MORE VISIONARIES >>>