Russell C. Hamilton, a Cornell photographer in the former Visual Services department from 1970 until his retirement in 1981, died Dec. 16 at his home in Trumansburg, N.Y., of congestive heart failure. He was 89.

Born June 6, 1918, in Philadelphia, Hamilton was a newspaper photographer for the Philadelphia Bulletin before he joined Cornell. His news pictures also appeared in Time magazine and were distributed on the wire services. A stickler for image quality, regardless of film size, Hamilton helped put 35 mm cameras in the hands of reluctant newspaper photographers.

As the American consultant for Japanese camera companies in the 1950s and early 60s, Hamilton field-tested the single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras and lens systems that became standard equipment for photojournalists. He shared his knowledge of 35 mm photography in articles for trade publications and Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia.

At Cornell, Hamilton documented the troubled times (after the 1969 Willard Straight Hall takeover, through the anti-war protests, to the 1972 occupation of Carpenter Hall), as well as the triumphs. A jocular man in the white Santa beard, Hamilton charmed his photographic subjects -- making them as comfortable in front of the lens as he was behind. He was the photo editor of the Cornell Chronicle in the 1970s. In the amateur "ham" radio community, locally and worldwide, Hamilton was the man behind the call sign W2FXU.

He is survived by his wife of more than 65 years, Hester Glovier Hamilton, and two sons. Arrangements are by the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home of Trumansburg, where calling hours are 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20. A memorial service is planned in the spring.