Alvin (Al) Terry was born to Pauline [Burcher] and Alvin Terry Senior March 24, 1914 in Westport, Missouri. He attended grades K-8 at Allen School from 1919-1927 and subsequently attended Westport High graduating in June 1931. He continued his education at the Kansas City Junior College for two years and worked in Kansas City until 1938 when he took an extended tour of Japan, China, and Malaysia. He worked for William Rockhill Nelson Galleries as a gallery guard (1933-1934 and 1937- 1938), Arthur Cars and Surety Company (1935-1936), Driver with Kansas Truck Lines (1936-1937), and an auditor and accountant for Farmers Insurance Group (1939-1942; 1946-1971).

Terry served in the United States Army June 1942-March 1946. He was awarded the Bronze Medal for his service in the 96th Chemical Mortar Battalion. Alvin Terry and his comrades were trained at Camp Livingston, Louisiana in the 66th training battalion. The unit was motorized at Camp Livingston, Louisiana the first of April, 1944 and was deployed in France and England in 1945.

Throughout his life, Al had a passion for photography. A self-taught photographer who acquired his knowledge of photography through reading and experimentation; he created a number of audio visual presentations, mostly dealing with Kansas Prairie and small towns during his travels in Europe, Iceland, Asia, and around the United States. He was a member of the Photography Exhibitors Association of Kansas City, the National Stereoscopic Association and the Kansas City Color Slide Club. His photography won awards and was published in several national publications. Alvin Terry passed away in 1992 in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of seventy-eight.