1855                Corner of Court and Second Streets, Portsmouth, Ohio.

Ellis & Harper were recorded in two advertisements.  The first advertisement ran from February 9 to 23, 1855 in The Portsmouth Inquirer (Portsmouth, Ohio).  New Arrival!  Sky-Light.  Daguerreotypes The subscriber respectfully announces to the citizens of Portsmouth and vicinity, that they are in town and have located their Sky Light Daguerreotype Pavilion on the corner of Court and Second Streets, where they will remain for a few weeks, and are prepared to take likenesses true to nature, of a style and richness of execution not surpassed by any Artist in this place or in Southern Ohio.—Now is the time, while life, health and opportunity permit, to obtain these valuable keepsakes, those beautiful and never fading gems of Art and Nature.  Satisfaction guaranteed in all cases or no pay.  Ladies and Gentlemen are respectfully solicited to call at the Pavilion and examine specimens before purchasing elsewhere.  Having the advantage of a quick working Instrument of the latest improvement, also quick acting Chemicals, and a superior skylight, they are enabled to take Pictures instantaneously.  The subscribers do defy competition both in price and quality of pictures.  Operating hours in clear or cloudy weather from sun rise until sunset.  Hours for children, from 10 o’clock A. M. until 2 o’clock P. M.

Pictures taken as low as $1.00.  Post Mortem Pictures taken in the best style of the Art, and at short notice.  Particular attention paid to giving instructions in the Art.  Apparatus furnished on the most reasonable terms.  Ellis & Harper, Daguerreotypist.  Jan 31, 1855.

The second advertisement ran from March 2 to July 13, 1855 in The Portsmouth Inquirer.  (Portsmouth, Ohio).  Sky-Light Daguerrean Pavilion Corner of Court and Second Streets, Portsmouth O.  Ellis and Harper respectfully announces to the citizens of Portsmouth and the public generally, that they intend locating permanently and are prepared to take likenesses true to nature, of a style and richness of execution not surpassed by any Artist in this place or in Southern Ohio. All persons desiring their valuable keep sakes; will do well to visit the Pavilion and secure likenesses of themselves and friends.  Satisfaction guaranteed in all cases or no pay.  Having a quick working instrument, also quick acting Chemicals, and a superior Sky Light, they can take pictures instantaneously.  Pavilion open daily and perfect likenesses taken in cloudy as well as clear weather from sun rise until sunset.

Hours for children [clear weather] from 10 o’clock A. M. until 2 o’clock P. M.  The public are solicited to call and criticize specimens, whether wishing pictures or not.  Post Mortem Pictures taken at short notice.  Instructions in the Art given and   Apparatus furnished.  Terms reasonable.

Ellis, Harper and the partnership of Ellis & Harper are not recorded in other photographic directories.