ND Address Unknown, Boston, Massachusetts.
1846 205 Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland.
1850 Address Unknown, Washington, D. C.
1851-1852 Broadway and Leonard Streets, New York, New York.
1852 Pennsylvania Avenue, between 4½ and 6th streets, over Duvall & Brother’s store, Washington, D. C.
1855 Pennsylvania Avenue between 4½ and 6th Streets, Washington, D. C.
1857 308 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C.
1846 July 1. American Republican and Baltimore Daily Clipper. (Baltimore, Maryland.) July 1, 1846, Volume XV, No. 1, P. 2.
To the Publishers of the Clipper:
Gentlemen—In the Clipper of the morning I noticed an article headed “No Premium Awarded.” In which an attempt is made, to convince the public, that Mr. Plumbe’s claim to the honor of having received a Gold Medal for his superior specimens of Photography exhibited at the National fair, is unfounded.
In the absence of Mr. Plumbe from this city, I consider myself called upon to deny the charge of deception contained in the article alluded to, and to state such facts as will forever silence all doubts on the subject.
Mr. Plumbe has never claimed to have received a Gold Medal from the Official Committee of the National Fair, and is not responsible for the errors committed by the press in various sections of the Union.
The Gold Medal was presented to Mr. Plumbe by a committee of gentlemen who were impressed with the superiority of his pictures, and deemed his success in perfecting the Photographic art entitled to some “tangible compliment.” It is but justice to Mr. P. to state that he had no knowledge whatever of the intentions of this committee until the day preceding the presentation of the Medal.
The presentation of the Medal was thus announced in the National Intelligencer, edited by Mr. Seaton, one of the Committee of the National Fair, and of course the last person in the world to publish a statement not strictly true.
Flattering Compliment. So great was the admiration which the specimens of Photography from the Plumbe National Daguerrean Gallery commended at the late fair, that a number of gentlemen, desirous of testifying their high appreciation of the perfection to which Professor Plumbe has brought this beautiful art, have presented him with a handsome Gold Medal, accompanied by a highly complementary letter, expressive of their admiration of his genious as an artist and his worth as a man.—Nat. Int.
An advertisement, similar in character to that in your paper of this date, appears in the Philadelphia Ledger, of June 18th, over the signature of J. E. Mayall, who, it seems, had the courage to make the charge openly, unlike the brainless and cowardly idiot who attempts to reiterate the charge which Mr. May all honestly retracts in the following manner:
To Professor Plumbe: Dear Sir—as a matter of justice it is proper that I should say, that when the communication over my signature which appeared in the Ledger of the 18th inst., referring to an article in the same paper of the 13th inst., was written, I was under the same impression that it was claimed for you to have received from the Committee of the National fair at Washington a gold medal for your specimens of Daguerreotype. Having since learned that this medal was presented to you by a number of gentlemen unconnected with the committee, I deem it but right to make this explanation, and express my regret that my statement in the Ledger is so far incorrect.
I am respectfully your obedient servant, J. E. Mayall.
The above statement are, I trust, sufficient to convince you, and the public also, that Mr. Plumbe claims no honor that he is not entitled to, and that a Gold Medal (though presented by a private committee) is as high a compliment as if presented by a public committee in their official capacity. C. H. Brainard, Agent for Plumbe. Baltimore, June 30, 1846.
1851 June 28. South Boston Gazette and Dorchester Chronicle (Boston, Massachusetts) Vol. V, No, 39, p. 2.
Whitehurst’s Famous Daguerrean Saloon, at the corner of Broadway and Leonard street, New York, is well worth an hour’s time of strangers visiting in that city. We called in person last Monday, and were received by the courteous superintendent of the establishment,— Mr. C. H. Brainard, formerly of this city, late of Washington,— we say we were received by him with every demonstration of high regard; when he proceeded to redeem his former pledge to take our picture whenever we should visit the great Gotham. The picture was taken; it hangs suspended by a ring (instead of any vulgar string!) Among the pious, good and great, of nearly every Christian state. Will those who visit this Saloon, great as the favor, as a boon, to stop and think,—‘tis yes, or no! can’t Whitehurst take my picture so, hi-link-tum-lorum!
1852 December 24. The New York Herald. (New York, New York.) December 24, 1852, Whole No. 7358, P. 5.
C. H. Brainard, late of Gurney’s Gallery, 349 Broadway will be at Whitehurst’s Gallery Washington, D. C. during the present session of Congress, and will be happy to receive orders from daguerreotypist and engravers, for portraits of public men residing at the national capital.
Boston City Directory
1840 Not Listed
1841-1842 Charles H. Brainard, Clerk, 9 Court Street, Boston
1843 Charles H. Brainard & Co., Books, 13 Court Street, Boston
1844-1845 Charles H. Brainard, Books, 82 Washington Street, Boston
1846-1852 Not Listed
Pioneer American Photographers, 1839 - 1860 