1853-1855 517½ Main Street, between Third & Fourth Streets, Louisville, Kentucky.
1855-1859 477 Main Street, between Fourth & Fifth Streets, Louisville, Kentucky.
1853 July 15. The Daily Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) July 15, 1853, Vol. XXIII, No. 196, P. 3.
“Such Men!”—We give it merely as our opinion (but we think the rule a saft one) that, when men are found arrogating to themselves a high stand in their profession, it may always be regarded as highly questionable whether or not they are entitled to it, particularly when no others seem disposed to award to them one-half the credit they are va’n enough to fancy they deserve. “Such man!” shadows of the departed Niepce and Daguerre, hover over and protect them.
Carpenter & Harris claim no higher stand in their profession then their Dollar Daguerreotypes and a discriminating public will give them. Rooms 517½ Main street, between Third and Fourth. jy12.
Advertisement was recorded from July 15 to 26, 1853.
1853 July 30. The Daily Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) July 30, 1853, Vol. XXIII, No. 209, P. 3.
It is worthy of notice that Carpenter & Harris, 517½ Main street, between Third and Fourth, have never yet in all their advertising said that they made even passable Daguerreotypes. Long ago they declared that their work should stand on its own merits and be judged accordingly. Gas and puff-balls are of little account except to bring the merited contempt of sensible persons on those who employ them. People will see and judge for themselves; consequently many get their portraits made at the Dollar Daguerrean Rooms under the delusion that they be made as well for that as for a higher price.
Advertisement ran from July 30 to August 16, 1853.
1853 August 17. The Daily Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) August 17, 1853, Vol. XXIII, No. 224, P. 3.
When one man will do your work for but little more than half the price that others would charge you, and when you know that he will do it as well, interest and good sense plainly point to him when you have need of work in his line, Accordingly, when you want a Daguerreotype, you will of course employ Carpenter & Harris, 517½ Main street, between Third and Fourth, who will charge you but a dollar for a picture in the same description of case for which others charge $1.50, and nothing if they do not make you as good a portrait as any one else in the city.
Advertisement ran from August 17 to November 1, 1853.
1853 October 28. The Daily Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) October 28, 1853, Vol. XXIII, No. 286, P. 3.
A Great Bore.—In the daily routine of business we find no one thing which proves so serious an annoyance as the frequent interruption and delays occasioned by persons calling us from more profitable occupations merely to cheapen our services, and endeavor to convince us that we had better that their daguerreotypes at their own price, or they will go somewhere else; quoth [sic.] they, “we can get just as good pictures in New York for 25 cents, in Cincinnati for 50 cents, and a place up on Main street for $1.” Now, we would inform all such persons that they will save themselves and us much trouble by examining and remembering the following list of prices:
Webster & Bro., take no picture for less than $2; Hewett $2, Brown $1.50, Kimball $1.50, Carpenter and Harris (from Cincinnati) $1. P. S. We forgot to mention an old colored woman (from Africa) who tells fortunes and “cats profiles” for fifteen cents.
Advertisement ran from October 28 to November 8, 1853.
1853 October 29. The Daily Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) October 29, 1853, Vol. XXIII, No. 287, P. 3.
Nothing Like Having Friends.—It saves one a heap of trouble and expense. For example, Messrs. Webster & Bro. advertise us and our prices, and do not charge a cent. Verily Webster & Bro. and tea table gossips are the cheapest advertising mediums we know of.
But what is this?—Something about business. Boy, bring us our specs. Oh, now we see. Business? Yes, “daily business”–frequent interruption” (while smoking cigars)—“delays”—”profitable occupations.” Ha! Ha!—stop, stop! Heaven help us! Whoever heard of Webster & Bro. having either business or profitable occupations.
Carpenter & Harris, Dollar Daguerrean Rooms, No. 517½ Main street, between Third and Fourth.
Advertisement ran from October 29 to November 24, 1853.
1853 November 26. The Daily Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) November 26, 1853, Vol. XXIII, No. 44, P. 3.
“Some do and some don’t; you can’t always tell.”—Hogan.
Now some advertise pictures at no less than $2.00, and same time make them for a dollar rather than miss. Carpenter & Harris, however, advertise their prices at from One Dollar up, and when you visit their rooms whatever you are told is the price of a certain style of case and picture, be sure n that it is it; you can’t get it lower by attempting to Jew, but, if you send your friend in two weeks for another, he won’t be charged any more than you were. Rooms 517½ Main street, between Third and Fourth.
Advertisement ran from November 26 to December 30, 1853.
1854 November 30. The Daily Louisville Times. (Louisville, Kentucky.) November 30, 1854, Vol. III, No. 236, P. 1.
Indiana Money! The Issue of the Indiana Free Banks taken at [par] for Daguerreotypes at my Gallery. One Dollar will [get] a Daguerreotype. Theodore Harris, 517½ Main st., bet. Third and Fourth. o21.
1854 November 30. The Daily Louisville Times. (Louisville, Kentucky.) November 30, 1854, Vol. III, No. 236, P. 2.
A Change. The business last year carried on by Carpenter & Harris is now conducted by the subscriber alone, Mr. Carpenter having sold out and left the city.
Daguerreotypes made for one dollar warranted equal to any made in the city at any price. Cloudy weather fully preferable to clear, except for children. Theodore Harris, 517½ Main st., bet. Third and Fourth. au31.
1855 January 12. The Daily Louisville Times. (Louisville, Kentucky.) January 12, 1855, Vol. III, No. 273, P. 2.
A Holiday Gift! Not a Book; that will only ornament a table and never be read—not a Gold Pen; that, ten to one, will be lost before next Christmas—not Hostetter’s Bitters; that will only
embitter your stomach for your dinner—not a Toy; that will be broken—not Dry Goods; that will be worn out—nor Sweet-meats; that will be eaten up and seen no more—none of these, but give your friend something that will impart pleasure whenever looked at—something that will be as fresh, as perfect, and as beautiful a thousand years hence as it is now. Yes, if you could only find it! Well, you can. A Daguerreotype exactly meets this description, and Harris will make it for you for a Dollar. d23.
Advertisement was recorded twice on January 12 & 30, 1855.
1855 June 11. The Daily Louisville Democrat. (Louisville, Kentucky.) June 11, 1855, Vol. XI, No. ?, P. 2.
Something to Think About. Carpenter, Swymmer & Co. in Louisville again, making No. 1 Daguerreotypes for One Dollar. They have bought from T. Harris his rooms, 517½ Main street, between Third and Fourth, where they will be ever ready to receive visits from their old customers. That they can beat all creation in making good pictures is too well known in this city to require further comment.
Their charges in every case will be found moderate, and all work warranted. my. 10
Advertisement ran from June 11 to 27, 1855.
1855 June 19. Daily Louisville Democrat. (Louisville, Kentucky.) June 19, 1855, Vol. XI, No. ?, P. 2.
The Blue Light! Harris & Co. have the pleasure of introducing to the citizens of Louisville a new feature in Daguerreotypes, namely: The Blue Light, by which weak eyes can be as well taken as strong ones. Persons, whose eyes are so sensitive that the ordinary sky-light of the operating room causes a contraction of the muscle, and consequently a Squint, are invited to try this great improvement.
Gallery on Main street, between Fourth & Fifth, stand formerly occupied by Kimball.[1] my. 14.
Advertisement ran from June 5 to July 25, 1855.
1855 August 17. Daily Louisville Democrat. (Louisville, Kentucky.) August 17, 1855, Vol. XII, No. 27, P. 2.
Fifteen Seconds. I am making Photographs of Ladies and Children in from ten to twenty seconds, and of gentlemen in from twenty-five to forty seconds. Those desiring Photographs who cannot sit the ordinary time of a miniature to two minute without pain to the eyes, are invited to give me a call.
Prices.
Uncolored Photographs, 4-4 Daguerreotype size or less $5.00
Duplicates each $1.00
Per hundred $50.00
Per Thousand $275.00
Life size bust $25.00
Colored whole Daguerreotype size or less $15.00
Half life bust $50.00
Full life bust $75.00
Full life, including hands $100.00
My work is warranted. No picture now go out of my room but those made by myself.
Daguerreotypes as usual from $1 up.
Theodore Harris, Kimball’s old stand, Main street, Between Fourth and Fifth streets.
Advertisement ran from August 17 to September 7, 1855.
1856 December 4. Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) December 4, 1856, P. 4.
Gallery Of Art—Admission Free Harris’s celebrated Gallery of Photographs, Collodiotypes, Stereotypes, Melainotypes, Ambrotypes, and all the [pictures] known in the Heliographic Art.
This establishment is open daily (Sundays excepted), free of charge, where Mr. Harris will be happy to [ ? ] a upon his friends and the public generally.
Life-size Photographs taken from Daguerreotypes and old [colored] in oil by one of the first Artists in the country. Lockets, Pins, and Finger-rings filled with Collodiotypes they will not wash out.
To Parents And Guardians Now is the time to have your children’s and wards; face faithfully copied. Our sittings occupy only from three to five seconds. Between the hours of 9 A. M. and 4 P. M., is the best time for children.
Copies. Great care used in copying Daguerreotypes. No. 477 Main street, between Fourth and Fifth.
1857 January 1. Courier-Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) January 1, 1857, P. 3.
No Change, But A Gift For All!—Having in our possession one of the finest and most truthful colored Photograph Portrait of Henry Clay extant, we have been induced to give as a National New Year’s Gift a Photograph copy of the same with every picture made in our rooms during the New Years’ holidays. Don’t lose this chance! Remember, for one week Photographs, Collodiotypes, Melainotypes, and every picture known in the Heliographic art made at our Rooms, 477 Main Street, between Fourth and Fifth. Theodore Harris. d31.
Advertisement was recorded from January 1 to February 11, 1857.
1857 February 12. The Louisville Daily Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) February 12, 1857, Vol. XXVII, No. 63, P. 2.
Pictures. 477 Main Street, between Fourth and Fifth. Harris’s Gallery. .
Advertisement was recorded from February 12 to June 30, 1857.
Daguerreotypes.—One of the richest and most attractive Daguerrean Galleries in the city is that of our friend Harris, No. 477 Main street. His associate, Mr. G. T. Shaw, the polite and gentlemanly usher of the Theatre, is beyond controversy one of the most accomplished and successful operators in the whole country. Mr. S. has been engaged in the daguerrean business in Louisville for the last two years, and probably has no superior in his delicate art. We advise our friends to test his very remarkable skill.
1857 May 4. Louisville Journal. (Louisville, Kentucky.) May 4, 1857, P. 2.
Pictures. 477 Main Street, between Fourth and Fifth. Harris’s Gallery. feb. 12.
1859 July 6. The Elizabethtown Democrat. (Elizabethtown, Kentucky.) July 6, 1859, Vol. II, No. 2, P. 3.
When you are in Louisville get your pictures taken at Harris Gallery Main Street, bet 4th and 5th. Harris Gallery at the last exhibition of the Kentucky Mechanics Institute as Premiums for the best Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Melainotypes and plain and life sized color photographs.
Advertisement was recorded on July 6 & 13, 1859.
[1] Possibly J. A. Kimball, speculation based on entry in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.
Pioneer American Photographers, 1839 - 1860 