Recorder in The Bedford Gazette published in Bedford, Pennsylvania. Daniel R. Anderson advertises that he has taken rooms in Centerville and is taking daguerreotype likenesses in lockets, breast pins, bracelets and in fancy and common cases ranging in price from $1 upwards. The advertisement ran from December 12, 1856 to May 22, 1857.
He is not listed in other photographic directories or histories that I have checked.
Recorded from September 16 to 23, 1859 in The Bossier Banner, published in Bellevue, Bossier Parish, Louisiana. A Dr. G. M. Anderson and J. H. Eiland, advertised that they are making Ambrotypes and have established themselves in the old Masonic Hall.
Both Anderson and Eiland are not listed in any of the photographic directories or histories that I have checked.
J. T. Ames is recorded twice in the Daily Republican newspaper, published in Springfield, Massachusetts on October 14, 1845. His name appears in a list of entries of the Hampden County Agricultural Fair under Specimens of fine arts which was held on October 8 & 9th. J. T. Ames possibly (James T.) from Cabotville (Chicopee) exhibited two daguerreotypes; J. Beals, Jr. of West Springfield exhibited 4 daguerreotypes; G. W. James probably (George W. James) from Springfield is listed with two entries first exhibiting twelve specimens of daguerreotypes and the second entry exhibiting four daguerreotypes; and Stock & Cooley who exhibited six paintings and four daguerreotypes.[1]
The second time he is mentioned was on September 29, 1851 also in the Daily Republican in an announcement for the Seventh Annual Cattle Show and Fair of the Hampden Agricultural Society…The following are the Committees on the various departments of the exhibition:…Under Paintings and Daguerreotypes.—T. W. Carter, Chicopee, James T. Ames, Chicopee, Edmund Freeman, Springfield.
In looking in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry he list a Joseph Ames as an artist and painter at 5½ Tremont Row from 1852-1856 the same address as Southworth and Hawes. From 1857-1858 at 41 Tremont Row and 1859-1860 at 16 Summer Street. He goes on to say that another source noted him as a daguerreian who gave assistance to Southworth and Pennell in their early stages (1840.) John cites the business directory and WW as his sources. W. W. is William Welling’s Photography in America: The Formative Years 1839-1900. On page 20. Welling writes Southworth & Pennell, meanwhile, at some point in the spring or summer of 1840, established a daguerreotype business in Cabotville, near Boston. “We had the sympathy and substantial assistance of Messrs. Ames, Chase and Bemis.” This information comes from The Philadelphia Photographer Volume 8, No. 94, October 1871 Page. 315-323. An Address To The National Photographic Association of the United States, Delivered at Cleveland, Ohio, June 1870. By Albert Southworth. The passage is on page 317.
Checking The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artist in America 1564-1860 there is a listing for Joseph Alexander Ames as working mostly in Boston from 1841-1847; he went to Italy in 1848, returning to Boston, visiting New York city in 1850, was in Baltimore, Maryland in 1870, and thereafter in New York City where he died on October 30, 1872. There is no mention of an association with Southworth and Hawes, Southworth and Pennell or daguerreotyping.
In conclusion I believe that the attribution to Joseph Ames is based on the 5½ Tremont Row Address in Boston, not the Cabotville (Chicopee) location where Southworth & Pennell resided in 1840. Further research into J. T Ames (James T.) is needed, we know he made daguerreotypes in 1845 and still resided in Chicopee in 1851. It is possible J. T. is the Ames mentioned in the Southworth Address to the National Photographic Association of the United States, not Joseph Ames.
[1] Three names J. T. Ames; J. Beals, Jr. and G. W. James are new name and not recorded in A Directory of Massachusetts Photographers, 1839-1900.
Recorded in The Spirit of the Times which was published in Batavia, New York, William Allen advertised that he is taking daguerreotype miniatures at the Genesee House. In addition to taking likenesses he also is marking copies of portrait paintings and daguerreotypes and he has lockets of all sizes and prices constantly on hand. Advertisement ran from December 5, 1848 to January 2, 1849.
In searching through the photographic directories and histories no other William Allen has been located. As discussed in the post dated February 9 under Mr. Allen. It is possible that William A. Allen who was in Brooklyn at the time is the same person but at this time it is only speculation without more information.
Mrs. Allen from Wisconsin is recorded three times in the St. Cloud Democrat, published in St. Cloud, Minnesota on May 19, 1859. She has taken the Flower House on Third Avenue and is taking ambrotypes. On June 16—Mrs. Allen having her new room with an excellent sky-light complete, is now able to furnish our citizens with fac similes of their faces. The terms are reasonable; and she will take produce, butter, eggs, beef or breadstuff in exchange for pictures. On August 25 the third announcement appears—Mrs. Allen has been taking landscape views which are unsurpassed for clearness and fidelity. One of the Democrat office, we have never seen equaled. Our citizens should not neglect to avail themselves of this means of getting counterfeit presentments of their many beautiful homes. We can think of no more agreeable present to a distant friend than a view of the new home in the far distant West; and no other advertisement of this country could approach Ambrotypes of its new homes and natural beauties. Mrs. Allen talks of going east in a few weeks, to be gone for some length of time, and those wanting pictures should not delay getting them.
All three notices were single issue and not advertisements. Did Mrs. Allen go east? In Craig’s Daguerreian Registry he list two Mrs. Allen’s, a Mrs. George D. Allen in Cleveland in 1860 who he says might be a photographer which is based on her contribution to Fredericks defense fund against the Cutting Patent. In Ohio Photographers 1839-1900 (Diane VanSkiver Gagel) list her as a daguerreotypist c. 1860. Both Craig and Gagel list Mrs. M. Allen as a daguerreotypist in Norwalk, Ohio 1859-1860.
A Mr. Allen appears in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Kings County Democrat, on December 24, 1846 at 43 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. There is also a Mr. Allen recorded in The Long Islander, published in Huntington, N.Y. on July 2, 1847 at Mr. Silas T. Ketcham’s. It is conceivable to think that the two possibly are the same person.
In the Long Islander advertisement he states that he has had long experience in the business. He takes likenesses for insertion in rings, breast pins, lockets or bracelets, and makes copies from paintings, portraits and daguerreotypes. Likenesses taken of the sick or deceased persons, at their residences, on the shortest notice. He also offers instructions in the art, and has rings, breast pins, lockets, and bracelets also apparatus and chemicals of all kinds for sale.
Is the statement that he has had long experience in the business hype or has he been active in the business for a number of years? In trying to identify who Allen might be and verify activity dates a search of photographic directories and histories turned up nothing. Of the twenty six Allen’s that are listed in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry William A. Allen is the only possibility, based on location and activity dates, his first entry is 1848-1849 at the corner of Bridge and Tillery Streets in Brooklyn. Two other daguerreian’s E. A. Allen who I posted a couple of day ago was in Burlington, Vt. In 1841, and William Allen who was listed in Batavia, N.Y. in 1848-1849, which is over 350 miles away. But again without additional conclusive information this is only speculation.
Published in the Green-Mountain Freeman, Montpelier, Vermont on May 17, 1855, George Allen, Jr. advertises from May 17 to September 27, 1855.
New Daguerreotype Rooms. Having fitted up rooms in Keith’s Building, opposite the Brick Church, Main Street, Montpelier, I am prepared to furnish with Correct Likenesses all who may favor me with a call. A good assortment of Cases constantly on hand.
N. B.—I will make a likeness of one person for seventy-five cents, and twenty five cents for each additional one of a group. Montpelier, May 1, 1855.
George Allen, Jr. does not appear in any other sources I have checked or have access to.
Recorder in the Burlington Free Press, published in Burlington, Vermont on August 13, 1841, Daguerreotype Miniatures taken by E. A. Allen, at the American Hotel, Burlington, Vt. Ladies and Gentlemen wishing to obtain beautiful and perfectly correct likenesses, are respectfully invited to call and examine his specimens and prices. He trusts that the novelty of the science, to say the least, will induce the curious to give him a call. The Miniatures can be made of various sizes suitable for a neat Morocco Case, Gilt Frame, Locket or Breast Pin.
N. B. Instruction will be given to a limited number of Pupils, if desired, and the Apparatus, Materials, &c. for the process furnished. Advertisement ran from August 13 to 27, 1841.
E. A. Allen does not appear in any other sources I have checked or have access to.
Alger appeared in two issues of The South Western which was published in Shreveport, Louisiana on March 23 & 30, 1859. He called is studio The Excelsior Photographic Gallery at the corner of Market and Texas Streets, over Mr. Frank’s Jewelry Store. He advertises that he is making a new style of picture called Ferreotypes and Statuetype. Particular attention paid to setting miniatures in lockets, bracelets, pins, etc.
Craig’s Daguerreian Registry list an A. C. Alger in 1855-1856 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s unknown at this time if they are the same person.
From The Daily Press, published in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 27, 1859 the following announcement appeared. Wanted—Mr. James Alexander (Daguerrean Artist) and Jesse M. Adams are requested to call immediately at the Daguerrean Room located on the south-west corner of Sixth street and Western row, (over Hanneford’s Drug Store,) where they will hear something to their interest by leaving their address.
As far as I can ascertain James Alexander is a new name, he is not recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry or Ohio Photographers 1839-1900 (Diane VanSkiver Gagel.) It is unknown if James Alexander was from Cincinnati or some other part of Ohio or if he possibly is from Kentucky or Indiana? The same also applies to Jesse M. Adams. Both Alexander and Adams are not recorded in the 1859 or the 1860 Cincinnati City Directory, resident section nor are they recorded as photographers in the business section. The address south west corner of sixth and Western Row belongs to Duncan & Davis, (James H. Duncan & W P. Davis). They were not listed in the 1860 Cincinnati city business directory and the studio address is now listed under Samuel Hewitt.
