1859                Washington House, Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.

Mr. Millard was recorded in four announcements in the Wilmington Journal (Wilmington, North Carolina).  The first announcement appeared on May 6, 1859.  A Picture.  We found on our table this morning a capital portrait of the old Journal Office, corner Front and Princess Streets, opposite the Bank of the State.

Mr. Millard by whom this view was taken, has our thanks for this souvenir of a building so long identified with the history of our paper;—within whose walls we have sat “in summer’s heat and winter’s cold.”  In joy and in sorrow, for these changes come to all in the lapse of years.

We shall preserve this picture for “auld lang syne,” and in long after years, should we live to see such, it may call up recollections of pleasure or of pain, as either feeling may happen to predominate at the moment.

In a few months we hope to be in our new and more convenient quarters but we shall no doubt find ourselves lingering involuntarily around the old corner, where both Editors of the Journal have toiled away so many of the best years of their lives, meeting perhaps as much success as they deserved, maybe more, for few are proper judges in their own case.

Mr. Millard’s street views are very good, and any person desiring such, would do well to give him a call at the Washington House, Front Street, opposite the Bank of Cape Fear.

The second announcement appeared on May 20, 1859.  Last week Mr. Millard took ambrotypes of two houses on Front Street near Chestnut, which he presented to the editors of the Journal, they being the “counterfeit presentment” of the houses in which they respectively live.

We do not think that we ever saw better pictures—in fact, we never saw as good open-air pictures.  The lights and shadows are perfect, the outlines are distinct and the figures of persons, although necessarily very minute, are easily recognizable.  In one of them especially, the faces brought out by a magnifying glass, are just as complete portraits as though taken separately with all care and preparation.  A newspaper held by one of the persons taken, is exceedingly well done, bot we rather doubt whether it could be read, has it is next to no size at all..

It is really wonderful to note the improvements that have been made in the different departments of photography.  The old attempts at open-air views, were horrible.  Those taken by Mr. Millard are almost perfect.  When he gets “gems” as he calls our pictures, it is interesting to see how much good it does him.  Without enthusiasm, the highest order of success is impossible, and with it almost anything may be done.  Mr. M. has any amount of enthusiasm certainly, and his success is commensurate.  

The third announcement appeared on May 27, 1859.  Light Infantry Celebration, May 20th.  We learn that the prizes at the Target Shooting yesterday were won by the following gentlemen:…

3d Prize,—Daguerreotype of Company, taken by Mr. Millard, and presented by Committee of Arrangements.  Won by John R. Ivey.

The fourth announcement appeared on May 27, 1859.  The Ambrotype of the Wilmington Light Infantry, taken by Mr. Millard, on the 20th, is really a fine picture, especially when the circumstances are considered.  We can recognize most of the members.

Mr. Millard is not recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.  He is recorded in Photographers in North Carolina The First Century, 1842-1941 as being active in 1859 in Wilmington, and references Craig as listing L. B. Millard in Perkin, Illinois  in 1860.  A Directory of Early Illinois Photographers does list Lyman B. Millard in Perkin, Illinois in 1860 and 1864-1865.  It is unknown at this time if they are the same person.