1853                Address and Location Unknown.

1853                Address Unknown, Leoni, Michigan.

1856                Address Unknown, Elkhorn, Wisconsin.           

1857                Address Unknown, Cincinnati, Ohio.

1852 October.  Photographic Art-Journal.  (New York, New York.) October 1852, Vol. IV, No. 4, P. 257.

To The Editor of the Pho. Art-Journal:  Mr. H. H. Snelling—Sir; I see by a notice in the last Journal that the N. Y. State Daguerrean Association is to convene in your city, Oct. 6th.  I have watched the progress and reports of these meetings with much interest for two reasons; first, hoping that much good might result from associated efforts, and that a friendly interchange of views and a fraternal reciprocity would help to do away with that selfishness, which has been to predominant among daguerreans; a selfishness as characteristic of the profession as of inventors of quack medicines and cure-all-receipts.  Honorable exceptions there are, however, to these charges, which a generous charity demands us to allow, exceptions which I have happily witnessed, and for which I have felt grateful.

Secondly, I have been anxious to know whether female operators are to share its friendship and receive of its benefits.  From the silence maintained on the subject, I have inferred that we were not cordially welcome into the fraternity, that we were either not considered competent to perform the labor with honor to the profession or were stepping beyond our appropriate sphere and practicing an innovation; I am not disposed to reiterate the claim to equality of the sexes so often made the theme of remark in these days of progression; but if the above is the case, I would simply ask if female talent and genius have not been sufficiently developed to warrant the idea that the intricacies of the art, and its perplexities may not be overcome by the quick perceptions and patient perseverance of the female mind.  A quickness of apprehension and a ready judgement are necessary requisites, and does woman fail in these?  Has she not a love for the beautiful equally as strong, also as good taste for artistic arrangement?  What though she may not have threaded the analytical mazes of chemistry, can she not judge of cause and effect so far as her knowledge has extended.  Does the host of daguerreans who are traversing the country understand the science perfectly; many of whom will curl the lip with contempt at the idea of a lady taking daguerreotypes.  Permit me to respectfully request you, if not inappropriate, to obtain an expression of the Association on this subject, by resolution or otherwise, that I and others who are practicing, may know that we have the sympathy and good wishes of wise and competent minds.  If it be a lucrative employment may we not share in its profits?  If an honorable profession may we not try to win the laurals?  If it be an art designed to elevate and inspire the mind with a love of the beautiful and an admiration of the great source of all wisdom and beauty, the fountains of light, who can more readily appreciate it, than the cultivated and refined sensibilities of women?  Yours, &c.  Marcelia W. Barnes.       

Our fair correspondent is right, and we will venture to answer for it, she is as fully entitled to the benefits of the Association as any member of the profession.  There is no clause in the Constitution or By-laws that debars and lady daguerrean from membership; on the contrary, we know that the liberal members—they are  all so—of the Association desire the countenance and assistance of the female portion of our daguerreans.  Our correspondent has  only to observe the form for admission as laid down in the By-laws to become, we feel sure, a Mamber of the N. Y. State Daguerrean Association.

1853 February.  Photographic Art-Journal.  (New York, New York.) February 1853, Vol. V, No. 2, P. 112.

Minutes of The N. Y. State Daguerrean Association…Moved that Nichols, Benedict and Whitney, be a committee to investigate the character and good standing of the persons proposed for membership, and report at this meeting.,,

The committee of investigation reported the names of J. B. Marcus, Chenango; G. Evans, Utica; L. Gray, Oswego; E. A. Hudson, Syracuse; Mrs. Agnes M. Armstrong, Peekskill; Mrs. Marcelia W. Barnes, Salem Cross Roads; all of whom were unanimously elected…

1853 May.  Photographic Art-Journal.  (New York, New York.) May 1853, Vol. V, No. 5, P. 301-302.

For the Phot Art-Journal.  H. Snelling, Esq.—Sir, Having been a reader of your valuable Journal from its commencement, allow me to express my gratitude for the pleasure it has afforded me; and not only pleasure, but much benefit…

I have been two years and a half a practitioner…

Marcella W. Barnes.  Leoni, Jackson Co. Mich., April 20th.

1853 November.  Photographic Art-Journal.  (New York, New York.) November 1853, Vol. VI, No. 5, P. 315.

Comments on the New York State Daguerrean Association meeting in Utica, New York.

Marcelia W. Barnes, Salem, Chautauque, Co. N. Y.

1856 January.  Photographic Art-Journal.  (New York, New York.) January 1856, Vol. IX, No. 1, P. 24.

Communication.  Elkhorn, Walworth Co., Wisconsin.  Nov.25, 1855.

1857 April.  Photographic Art-Journal.  (New York, New York.) April 1857, Vol. X, No. 4, P. 122.

Art…Cincinnati, O., April 3, 1857…Having been in this city for some time taking lessons in coloring photographs.  Photography here is in the hands of those well calculated to do honor to the profession.  The 25 cent advertisements often meet the eye; yet those Galleries which maintain an honorable price are sustained.  The Galleries of J. P. Ball, J. Porter, Faris & Hawkins, with their courteous and gentlemanly proprietors, are an honor to any city, and Cincinnati may well be proud of her artistic reputation, as well as many of her other characteristics.  An enlightened community are always sure to sustain and encourage true genius, and the more so, as they rise in the scale of mental wealth and intellectual cultivations.  Marcelia W. Barnes.

1860 January.  Photographic Art-Journal.  (New York, New York.) January 1860, Vol. XIII, No. 1, P. P. 16-17.

Poem[1]

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[1] Citation from Nineteenth-Century Photography An Annotated Bibliography 1839-1879.  By William S. Johnson.