Tag Archives: Robert A. Carden

Norton & Carden

Daguerreotypes, , , ,

1854                369 Broadway, New York, New York.

Norton & Carden were recorded in four advertisements, the first three advertisements are from The New York Herald (New York, New York), and one advertisement from The Photographic And Fine Art Journal (New York, New York), followed by three entries from the New York City Directories for 1853/1854; 1854/1855 and 1855/1856 1854.  The first advertisement appeared on June 5, 1854.

Stop! Stop! Stop!—It is the Fashion for all

To go to the daguerrean called International.

Kept by Norton & Carden, two artist of merit,

Who into your portraits throw nature and spirit.

So, quickly step into their gallery of art,

And they warrant a fine picture ere you depart.

Norton & Carden, 369 Broadway, next door to Taylor’s saloon.

The second on June 6, 1854.

Daguerreotypes—Daguerreotypes

Talk of your Browns, your Jenkins or others

Who take portraits of mothers, sisters or brothers,

A [  ?  ] is display’d which ne’er was thought on

In those which are taken by Carden and Norton;

They are all pronounced good, in fact they are fine,

So don’t forget its in Broadway, number three six nine.

The third on June 7, 1854.

Daguerreotypes-Daguerreotypes—“I Say, my friend, where are you going?”  “Why I am going as fast as I can to Norton & Carden’s international daguerrean gallery, to have my portrait taken; they are always good.”  “Are they?  Then I’ll go too.”  Norton & Carden, 369 Broadway, next to Taylor’s saloon.

The fourth advertisement appeared in The Photographic And Fine Art Journal on July 1854. 

Norton & Cardon—Have opened a Daguerrean Gallery at No. 369 Broadway…

1853.  New York City Directory.  (New York, New York.)  1853-1854.

Carden, Robert A., daguerreotypes, 293 Broadway, h-[293] Broadway.

Carden & Co., daguerreotypes, 293 Broadway.

Norton, Elijah F.—not listed.

Norton, William H.—not listed.

1854.  New York City Directory.  (New York, New York.)  1854-1855.

Carden, Robert A., daguerreotypes, 369 Broadway, residence not listed.

Norton & Carden, daguerreians, 369 Broadway.

Norton, Elijah F. not listed.

Norton, William H., actor, 369 Broadway, residence not listed.  

1855.  New York City Directory.  (New York, New York.)  1855-1856.

Carden, Robert A.—not listed.

Norton, Elijah F.—not listed

Orton, William H.—not listed.

Norton & Carden is recorded in Craig’s Daguerrean Registry, but it is misleading the information provided is not consistent as to the identity of Norton, under Robert A. Carden Norton he is identified as W. H. and under Elijah F. Norton, John states that he is possibly the same Norton in the partnership.  W. H. Norton is not listed as being active in New York City, John does list a W. H. Norton in Boston in 1860.  In A Directory Of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900 he is recorded in Boston as a piano maker in 1859 and a photographer in 1860 at 49 Tremont.

Robert A Carden

Ambrotypes, Daguerreotypes, Photographs, , , , , , ,

1855                Address Unknown, Alexandria, Virginia.                                                                          1853-1854     293 Broadway, New York, New York.                                                                        1854                369 Broadway, New York, New York.[1]                                                                1855                Address Unknown, Alexandria, Virginia.                                                                  1856                Clay & Kearny Streets, San Francisco, California.[2]                                      1858                Address Unknown, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Based on work done by Peter Palmquist and Thomas Kailbourn in Pioneer Photographers of the Far West A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1865, Craig’s Daguerreian Registry by John Craig, New York City Directories, and newspaper advertisements and notices in New York City and Washington, D. C.  I’ve put together the following snapshot of Carden’s activity.

Robert A. Carden was not listed in the 1852-1853 New York City Directory, he was listed in the 1853-1854 and 1854-1855 directories as daguerreotypes, 293 Broadway, in 1853-1854 directory his house was listed at 393 Broadway, Carden was not listed in subsequent NYC directories.  In 1853-1854 there was also a listing for Carden & Co, daguerreotypes, at the 293 Broadway.

Carden was recorded on April 13, 1853 in the New York Daily Tribune (New York, New York.)  25 Cent Daguerreotypes.—Carden & Co., No. 293 Broadway, are still taking those superb Pictures at the low price of 25 cents, notwithstanding there are some who advertise 12 ½ cent one to be taken at a future day.  It is a well known fact that a picture cannot be produced for less than 25 cents; hence the great rush every day at Carden & Co.’s.

Craig’s Daguerreian Registry recorded the partnership of Carden & Norton, 369 Broadway from the 1854 Mercantile Directory.

He was recorded in the Daily American Organ (Washington, D. C.) on February 9, 1855 and in the Evening Star (Washington, D. C.) on February 10, 1855.  The Exhibition of the Metropolitan Mechanic’s Institute.—…Contributions from Virginia…Smith Bennett and Robert A. Carden, Frames of beautiful daguerreotypes;

Six months later the following advertisement appears on August 9 & 15, 1855 in the Evening Star (Washington, D. C.)  Daguerrean Gallery For Sale in Alexandria, Va.  One of the best rooms in Alexandria.  Will be sold cheap for cash.  Any person who wants to learn the business will be taught; and also will teach the art of Photograph free.  That alone is worth one hundred dollars to any artist.  Two Artist wanted to color Photographs.  Address “RAC,” Artist, Alexandria, Va.

Pioneer Photographers of the Far West A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1865, by Peter Palmquist and Thomas Kailbourn.  They mention that Carden is in San Francisco, California in 1856 working for Henry William Bradley at Clay & Kearny Streets.  Also that he wrote two articles for the Photographic and Fine Art Journal on April 1857, p 112 & 113 on Photography in California and was signed R. A. C. the same as the Evening Star advertisement on August 9 & 15, 1855.   In August of 1858 he wrote about the New Orleans Photographic Galleries on pages 244 & 245. Carden is reported in the same issue on page 256 that that he has returned to New York from New Orleans where he showed Ambrotypes and prints taken while he was there.  Was Carden active as a photographer or possibly as an assistant?  Further research is needed.  He was not listed in as being active in Photography in New Orleans The Early Years, 1840-1865, by Margaret Denton Smith and Mary Louise Tucker except to mention the article in The Photographic And Fine Art Journal.

Recorded on November 11, 1859 in the New York Daily Tribune (New York, New York.)  Carden—At Little Falls, Herkimer County, N. Y., on Thursday, Sept. 15, Robert A. Carden, photographic artist, formerly of this city [died], aged 26.

[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Gallery in partnership of Carden & Norton.                                                   [2] Entry for 1856 & 1858 from Pioneer Photographers Of The Far West.

 

Smith Bennett

Daguerreotypes, , , ,

Smith Bennett is recorded in the Daily American Organ on February 9, 1855, and in the Evening Star on February 10, 1855.  Both newspapers are published in Washington, D. C. and reported that both Smith Bennett and Robert A. Carden exhibited beautiful frames of daguerreotypes at the Exhibition of the Metropolitan Mechanic’s Institute.  Bennett and Carden both have galleries in Alexandria, Virginia.

On March 17, 1855 in the Evening Star (Washington, D. C.) the following announcement appeared of the premiums issued at the fair.  Rehearing And Confirmation.—The Judges on daguerreotypes had a rehearing yesterday at the request of one of the disappointed, which resulted in the unanimous confirmation of the opinion declared on Wednesday evening, viz.  Smith Bennett, of Alexandria, Va., silver medal for the best daguerreotypes and stereoscopes.

Smith Bennett is not recorded in other photographic directories but Nathan S. Bennett, Nahum S. Bennett and Robert A. Carden are recorded in a number of directories and newspaper advertisement in other location.

There is evidence that suggest that Smith Bennett is almost certainly Nahum S. Bennett who has galleries in Washington, D. C. (1850-1852) and Alexandria, Virginia (1855-1857.)  I would also like to tie Nathan S. Bennett into the mix but no concrete information has been found to substantiate this theory.