1855-1856 19 Main Street, Bangor, Maine.
1855-1856 3½ Strickland’s Block, Bangor, Maine.
1859-1860 96 Middle Street, Portland, Maine.
1855 December 20. Bangor Daily Journal. (Bangor, Maine.) December 20, 1856, Vol. 2, No. 100, P. 2.
Particular Notice. Something New at Burnham’s Daguerreotype Rooms, 19 Main Street and 3½ Strickland’s Block.
Likenesses made upon Glass, showing all the delicacy and smoothness which the glass surface presents. These pictures are truly beautiful.—Come and sit for one.
—Also—Crystalotype Likenesses , (Or Pictures on Paper.) These Pictures, which have been gaining in public favor for some years past in Boston and elsewhere, are now presented for the consideration of those who wish for a large number of Pictures at a small price. They resemble Engravings, are not reversed, and may be painted in Oil or Water Colors. Small Daguerreotypes may be enlarged by this process to almost any size. This we consider a very valuable consideration, as many persons who have small Pictures of deceased friends would be glad to have them enlarged, so as to be hung in frames upon the wall.
The subscribers have recently secured the services of T. R. Burnham, who has been operating in the vicinity, and has collected a large number of specimens of persons in the following towns, viz:—Oldtown, Orono, Hampden, Frankfort, Frankfort Marsh, Bucksport, Prospect, Searsport and Belfast, which may be seen at the Main-st. room.
With the above named arrangement we feel better prepared than ever before to wait upon our friends, and we respectfully solicit a continuance of the patronage which has been so liberally bestowed for the past ten years. Burnham Brothers.
Advertisement ran from December 20, 1855 to January 5, 1856.
1855 December 25. Bangor Daily Journal. (Bangor, Maine.) December 25, 1856, Vol. 2, No. 104, P. 2.
Daguerreotypes are suitable for Holiday gifts, and the new pictures of the Burnhams, and those beautiful lockets and the pictures Jordan puts in them, cannot be excelled.
1858 October 15. Zion’s Advocate. (Portland, Maine.) October 15, 1858, Vol. XXXI, No. 42, P. 3.
The New Jail.—Mr. Burnham has a photograph of the New Jail it gives a correct representation of about one of the finest buildings we have in our city. Some people object to the new jail, that it is to handsome for the purpose for which it is intended. We sat nay to that. Our public buildings, for whatever purpose erected, should be eyesores to the community. Even so gloomy an edifice as a jail should be made attractive to the passer-by: to the passer in, however fine the exterior, we opine the interior would appear anything but attractive.—Advr.
1858 October 26. Portland Weekly Advertiser. (Portland, Maine.) October 26, 1858, Vol. 58, No. 43, P. 3.
The County Cattle Show At Standish. Awards…Miscellaneous…
[ ? ] Burnham, Portland, best photographs, diploma and 8.00
Messrs. Lowell & Senter, Portland, for their “Stereoscope” with its interesting views, diploma.
1859 March 8. Portland Weekly Advertiser. (Portland, Maine.) March 8, 1859, Vol. 59, No. 10, P. 1.
Photographs Of The Police.—We have seen at our Police Station some fine photographic likenesses by McKenny and by Burnham of the members of the police department of our city government. Those by Barnham are taken on two sheets, sitting and standing in a group. Those by McKenny are taken separately half-length.—They are admirably executed, and being glassed and framed, present an appropriate ornament to the room. The arrangement of the photographs in the frame is very tasteful. The Marshal occupies the centre position flanked by his deputies, while the members are arranged around in an elliptical (Sic. form. By the way, a more efficient and gentlemanly set of men it would be hard to find than those constituting our police force.
1859 June 14. Christian Mirror. (Portland, Maine.) June 14, 1859, Vol. XXXVII, No. 46, Whole No. 1918, P. 3.
Burnham Brothers’ New Daguerreotype, Ambrotype and Photograph Rooms, 96 Middle Street,…..Portland, ME.
The above Rooms are now in complete working order, having made extensive additions to accommodate our increasing business. We have two large sky-lights perfectly managed, so that persons calling for Pictures will not be obliged to wait.
We are prepared to execute in the finest manner the above kinds of pictures, and warrant satisfaction in every instance. Special attention is given to Copying Daguerreotypes. They may be large or small, and colored in oil or watercolors. Also Worked in Ink, and thus made fine likenesses.
Persons from a distance wishing such work can send their Pictures by mail or express, and depend upon their being carefully copied and returned, We are prepared to make Groups of Families Or Classes, to the number of 25. Babies’ Pictures made in one-half second.
All interested are invited to call at our Rooms, 96 Middle street, Portland, and compare our work with others from abroad, before deciding whom to employ. We are ready at any moment to go from our Rooms to take Pictures of the Sick or Deceased.
Every Variety of Oval, Gilt. Or Square Frames on hand and for sale at manufactures’ prices.
Remember No. 96 Middle Street.
Rooms open to all for the examination of a large collection of specimens from miniature to life size. J. U. P. Burnham. T. R. Burnham.
Advertisement ran from June 14, 1859 to August 7, 1860.
1859 September 29. Maine Farmer. (Augusta, Maine.) September 29, 1859, Vol. 41, P. 1, 2, & 3,
Maine State Fair. Fifth Annual Exhibition Of The Maine State Agricultural Society. The exhibition opened on Tuesday, Sept. 20th…
Picture Gallery. The Photographic Specimens here, absorb the largest portion of people’s interest—and they constitute certainly, as fine a show in this line as we have ever witnessed. The exhibition gives evidence that Silsbee (Silsbee & Case) of Boston and the sun (in some instances Silsbee principally, in some the sun under his tutelage) have produced some inimitable likenesses. But he is an artist by profession, and knows how to do such things without the sun’s aid.
Burnham (Burnham Brothers) of Portland has an admirably worked up, as well as plain collection of photographs here also, which shows the eye and skill of the true artist; and
The numerous works of Messrs. Starbird & Dodge, on exhibition evidence that the people of this region need not go farther than Augusta to get as good a plain photograph as can be obtained anywhere; whilst productions on which the finishing touches of the pencil have been bestowed, demonstrate that money can buy excellence here as well as in Portland, Boston, or New York.
S. W. Sawyer of Winthrop, shows a very large number of excellent photographs, some of which have been finely worked up by Mrs. Lamson, who is evidently a lady of superior skill in such matters. Mr. S. has also some well executed ambrotypes.
To Mr. S. Wing of Waterville, must be given the palm of producing the largest photographs in the exhibition—and they are at the same time of a high order of excellence. Mr. S. Wing on exhibition a number of stereoscopes, made, we understand, by himself, highly creditable to his ingenuity and skill.
Fine Arts…best painting in water colors, Mrs. E. E. Lamson, Winthrop, diploma;…best collection of ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, melainotypes, and photographs, S. W. Sawyer, Winthrop, medal; 2d do., Starbird & Dodge, Augusta, diploma;…best mezzotinto and oil colored photographs by an artist in Maine, Burnham & Bros., Portland, diploma; do. do. do. out of Maine, Silsbee & Case, Boston, diploma….
Maine State Fair…There is a fair display of plain and colored Photographs exhibiting great perfection in this wonderful art. Photographs are destined ere long to supersede portraits painted in oil, not only because they can be taken in greater perfection but because they cost so much less.
Burnham Brothers of Portland occupy the space nearest the door, and among their fine collection are seen the familiar faces of many prominent men such as Judges Shepley and Clifford, Neal Dow, George F. Shepley, George W. Woodman, Hon. John P. Hale, and a spirited life like portrait of Rev. Dr. Chapin. Some of them were finely touched with water colors, but I believe that this part of the work was not done in the State.
Silsbee, Case & Co., of Boston…
Starbird and Dodge of Augusta…
S. W. Sawyer, of Winthrop…
[Simon] Wing of Waterville.
1859 October 1. American Traveller. (Boston, Massachusetts.) October 1, 1859, Vol. XXI, No. 40, P. 1.
Agricultural Maters. Fifth Annual Fair Of The Main State Agricultural Society. The fifth annual fair of the Maine State Agricultural Society was held at Augusta last week, commencing on Tuesday, the 20th inst…
The Senate Chamber is used as a picture gallery, and here is a treat for those fond of works of art. Fine portraits of Rowell Williams and Prof. Cleaveland, of Bowdoin College, are prominent on one side of the room. They are by Mr. Wright of Boston. Over the door is a copy of Sully’s portrait of Washington, in Faneuil Hall, and the remainder of the walls are hung with Photographic, daguerrean and ambrotype specimens, of which Burnham Brothers of Portland, and Silsbee, Case & Co., of Boston, have many fine ones. Throughout the exhibition, the display of colored daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and photographs is especially fine.
The Fair At Gorham…The walls of the room were hung with a profusion of specimens of fine arts –ambrotypes, photographs, water-colors, oil paintings, work in leather, burrs and moss.—Burnham Brothers of this city contributed generously to this department…
1860 October 16. Maine Democrat. (Saco, Maine.) October 16, 1860. Vol. XXXII, No. 12, P. 2.
Cattle Show and Fair. The Cattle Show and Fair of the York County Agricultural Society was held in this town last week, commencing on Tuesday…List of Contributors…
D. M. Owen, Saco—Stereoscope.
Dr. J. Mason, Saco—Revolving stereoscope; silver butter knife; Portemonnaies; ring.
E. H. McKenney, Biddeford—Ambrotypes and Photographs; boxes honey.
Burnham Bros., Portland—Photographs.
1860 October 30. Maine Democrat. (Saco, Maine.) October 30, 1860. Vol. XXXII, No. 14, P. 2.
Premiums—…On Paintings…
The photographs contributed by Burnham Brothers of Portland, were very finely executed, and added much to the interest of the exhibition, we award them Diploma.
The Photographs by McKenney, of Biddeford, we consider very true to life and well executed; we award him Diploma and gratuity of $1.00
Family Groups, Photographs by Davis of Saco, but not entered by him are fine Pictures, we award Davis Diploma.
Messrs. Burnham, our neighbors, the Daguerreotypists, have received from the British Consul at this city, the following letter from the Tutor to the Prince of Wales.
Freemen Hall, Oxford, 20 Dec. 1860.
Dear Sir:—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st inst., together with a letter and a box of photographs, addressed to H. R. H. Prince of Wales, by Messrs. Burnham, Photographers, of Portland. The Prince requests that you will thank these gentlemen for the interesting series of views which they took of the Royal Squadron as it lay at that port, and to state that H. R. Highness accepts them with pleasure as very pleasing memorials of his visit there.
I have the honor to be, dear sir, Yours respectfully, R. Bruce.
H. J. Murray, Esq., H. B. M. Consul, Portland Me.
Pioneer American Photographers, 1839 - 1860 