Tag Archives: San Francisco California

James Pierpont

Daguerreotypes, , ,

Ca. 1850-1851   Address Unknown, San Francisco, California.[1]                                                  1857                      109 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts.[2]

James Pierpont was listed in Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. (New York, New York.)  P. 1409.

Born in Boston 1822,                                                                                                                                          Died Winter Haven, Fla. 1893                                                                                                                        Father John Pierpont was an abolitionist minister in Boston and held the rank of Brig. General in the Union Army during the Civil War.                                                                                        James joined the confederacy during the Civil War.                                                                        James was also an American composer

Jingle Bells, or The One Horse Open Sleigh (1859) which did not become popular until the 20th century.  His best known works were the Little White Cottage, or Gentle Nettie Moore (1857);  We Conquer or Die (1861); and Strike for the South (1863).

2016 December 8.  On line article in BU Today “Jingle Bells”…Pierpont could not have written “Jingle Bells”  in a Medford tavern in 1850, because in 1850, he was in California trying in vain to cash in on the Gold Rush.  He did enjoy some small measure of success as a daguerreotype artist, at least until an 1851 San Francisco fire burned down his shop.  He returned to Boston broke.

James Pierpont is recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as being active in Boston in 1857.

[1] On-line article in BU Today News, Opinion Community.  December 8, 2016 by Joel Brown.  “Jingle Bells” History takes surprising tern beloved Christmas favorite was first performed in Boston Minstrel Hall.  (Research by Kyna Hamill).

[2] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.

Peter G. Clark

Daguerreotypes, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1850                Address Unknown, [Boston], Massachusetts.[1]                                                1851                247 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts.[2]                                                      1851-1852     36 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts.[3]                                                      1852-1854      in San Francisco, California.[4]                                                                          1853                Address Unknown, Boston, Massachusetts.[1]                                                  1854                103 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts.[3]                                                    1854-1856      in New York City.[4]                                                                                                1855                158 Bowery, New York, New York.[5]                                                                      1857                Lower Great George Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.[4]  1859-1862      in San Francisco, California.[4]

Peter G. Clark first appeared in the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association Report for September 1850.  He exhibited daguerreotypes at the sixth exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, no award was given.

Reported on December 20, 1851 in The Carpet Bag (Boston, Massachusetts). A Present.—We have received from the artist, Mr. P. G. Clark, No. 247 Washington street, an elegant and faithful likeness of Mrs. H. M. Stephens, of this city, and we take pleasure in exhibiting the treasure to our many visitors. [We have an adjourned promise of the transcript of another fair face from the East—“down east,”—when the “sometimes operator” shall get back.] Of course we are proud of it, and of course we thank the donor, and commend him to the notice of that public which always patronizes those who favor the printers.

Reported in the September 1853 report of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association.  Peter G. Clark exhibited daguerreotypes at the sixth exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association. Award a bronze medal for daguerreotype views of California.

Reported in an advertisement on December 22, 1855 in the New York Daily Tribune (New York, New York). Handsome Ladies!—Pictures Taken Gratis!—The time fixed for the opening of Barnum’s Gallery Of Beauty has been extended for a short period $20,000 will be expended in Premiums to the 100 handsomest Ladies and for painting their portraits.  Highest prize $1,000.  For particulars see circulars at the Museum.  Daguerreotypes for this Gallery will be taken free of all expense to the sitter, if application be made to them immediately, by all the principal artists in the United States, including the following superior Daguerreotypist in the City of New York.

J. Gurney, No. 489 Broadway; M. M. Lawrence, No. 831 Broadway; S. Root, No. 363 Broadway; Meade Brothers, No. 233 Broadway; R. Anson, No. 589 Broadway; Beckers & Piard, No. 264 Broadway; M. H. Kimball, No. 407 Broadway; J. W. Thompson, No. 315 Broadway, and 182 Fulton-st, Brooklyn; M. Kerston, No. 421 Broadway, cor. of canal; P. Welling, Cor. of Bleecker and Carmine-sts; P. G. Clark, No. 156 Bowery; Jullus Brill, No. 204 Chatham-st; R. A. Lewis, No. 142 Chatham Square.

Peter G. Clark is known see the following publications for more information Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, A Biographical Dictionary 1840-1865,  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry, A Directory of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900.

The new Information, is the fact that he showed at the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association in 1850 and in 1853, the advertisement in the Carpet Bag newspaper with the 247 Washington Street address, and the December 22, 1855 New York Daily Tribune advertisement with address of 156 Bowery, New York.

[1] Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association records, 1850 & 1853.                                        [2] The Carpet Bag (newspaper).                                                                                                                        [3] Directory of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900.                                                                          [4] Pioneer Photographers of the Far West.                                                                                                        [5] New York Daily Tribune (newspaper).

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.

 

Henry William Bradley

Daguerreotypes, , , , , , ,

1844- c.1846   Address Unknown, New Orleans, Louisiana.                                                                   1844                  Room in the corner house, opposite Judge Morgan residence, Baton-Rouge,                                 Louisiana.                                                                                                                            c.1846-1849    Address Unknown, Wilmington, North Carolina.                                                  1850-1878       San Francisco, California.                                                                                                1853-c. 1854   Sacramento, California.

Henry William Bradley was recorded in the Baton-Rouge Gazette (Baton-Rouge, Louisiana) on October 12 & 19, 1844.  Card.  H. W. Bradley, Daguerreotypist of New Orleans, respectfully informs the citizens of East and West Baton Rouge, that it is his intention to occupy a room in the corner house, opposite the residence of Judge Morgan for a short time, where he will be pleased to attend to those who may favor him with their patronage.  He is desirous that all should call and examine his specimens, which will speak for themselves; and guarantees to give a good picture, with or without coloring, or make no charge; which in all cases will be reasonable.  Pictures of any description accurately copied.

Bradley was not recorded in Photography in New Orleans The Early Years, 1840-1865 (Margaret Denton Smith and Mary Louise Tucker).  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry mentions that Henry W. Bradley learned the daguerreotype process in New Orleans, Louisiana but does not reference any dates.  John goes on to say that he arrived in California in 1849 and by August 1850 was operating a business. Also listed in Biographies of Western Photographers (Carl Mautz.) In Pioneer Photographers Of The Far West A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1864 (Peter Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn) List Henry William Bailey as being active in New Orleans, Louisiana c. 1846; Wilmington, North Carolina, c. 1846-1849; San Francisco, California 1850-1878; Sacramento, California 1853-c. 1854.

Based on the above information and checking all available photographic directories I am confident that the article below is for Henry William Bradley.  Recorded in the Southern Standard (Tarboro’, North Carolina) on January 31, 1852.  Agriculture In California.  Gold is not the only source of wealth in California.  But her soil is rich, and in many localities capable of immense production.  Agriculture appears to be attracting much attention, and has been very profitable during the past season.  We find in the San Francisco “Courier,” of the 14th November, a notice of an award of premiums for best agricultural specimens…and added to the exhibition are also beautiful specimens of the daguerrean and photographic art from Mr. Shew, and also from Mr. Bradley….