Thomas Van Osten

West Chester in 1850 was an ideal market place for the daguerreotypist. Entering town, Van Osten would have seen a genteel county seat with neat brick buildings and sidewalks. West Chester was known as the “Athens of Pennsylvania” for its learned institutions and Greek revival architecture. Law offices, banks, jewelers, booksellers, and shops of all kinds lined the streets. He would have heard of the West Chester Academy, the Chester County Cabinet of Natural Sciences museum and newly constructed Horticultural Hall.

Van Osten advertised his many talents with a flourish in the July 30, 1850, edition of The Village Record:

His location above Joseph J. Lewis’ office was a well-known location in the borough for daguerreotypists. Sarah Hewes and Samuel Broadbent had occupied the location earlier that year.^[2] Harned & White and A. B. Tubbs had occupied it in 1849, as well as Warren & Co. in 1847. Today this building at 28 West Market Street is known as the Lincoln Building and bears an historical marker in remembrance of the publication of Lincoln’s biography by The Chester County Times.

Joseph J. Lewis (1801-1883) was a prominent citizen of note in Chester County. He had one of the largest law practices in the borough and held offices in many community organizations.^[3] It was Lewis who facilitated the publication of Lincoln’s autobiography to make him known to voters of the 1860 election.

West Chester’s Jeffersonian newspaper picked up Van Osten’s arrival as well with this short but laudatory mention:

His short stay in West Chester extended into August when he placed a large advertisement in the Village Record, which ran in issues from August 27 – September 17, 1850.

Clearly he was getting some competition from Daguerreians Price & Crowl who also had a gallery on Market Street in the Everhart Building in West Chester^[5].

Van Osten showcased his talent by entering a display of daguerreotypes at the Chester County Horticultural Society exhibition held September 12 – 14^th, 1850 at Horticultural Hall. The annual horticultural exhibition displayed not only local fruits, floral arrangements and specimen plants, but also had exhibits of crafts and trades.

The Chester County Horticultural Society was founded in 1846 in West Chester. Horticultural Hall, had just been built in 1848 as an exhibit hall and a community meeting space. This serpentine stone building with a recessed Norman arch was designed by Thomas U. Walter, who had designed seven other buildings that gave the borough its distinctive character. Walter is best known for designing the dome of the United States Capitol building.

The Sixth Autumnal Exhibition at Horticultural Hall was described in the report as exceeding all previous exhibitions. “The fountain, always an attractive feature of the exhibition, was the more interesting from the curious appendage of a ball being kept in motion on the sparkling jet. All these, by the wonderful art of Daguerre were imprinted on plate by Mr. Van Osten.^[6]” It was indeed an achievement to create a daguerreotype taken indoors of the exhibit hall brimming with the floral displays and the unique fountain. The only lighting available would have been from the long vertical windows on either side of the hall. Today this building is the museum building of the Chester County History Center. The long vertical windows were closed off in renovations made in 1977. Evidence of these windows can be seen on the outside of the building today. In 1952, CCHC advertised in the Daily Republican asking if readers knew of the whereabouts of the daguerreotype of the interior of their building taken over 100 years ago^[7]. There is no evidence that they received any replies.

Van Osten took the opportunity in the October 8, 1850, edition of The Village Record to blow his own horn for being awarded the certificate of honorable mention at the Horticultural Exhibition:

How much longer after October of 1850 Van Osten was in West Chester is not known. He does not appear on any of the West Chester Tax lists. However, he does appear in a Philadelphia directory for that year at 278 High Street^[9].

Before Thomas Van Osten came to West Chester, he had a gallery at 378 Market Street, Philadelphia. A series of advertisements can be found in the Philadelphia Public Ledger from June through December 1849. He pitched his studio as the Brilliant Daguerreotype Gallery as in this advertisement of September 10, 1849:

According to Philadelphia directories, he worked at a variety of addresses during the 1850s. In 1851 he is listed at 376 Market Street, in 1854 at 9 ½ South Fourth Street.

He acquired a variety of partners in 1855, beginning with Hull & Van Osten operating at 227 Ridge Ave. On August 18, 1855 he announced the dissolution of that partnership and a new one known as Greenawalt & Van Osten at the N. E. Corner of Ridge & Wallace Avenues.^[11] This partnership did not last for long, it was dissolved in an announcement of October 13, 1855 in the Public Ledger.^[12] Van Osten remained at the North East corner of Ridge and Wallace Avenues as a sole proprietor in 1856 when he began advertising ambrotypes.

Van Osten announced his offerings in his December 1856 advertisement: “DAGUERREOTYPES AND AMBROTYPES – Finest, best and cheapest, Van Osten, N.E. corner of Ridge Avenue and Wallace St. over the Grocery Store.”^[13]

In 1857 he advertised ferrotypes for the first time at his studio.^[14] Both Thomas Van Osten and his son, Thomas Jr. are listed at the Ridge Avenue and Wallace Street address in 1857 and at 1331 Ridge Ave in 1858^[15].

He does appear listed as a photographer in an 1859 Philadelphia city directory with a studio at 1331 Ridge Ave.^[16] Again we find a listing for a Thomas Vanaustin (sounds alike) who is a daguerreotypist in an 1861 Philadelphia city directory at 513 S. 19^th Street^[17].

How he learned the art of photography and where he went after 1861 has not been confirmed. Clearly more information is needed to identify him.

© Pamela C. Powell, 2024.