I was excited to find this advertisement for H. B. Freeman’s daguerreotype gallery in addition to his jewelry and watch business. I think it is likely that he set daguerreotype portraits into lockets that he sold in his store. A worthwhile product to introduce to the county seat. The sentimental Victorian public was eager to…
Did you know about the useful search tools on the footer of Chester County Photographist website? Probably not. I can relate. I am the most impatient person when it comes to searching. I want to find what I want and off I go to the next thing. I don’t typically explore all the features on…
Here is a handy tool for assigning a date for a nineteenth century photograph. If you are working on your genealogy or local history project, the Working Dates List will save you considerable time and move your research ahead. You are lucky indeed if you have cartes-de-visite or cabinet cards in your family archives. Have…
John B. Gibson was the town photographer for Coatesville, operating his studio from 1868 to 1897. Innovations in the 1890s were vastly changing the styles and processes used by the portrait studio photographer. Gibson was ready to retire. Other young photographers were already trying their hand at the portrait business. Charles, son of Thomas W….
One thing that really impressed me about Coatesville’s long-time photographer John Gibson, was that he was a real family man. He and his first wife Sallie had a daughter Annie, born on May 20, 1868. Sadly, Sallie passed away in 1872 leaving him with the little four-year-old girl. For many people in that era, when…
It was always an exciting time. So much preparation went into getting ready to exhibit your prize cow, vegetables and homemade pies and jams. Besides the judged exhibits there may also have been trotting races, pulling contests or other demonstrations. But most of all people enjoyed taking a break away from the farm and getting…
One of the best tools I discovered to refine a photographer’s working dates was a thorough review of the local tax lists. By looking at them over time, you can determine when a photographer was working in a certain location, when he bought property and more importantly, when he left.
Chester County is situated twenty-five miles west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in verdant rolling hills. It was one of the original three counties in William Penn’s Holy Experiment to give people of all faiths an opportunity to live together in peace away from the tyranny of European governments.
