Tales from the Archives

I am excited to feature new research by a guest author on Chester County Photographist. Today I am introducing Rebecca Oviedo, a professional archivist and family historian who is lucky enough to be related to photographer William W. West! She is blessed to have in her family’s photo archive many examples of West’s work. She demonstrates in her biography of West her thorough research skills, pulling together newspaper articles, manuscript material as well as archival records. Her biography is loaded with rich detail and illustrated with archival photographs as well as her own colorful photographs of significant sites.

I was delighted to meet Rebecca at the Chester County History Center’s library to get to see her collection. I had never seen any examples of West’s work before and was thrilled to see his cartes-de-visite with the “Willaim W. West Traveling Artist” imprint made during the 1860s, as well as cabinet cards from his time in his Spring City studio in the 1870s and beyond. Even more intriguing were ambrotypes of family members, and one of a man holding a violin who may well be West himself! It certainly is likely that West made ambrotypes also, but like so many artists could not afford to get cases or mats with his name imprinted on them.

West typifies many itinerants of the period who juggled two careers to make ends meet. This is demonstrated through his tailoring shop in Birchrunville, with his traveling photograph wagon parked outside in 1870. Things start to go better for the whole family when William West Sr. moved to Spring City, followed by his children William W. West, Thomas and Hannah West. Finally, the photographer has a studio in a busy industrial hamlet beside the Schuylkill River. Here he became established and supplied portraiture and good tailoring to the people of Spring City for many years.

Thanks to Rebecca for sharing his story and giving us a glimpse into William W. West’s life and career. Here is the link to William West’s page.