Cedar
True Texan
Joined : 15 May 2007
Posts : 1112
Localisation : Always Texas
 |  Subject: A Gentleman and His Photographer  Sun 21 Oct 2007, 10:07 pm | |
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Since we took up the little 'Treasured Views' project, I have wondered often about the professional photographers who began proliferating across our land more than one hundred years ago, but have left us with much mystery. On the back of the portrait seen below, for instance, it may be read: 'More photos just like this can be had at any time ...." Of course, it is never so easy -- even to locate information about the photographer. One must have the time and the wherewithall to track down his paper trail at this late date.
So, D. P. Barr remains to be found in an incidental ad in an old San Antonio newspaper, in a census schedule or as an entry in a city directory. Did any records maintained by his studio remain extant .... perhaps stowed away in the attic of his descendent somewhere? I do not know.
But someone had enough foresight to inform us that this cabinet portrait was made of a Mr. John Rogers, who was the son of Sofia and Charles Rogers. As his likeness was found along with others of families from New York, I am led to wonder whether he had come to San Antonio on a job assignment .... possibly to teach. Did he linger there long? Such is the beckoning of history toward us to discover.
Holly
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The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves |
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