Unidentified photographer
1860 (ca)
Exterior of Kimball photo studio, Concord, New Hampshire
Stereocard, detail
EbayKIMBALL STUDIO, 15 MAIN STREET, CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Many members of the Kimball clan became photographers. The first, it would appear, was William Hazen Kimball who learned the trade in 1844. By 1850 he was joined by Joseph L. Kimball , probably his brother, who was a year or two older than William according the census records. Joseph named one of his sons William H. Kimball . It was William Hazen Kimball (1) , however, who started the photographic dynasty, as his three eldest sons all took up the business, Richard H. Kimball (4), Willis Gaylord Clark Kimball and Howard A. Kimball . Howard, born about 1845, was the only one whose birthplace is listed as Pennsylvania, the rest were born in New Hampshire. William may have taken his family to Philadelphia when he decided to learn the daguerrian arts.All records from 1860 on (when he was 17 year old music student) list Willis with two middle initials, Willis G. C. Kimball. In that year, the William Hazen Kimball family was living in Franklin, New Hampshire, and William was listed as a Photographist. The eldest son, Richard, had stayed behind in Concord, where he is listed as an Ambrotypist, and living in a residential hotel. William's brother, Joseph, was living in Nashua New Hampshire, and listed a Daguerrian.During the Civil War Willis joined up, and by 1865 held the post of Captain in the 18th New Hampshire. He married [May 1863] Ella Lois Gove probably just before entering the army. By 1870, William and family were back in Concord, and operating a photo gallery. Son Howard is listed as a photographer, and living with his parents. Willis, now in his mid-20s, is a photographer in Concord too, probably in his father's studio. His second son is named Richard, after his brother who is no longer listed anywhere nearby, and may have been deceased. Joseph Kimball has given up photography, and is a farmer in Zeandale, Kansas. Sometime before 1880, Willis took over the photo studio, and his father went to work as a librarian in the state library.
Kimball, Joseph L. Listed as a daguerreian in Concord, N.H., 1850-1861. In 1850 he was listed at 189 Main Street, and advertised he "has fitted up rooms in Dunklee's Building, few doors north of American House." (January 1). In 1853-1854 he was listed in Stickney's Block; and in 1856, at 198 Main Street, he offered daguerreotypes, photographs and crystalotypes "or improved ambrotypes". He also offered daguerreian stock, and claimed to be located over Rollins' Drug Store. There is a discrepancy here, as Rollins' Drug Store was listed at 154 Main Street, opposite the Capitol House. In 1860-1861 he advertised "heliography in its various branches." Information corrected to November, 1997; © 1996, 1997 John S. Craig
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