Harvey Mitchell: Photography Advertisement: "Daguerreotype Likenesses." May 12, 1842

[From the Lynchburg Virginian, May 12, 1842:]

                                                 HARVEY MITCHE[L]L

RESPECTFULLY informs his friends and the public that he is now prepared to take Daguerreotype Likenesses, in the room over the bookstore of Messrs. Payne & Gregory, lately occupied by Mr. D[awe]s.

Apr 2d.                                     taif

"Mr. D[awe]s" was undoubtedly the photographer E. Herbert Dawes, listed in this advertisement on March 21, 1842, in the Lynchburg Virginian, in the same setting. Did Harvey Mitchell acquire some or all of his equipment and supplies?  

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.] 

Harvey Mitchell: Photography Advertisement: "Daguerreotype Likenesses." March 31, 1842

[From The Lynchburg Virginian, March 31, 1842:]

                                                        Daguerreotype Likenesses.

HARVEY MITCHELL takes pleasure in informing his friends and the public, that he will be in Lynchburg only this week, prepared to take Likenesses with the Daguerreotype in the latest and most approved style. 

   

      March 28                                                                                     2t if

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]  

Joseph E. Johnston to Lettie Floyd Johnston, July 8, 1888

[Joseph Eggleston Johnston at Washington City to Miss Lettie Johnston at 107 South First St., Richmond, Virginia, July 8, 1888, folder 604, Trigg-Floyd Collection, Special Collections, John Cook Wyllie Library, The University of Virginia's College at Wise (formerly Clinch Valley College), Wise, Virginia. This is my rough transcription.]

July 8th 1888

My dear little Lettie,

Your note came to me in due time, and gave me great pleasure, by the affection that seconded it. In spite of which I didn't reply promptly, because of a violent inflammation of the eyes that made it painful and injurious to use them. Tell your father this is the reason for not replying to him, [sooner].

I shall in a few days, set out on a long expedition to inspect Pacific railroads which will occupy me all the rest of the summer, consequently leaving me no time to visit our own country, and enjoy the beauty of our hills, and the society of the children of my early friends and play-fellows, which gave me happiness in my last visit.

I have not been needing nursing, dear Lettie. When I do you will be sent for promptly. And between times, as often as you will come.

Most affectionately yours
J.E. Johnston

[Dear little Lettie = 44-year old Laetitia Floyd "Letty" aka "Lettie" Johnston (March 1, 1844-November 27, 1888). She died in Richmond before the end of the year, but I do not yet know the circumstances 
Joseph E. Johnston (1807-1891); his wife Lydia McLane Johnston had died in 1887 at the age of 65 
Pacific railroads = JEJ was Commissioner of Railroads 
Your father = John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889), JEJ's nephew]

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration. Picture credit: Susan Davis. 

Nineteenth Century Photography: The Case of the Double Portraits

These artifacts were in my father's library. I do not know their provenance, but do know he was friends with a man he referred to as Manny Kean in Philadelphia, proprietor of "The Kean Archives." He may have acquired this set from Mr. Kean in the 1970s.  This portrait (a tintype or ambrotype, I suppose, third choice being a daguerreotype) of a clean-shaven man sporting a medal of some kind was wedged over a second, probably older portrait of a man sporting a neat beard. 

Because this is a low-intensity scan, the bearded man seems a little out of focus. I'll have to photograph it for a sharper reproduction.  If anyone recognizes these gentlemen or can add anything to the technical aspects of these artifacts, by all means do leave a comment, or email me at efrance23@gmail.com  Much obliged!

  Outside case, front.

Inside of case, front.