A list of known 18th & early 19th century Audubon County photographers has been compiled below. This list is currently a work in progress. Additional information and names will be added as discovered. Links to on-site vintage advertisements and examples of the photographer's work (if available) have been included. Approximate time frames are provided based on any known dated photos and/or biographies. In most cases these are general approximations only, and sometimes based on a single dated photograph.
| KNOWN 18h & EARLY 19th CENTURY AUDUBON COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHERS |
|---|
| NAME | LOCATION | TIME PERIOD |
|---|
| Andersen, P. | Kimballton, Iowa | ?? |
| Clough, J. F. | Audubon, Iowa | Circa 1880's |
| Frazier, J. F. | Audubon, Iowa | Circa 1890-1910 |
| Harper, Christopher C. | Audubon, Iowa | Circa 1880-1910 |
| Harper, Otis | Audubon, Iowa | Circa 1897 |
| Jensen, Emanuel | Audubon County, Iowa | Circa 1898-1900 |
| Mason, Thomas E. | Audubon, Iowa | Circa 1911-?? |
| Olsen | Audubon, Iowa | Circa 1900-1910 |
| Smith, Mrs. D. C. | Oakfield, Iowa | ?? |
| Smith, Zephyr | Oakfield, Iowa | ?? |
| Sorensen, Kristine M. | Audubon, Iowa | Circa 1914-?? |
| Wellman | Exira, Iowa | Circa 1903 |
| Willcutt, C. F. | Exira, Iowa | Circa 1890's |
ANDERSEN, P.
P. Andersen operated a studio in Kimballton. Possibly the same P. Andersen who operated a photography studio at Shelby in 1891? Listed as photographer in Kimballton in the 1907 Bradstreet Ratings, Volume 158 Examples of work:
CLOUGH, J. F.
Per the National Stereoscopic Association (NSA) US Photographers List (Page 162), J. F. Clough operated a studio in Audubon County in the 1880's. View recorded by William Darrah.
FRAZIER, J. F.
Operated a studio in Audubon circa late 1890's/early 1900's. Advertisement in the 1898 Columbian Club Cookbook (Page 46). Listed as Photographer living in Audubon County in the 1895 census (Frank J.); living in Audubon Co. for the 1905 Iowa census and 1910 Federal census, but had moved to Kansas by the 1920 Federal census.
HARPER, CHRISTOPHER C.
Per the National Stereoscopic Association (NSA) US Photographers List (Page 332), C. C. Otis operated a studio in Audubon, Iowa in the 1880s through early 1900s. Listed as photographer in Audubon, Iowa in the 1907 Bradstreet Ratings, Volume 158. The 1878 1892 History of Audubon contains a short biography and an advertisement.
HARPER, OTIS
Had a studio in Bancroft, Kossuth County, and also operated in Audubon circa 1897.
JENSEN, EMANUEL
Per the Cumberland (Cass County) centennial history book, A Century Of Memories Cumberland, Iowa 1884 1984, pg. 221, "He came to America at 17 and lived first in Audubon County working as a photographer."
MASON, THOMAS E.
Per his biography in the 1915 History of Audubon County, Thomas E. Mason operated photograph studio in Audubon beginning in 1911.
OLSEN
Per an Audubon IAGenWeb Query Board post, there was a photographer named Olsen working in Audubon in the early 1900's. The person who posted was in possession of a studio portrait marked "Olsen/Audubon, Iowa". No other information available at this time.
SMITH, MR. & MRS. D. C.
Per "The History of Oakfield, Iowa," D. C. Smith established a store and also a photograph gallery. Mrs. Smith managed the gallery under her own name and did a thriving business.
SMITH, ZEPHYR
Per "The History of Oakfield, Iowa," Zephyr was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Smith, and learned photography after finishing her schooling. She opened the Smith gallery again under her own name. Examples of work:
SORENSEN, KRISTINE M.
Per her biography in the 1915 History of Audubon County, Kristine M. Sorensen operated photograph studio in Audubon beginning in 1914.
WELLMAN
Operated at Anita and Exira. No further information at this time. Examples of work:
WILLCUTT, C. F.
Operated a studio in Exira. No further info available at this time. Examples of work:
SOURCES:
The History of Oakfield, Iowa by Mrs. Daisy Cannon;
Langdon's List of 19th & Early 20th Century Photographers [Offsite at https://www.langdonroad.com/] ----NOTE Oct. 2023: Langdon's site is offine, hopefully only temporarily;
State Historical Society of Iowa Iowa Stereographs Collection overview and known Iowa Stereo Photographers listing [Offsite].
Compiled and contributed by Cheryl Siebrass, February, 2019.
