William Shew (1820–1903) was a prominent American photographer in the 19th century. He made a name for himself as a Daguerrotype portrait artist in the United States. He maintained a mobile studio in a wagon that he called his "Daguerrotype Saloon."
William Shew
Shew c. 1901
Born
(1820-03-23)March 23, 1820
New York
Died
February 5, 1903(1903-02-05) (aged 82)
San Francisco, California
Known for
photography
Shew was born near Watertown, New York on 23 March 1820. He studied daguerrotype photography with Samuel F. B. Morse, as did his brothers Truman, Jacob, and Myron.[1] All four of the Shew brothers worked for photographer John Plumbe, who opened studios in various cities; William Shew worked in Plumbe's Boston studio from 1841 to 1844 before setting up his own daguerreian case manufacturing business, William Shew and Company, and pursuing studio work in partnership with daguerreotypist Marsena Cannon.[2][3] In this period, Shew was a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society.[4]
Shew's Saloon, 1851
In 1851, Shew followed his brother Jacob to California and set up a studio in San Francisco; he became well known for his portrait work. He was recruited by John Wesley Jones to take daguerreotypes of California for Jones's planned Great Pantoscope of California, the Rocky Mountains, Salt Lake City, Nebraska and Kansas.[3] In 1851, he set up the "Moveable Daguerreotype Saloon" on Dupont Street, later moving it to a lot on Washington Street, opposite the Alta California newspaper office.[3] He later occupied studios in more orthodox addresses along Clay, Montgomery, and Kearny streets.[3] He is presumed the author of a July 1854 article "Photography" in The Pioneer, or, California Monthly Magazine in which he commented on the current state of photographic art and daguerreotype studios.[3]
When Japan's first diplomatic mission to the United States arrived in San Francisco in 1860, a young Yukichi Fukuzawa, then part of the embassy staff, sat for a photo in Shew's studio, in what would become one of the most famous photographs in early Japanese history as it also featured Shew's daughter Theodora, one of the first photographs of a Caucasian woman seen in Japan.[5]
Shew was active in local political and social groups in the 1850s and 1860s, holding the first San Francisco Free-Soil Convention at his rooms on the Plaza (8 October 1852); he served briefly on the Board of Education and hosted meetings of the Temperance Society.[6][4] He was the most successful of the Shew brothers in photography; Truman died young (1848), Jacob suffered financial losses and committed suicide in 1879, and Myron worked in a variety of jobs including photography, manufacturing, and merchandising.[3]
Shew was married twice. In 1847 he married Elizabeth Marie Studley (1819-1889) in Boston; their daughter Theodora Alice was born in 1848. After Elizabeth's death from typhoid in 1889,[3] Shew and Annie Katherine Haven (1849-1930) were married in San Francisco in 1891. Shew died in San Francisco on 5 February 1903.[7]
Worksedit
Fukuzawa Yukichi with Shew's daughter Alice
Alice Brown Von Holt Mackintosh
Mother and Daughter
Referencesedit
^Newhall, Beaumont (1976). The Daguerreotype in America. Courier Corporation. ISBN978-0-486-23322-2.
^ abcdefgPalmquist, Peter E. (2000). Pioneer photographers of the far west: A biographical dictionary 1840-1865. Stanford University Press. pp. 496–499. ISBN0804738831.
^ abCalmenson, Wendy Cunkle (Spring 1977). "'Likenesses taken in the most approved style': William Shew, Pioneer Daguerreotypist". California Historical Quarterly. 56 (1): 4–5. doi:10.2307/25157680. JSTOR 25157680.
Lange, O. V. (July 1902). "A portrait photographer for more than half a century in San Francisco". Camera Craft. 5 (3): 101–102.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Shew.
(Archived at The Wayback Machine)
Silver and Gold - Shew's Daguerreian Saloon
January 01, 1970
william, shew, american, politician, wisconsin, politician, 1820, 1903, prominent, american, photographer, 19th, century, made, name, himself, daguerrotype, portrait, artist, united, states, maintained, mobile, studio, wagon, that, called, daguerrotype, saloon. For the American politician in Wisconsin see William Shew politician William Shew 1820 1903 was a prominent American photographer in the 19th century He made a name for himself as a Daguerrotype portrait artist in the United States He maintained a mobile studio in a wagon that he called his Daguerrotype Saloon William ShewShew c 1901Born 1820 03 23 March 23 1820New YorkDiedFebruary 5 1903 1903 02 05 aged 82 San Francisco CaliforniaKnown forphotography Shew was born near Watertown New York on 23 March 1820 He studied daguerrotype photography with Samuel F B Morse as did his brothers Truman Jacob and Myron 1 All four of the Shew brothers worked for photographer John Plumbe who opened studios in various cities William Shew worked in Plumbe s Boston studio from 1841 to 1844 before setting up his own daguerreian case manufacturing business William Shew and Company and pursuing studio work in partnership with daguerreotypist Marsena Cannon 2 3 In this period Shew was a member of the Massachusetts Anti Slavery Society 4 Shew s Saloon 1851 In 1851 Shew followed his brother Jacob to California and set up a studio in San Francisco he became well known for his portrait work He was recruited by John Wesley Jones to take daguerreotypes of California for Jones s planned Great Pantoscope of California the Rocky Mountains Salt Lake City Nebraska and Kansas 3 In 1851 he set up the Moveable Daguerreotype Saloon on Dupont Street later moving it to a lot on Washington Street opposite the Alta California newspaper office 3 He later occupied studios in more orthodox addresses along Clay Montgomery and Kearny streets 3 He is presumed the author of a July 1854 article Photography in The Pioneer or California Monthly Magazine in which he commented on the current state of photographic art and daguerreotype studios 3 When Japan s first diplomatic mission to the United States arrived in San Francisco in 1860 a young Yukichi Fukuzawa then part of the embassy staff sat for a photo in Shew s studio in what would become one of the most famous photographs in early Japanese history as it also featured Shew s daughter Theodora one of the first photographs of a Caucasian woman seen in Japan 5 Shew was active in local political and social groups in the 1850s and 1860s holding the first San Francisco Free Soil Convention at his rooms on the Plaza 8 October 1852 he served briefly on the Board of Education and hosted meetings of the Temperance Society 6 4 He was the most successful of the Shew brothers in photography Truman died young 1848 Jacob suffered financial losses and committed suicide in 1879 and Myron worked in a variety of jobs including photography manufacturing and merchandising 3 Shew was married twice In 1847 he married Elizabeth Marie Studley 1819 1889 in Boston their daughter Theodora Alice was born in 1848 After Elizabeth s death from typhoid in 1889 3 Shew and Annie Katherine Haven 1849 1930 were married in San Francisco in 1891 Shew died in San Francisco on 5 February 1903 7 Works edit nbsp Fukuzawa Yukichi with Shew s daughter Alice nbsp Alice Brown Von Holt Mackintosh nbsp Mother and DaughterReferences edit Newhall Beaumont 1976 The Daguerreotype in America Courier Corporation ISBN 978 0 486 23322 2 Plumbe John Jr Craig s Daguerreian Registry Retrieved 2018 07 07 a b c d e f g Palmquist Peter E 2000 Pioneer photographers of the far west A biographical dictionary 1840 1865 Stanford University Press pp 496 499 ISBN 0804738831 a b Calmenson Wendy Cunkle Spring 1977 Likenesses taken in the most approved style William Shew Pioneer Daguerreotypist California Historical Quarterly 56 1 4 5 doi 10 2307 25157680 JSTOR 25157680 Bakumatsu Meiji Furushashin Chō Aizōhan p 21 William Shew 19th amp 20th Century Photography Retrieved 2018 07 09 Onorati Sherri Panchaud 2011 04 23 William Shew 1820 1903 Photographer amp Daguerreotype Innovator familyheirlooms Retrieved 2018 07 09 Further reading editLange O V July 1902 A portrait photographer for more than half a century in San Francisco Camera Craft 5 3 101 102 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Shew The Daguerreian Society California Daguerrotypes Archived at The Wayback Machine Silver and Gold Shew s Daguerreian Saloon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Shew amp oldid 1211115460, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
