Abraham Bogardus (November 29, 1822 – March 22, 1908) was an American
daguerreotypist
Daguerreotype was the first publicly available photographic process, widely used during the 1840s and 1850s. "Daguerreotype" also refers to an image created through this process.
Invented by Louis Daguerre and introduced worldwide in 1839, th ...
and photographer who made around 200,000 daguerreotypes during his career.
He was trained in the daguerreotype process by New Yorker George W. Prosch, who in 1839 had made a camera for
Samuel F.B. Morse. Bogardus opened a studio and gallery at 363 Broadway in New York in 1846, becoming very successful. In 1868, he helped in the founding of the
National Photographic Association of which he was president for five years. He worked as a clerk in a dry goods store in the late 1830s, and exhibited a painting at the American Institute in 1845.
From 1847 to 1852, he was listed as a daguerreotypist at 217 Greenwich Street. His residence was in Newark, New Jersey, from 1849 to 1851, returning to Grove Street, New York City, between 1851 and 1852. His success enabled a branch gallery at 126 Washington Street, Newark, in 1849, which moved to 8 Clinton Street, Newark, in 1850. His New York City gallery was moved to 229 Greenwich Street in 1851 and the old Root Gallery at 363 Broadway refitted in 1862. He opened a new studio at 1153 Broadway in 1869, maintaining the 363 Broadway address.
That same year he became an important witness at the trial of
William H. Mumler
William H. Mumler (1832–1884) was an American spirit photographer who worked in New York City and Boston. His first spirit photograph was apparently an accident—a self-portrait which, when developed, also revealed the "spirit" of his de ...
, a
spirit photographer who had been accused of
fraud
In law, fraud is intent (law), intentional deception to deprive a victim of a legal right or to gain from a victim unlawfully or unfairly. Fraud can violate Civil law (common law), civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrato ...
by, among others,
P. T. Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding with James Anthony Bailey the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He was ...
. Barnum hired Bogardus to fabricate a photograph of him with the supposed "ghost" of
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...
; this photograph was then tendered in evidence at Mumler's trial to demonstrate to the court how easy it was to conjure fake images of ghosts.
In 1871 to 1873, he was in partnership with
Daniel and David Bendann, brothers from
Baltimore
Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
, Maryland, at 1153 Broadway in New York. In 1873, Bogardus produced daguerreotypes of bank note designs for the ''American Bank Note Co''.
Wanting to retire in 1884, Bogardus advertised in the ''Philadelphia Photographer'': "Wishing to retire from the photographic business, I now offer my well-known establishment for sale, after thirty-eight years' continuous existence in this city. The reputation of the gallery is too well known to require one word of comment. The stock of registered negatives is very valuable, containing a large line of regular customers, and also very many of our prominent men, Presidents, Senators, etc., and for which orders are constantly received. They include Blaine and Logan. Entire apparatus first-class; Dallmeyer lens, etc. For further information, address Abraham Bogardus & Co., 872 Broadway cor. 18th St., New York."
He died in his home at 246 Madison Street in Brooklyn, NY surrounded by friends in 1908.
Asher Brown Durand
Asher Brown Durand (August 21, 1796 – September 17, 1886) was an American engraver and painter of the Hudson River School.
Early life
Durand was born in, and eventually died in, Maplewood, New Jersey (then called Jefferson Village). H ...
(1869)
by Bogardus
Chester A. Arthur by Abraham Bogardus.jpg, Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was the 21st president of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was a Republican from New York who previously served as the 20th vice president under President James A. ...
(1880s)
by Bogardus
Letter by Abraham Bogardus March 22, 1887 - Original.jpg, Letter by Bogardus, after being elected as a non-resident member of a society in Texas
References
External links
The Daguerreotype - Abraham Bogardus
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bogardus, Abraham
American portrait photographers
1822 births
1908 deaths
19th-century American photographers