George LaGrange Cook (1849–1919) was a photographer in Charleston,

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

. The

Gibbes Museum of Art The Gibbes Museum of Art, formerly known as the Gibbes Art Gallery, is an art museum in Charleston, South Carolina. Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the museum moved into a new Beaux Arts building at 135 Meeting Street, in t ...

holds a collection of his photographs. He took a range of images: buildings, residences, streets, and portraits.

Biography

Born in 1849 in Charleston, South Carolina, George LaGrange Cook was the eldest son of

George S. Cook George Smith Cook (February 23, 1819 – November 27, 1902) was an early American photographer known as a pioneer in the development of the field. Primarily a studio portrait photographer, he is the first to have taken a photograph of combat durin ...

, a pioneering American photographer, and his first wife Elizabeth. (She died in 1864). Soon after his mother's death, his father married again, to his mother's niece Lavinia Pratt. They had several children together, including Cook's half-brother, Huestis P. Cook (1868–1951). Cook became a photographer like his father and became established in Charleston. In 1880 his father moved with younger members of the family to

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

. Cook took over his Charleston studio at 281 King Street. He later relocated to 265 King Street. After the

1886 Charleston earthquake The 1886 Charleston earthquake in South Carolina occurred about 9:50 p.m. local time August 31. It caused 60 deaths and $5–6 million ($ million in ) in damage to 2,000 buildings in the Southeastern United States. It is one of the mo ...

, Cook produced a series of photos titled ''Cook's Earthquake Views of Charleston and Vicinity''. He moved to Richmond about 1890, joining other members of the family. His younger brother Huestis P. Cook (1868–1951) became a photographer in Richmond, working there for 60 years. After their father died in 1902, Huestis took over his studio in Richmond. Huestis is known for his photographs of people of all classes in Richmond and its area, in addition to landscapes and buildings. Together the two men amassed a collection of images spanning nearly 100 years.

The Valentine The Valentine is a museum in Richmond, Virginia dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond's history. Founded by Mann S. Valentine II 1898, it was the first museum in Richmond. In the early 21st century, The Valentine offers ...

, a museum of Richmond, bought the collection in 1954.

References

Photographers from South Carolina 1849 births 1919 deaths People from Charleston, South Carolina {{US-photographer-stub