July 07, 2006
ID Needed
This picture belonged to my dad's oldest sister, Ruby Maples. I suspect that it is a picture of her grandmother, Anna Elizabeth Francis, however, I have no way of knowing if I am right. If anyone out there has information on this, please let me know. The picture was a daguerreotype.
The Daguerreotype
Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre invented the daguerreotype process in France. The invention was announced to the public on August 19, 1839 at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris. American photographers quickly capitalized on this new invention, which was capable of capturing a "truthful likeness." Daguerreotypists in major cities invited celebrities and political figures to their studios in the hopes of obtaining a likeness for display in their windows and reception areas. They encouraged the public to visit their galleries, which were like museums, in the hope that they would desire to be photographed as well. By 1850, there were over 70 daguerreotype studios in New York City alone.
Popularity of the daguerreotype declined in the late 1850s when the ambrotype, a faster and less expensive photographic process, became available. A few contemporary photographers have revived the process.
Maybe by the age of the girl and when this photo type was taken you can narrow down some dates if
this is Anna E. Francis. Was she born in Alabama ?
Did I miss somewhere who's her parents ?