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Local History

Directory of Kalamazoo photographers

Professionally taken photos normally have the name and address of the photographer printed on them. Since photo studios tended to move frequently, knowing the dates when the photographer worked at a specific address serves to date photographs, many of which are not otherwise identified. The date, in turn, often can help identify (or rule out) the subject. The dates listed below are the city directories from which the addresses are taken. Unless otherwise specified, addresses are for photography studios.

Abbey, Lewis C. Born 28 April 1839 in Cleveland, Ohio. Lived in Coldwater, Michigan in 1867. Died 28 August 1904 in Kalamazoo.
1876 – 58 Main Street
1878 – not listed
1881 – “in car” corner of Main & Edwards
1883 – 301 E. Main
1885-6 – same
1887-8 – 303 E. Main
1889 – same
1891 – same, has small ad on p.43, no special information
1893 – same
1895 – same, except not listed in classified business directory
1896 – 721 W. Lovell (residence rather than studio?); no classified business listing
1897 – not listed
1899 – 303 E. Main
1901 – “removed to Comstock”

Abbey, Ronald H.
1929 not listed
1931 worked for Western Photo Service
1934 developed film at the Chocolate Shop, 236 S. Burdick
1935 listed as a photographer, but no studio
1937-1943 worked as a photographer for the Kalamazoo Gazette

Albro, Edward S.
1912 not listed
1913 Photographer for R. C. Albro
1914 not listed

Albro, Raymond C.
1911 not listed
1912 Chandler & Albro, 411 N. Burdick
1913 411 Burdick (Chandler & Albro not listed)
1914 409 N. Burdick
1915 not listed

Alfred, Harriett N.
1867-68 no county listing
1869-70 photographer, 127 Battle Creek, Galesburg
1873 not listed

Allied Art & Photo Service
1958 1122 S. Westnedge
1960-84 1122  S. Westnedge, Ivan D. Pinkerton and W. Robert Wagner
1985-86 122 S. Westnedge, W. Robt. Wagner, Brad Deal, Jeff Steenholdt
1987-1997 1122 S. Westnedge, J. Bradly Deal, Jeff Steenholdt
1998-2001 3302 Mindy Ln., Bradly Deal
2002-2007 3302 Mindy Ln., Jeff Steenholdt

Deal, J. Bradly
see Allied Art & Photo Service

Pinkerton, Ivan D.
see Allied Art & Photo Service

Steenholdt, Jeff 
see Allied Art & Photo Service

Wagner, W. Robert
see Allied Art & Photo Service