Oak Knoll

A Directory of Delaware Photographers is an extensively researched study of historical information about photographers working in the state of Delaware from the dawn of practical photography through the developmental of the photographic trade up to the early twentieth century.

William A. McKay began to research his subject upon discovering a monograph by Jon Williams, formerly of Hagley Museum and Library. That work covered only the early years 18391860 and only Wilmington, Delaware photographers. Finding no other collected information of any kind, McKay was inspired to compile a comprehensive book about all Delaware photographers who owned a studio and their employees (a number of whom later went on to become proprietors of their own studios). The goal was to find and publish as much professional and personal information about this group as could be found.

The primary sources were: letters, including those written by several Delaware photographers to the DuPont family; newspaper archives, with business and personal information not found in any other place; and city directories from 1845-1915, which were published annually or semi-annually. The sensational style of some of the newspaper articles, in particular, makes for entertaining reading.

The main directory is an alphabetical list of all known photographic workers, with transcriptions of correspondence, newspaper articles, obituaries, advertisements, and other surviving sources of information. Appendices cover partnerships, locations, photographic media, licenses, business listings, and known amateur photographers. On the accompanying CD are reproductions of trade cards, stereopticon cards, daguerreotypes and other photographic prints, newspaper articles, patents, IRS records, business licenses, and more.

William A. McKay is an independent scholar of Delaware history, and this is his first book.