Histories

James H. Reed

Reed had a studio in Clinton, Clinton County, in the 1870s through the 1890s. He is listed in the 1881 Gazetteer as a Clinton photographer.

From the History of Clinton County, Iowa , 1879, p. 689: “James H. Reed, photograph artist, Fifth Avenue. He was born in Joliet, Illinois, Jan 26, 1836 and was educated in Galesburg and Fulton, Illinois, to which latter place his family moved in 1838. He is a photographic artist of unusual ability, and is a leading member of the National Photographic Association of the United States. He has been more or less identified with the interests of Clinton from its foundation to the present time, part of the time making his home just across the river in Fulton, Illinois, but for the past seven years a permanent resident of Clinton. He married Miss Anna A. Pomeroy, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 25th of February 1871 and has two children - Mabel W. and Ralph; his family are members and regular attendants of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was a poor man when he commenced business with a borrowed capital of $300 and is now worth from $15,000 to $20,000 with unlimited credit.”

According to a pamphlet created by the Clinton County Historical Society: “The city directories give some fascinating material about these people. Here is an example of an account about J. H. Reed. ‘Mr. Reed is not only the proprietor of an elegantly appointed studio, but is above all a most thorough and accomplished artist, and produces pictures that for perfectness of style and finish can be excelled nowhere. We quote from a neighboring sheet: Mr. Reed is an artist quick to discern possibilities in posing, and showing judgment in this respect his work is not a mere likeness but a picture, or, in other words, a work showing harmony in its composition, beauty in finish, and truth in its outlines.’”

There are eleven examples of this photographer's work in the SHSI collection. He also used backlists, one of which was called “Views of Clinton and Vicinity” and had 25 views, ten that were taken from the Water Works Tower. Reed also published “View of Clinton, Iowa,”a series of views of Clinton in the mid-1880s which form a panorama when the accordion folded booklet is opened. The booklet is in the SHSI collection.

State Historical Society of Iowa
Archives and Records Program
Stereo Photographers, A-Z
http://www.state.ia.us/iowahistory/archives/research_collections/special_collections/av_collections_ic/Iowa%20Photographs/Stereo%20Photographers,%20A-Z.htm