Artist

Abraham Bogardus

(1822 - 1908) American
Abraham Bogardus

Biography

(1822-1908) Born November 29, 1822 in Dutchess County, N.Y. he was employed in the late 1830's as a clerk in a dry goods store, and in 1845 exhibited a painting at the American Institute.
It was also circa 1845 he learned the daguerreotype process from George W. Prosch in New York City. In 1846 he opened a daguerreian gallery at 363 Broadway, New York City, at the corner of Barclay and Greenwich Streets. Bogardus remembered later that on October 17 he placed a frame with four daguerreotypes in it outside his studio (presumably about the day the studio opened).
From 1847 to 1852, he was listed as daguerreotypes at 217 Greenwich Street. From 1849 to 1851 he lived in Newark, N.J. In 1851-1852 he lived on Grove Street, New York City. In 1849, he also operated a branch gallery at 126 Washington Street, Newark, N.J.; in 1850-1851, the branch gallery was listed at 8 Clinton Street, Newark, N.J. In 1851-1852 he was not listed in the Newark City Directory.
In 1851, Bogardus relocated his New York City gallery to 229 Greenwich Street. From 1852 to 1860 he was listed there, and lived at 36 King Street.
In 1862, he refitted the old Root Gallery at 363 Broadway. In 1869 he moved to a new studio at 1153 Broadway, but still maintained the 363 Broadway address as well.
From 1868 to 1874 he served as the first president of the National Photographic Association.
In 1871 he was listed in partnership with the Bendann Brothers (Daniel and David) of Baltimore, Md. at 1153 Broadway in New York. The partnership was dissolved in 1873, with the retirement of the Bendanns.
In 1873 Bogardus made daguerreotypes of bank note designs for the American Bank Note Co.
Intending to retire from photography in 1884, Bogardus ran an advertisement in the Philadelphia Photographer which read: "Wishing to retire from the photographic business, I now offer my well-known establishment for sale, after thirty-eight years' continuous existence in this city. "The reputation of the gallery is too well known to require one word of comment. "The stock of registered negatives is very valuable, containing a large line of regular customers, and also very many of our prominent men, Presidents, Senators, etc., and for which orders are constantly received. They include Blaine and Logan. Entire apparatus first-class; Dallmeyer lens, etc. For further information, address Abraham Bogardus & Co., 872 Broadway cor. 18th St., New York."
In 1887, he resigned from photography. In 1891 it was reported he was about to take up residence in Stark, North Dakota, in the interest of the Dakota Land Company. Bogardus recalled he made and sold some 200,000 daguerreotypes during his 15 to 17 years as a practical daguerreotyper. The velvet liner of a sixth plate daguerreotype case is embossed, "Bogardus/ Greenwich St., corner Barclay/ New York." He also embossed his name on front of a leather daguerreotype case. Bogardus died in Brooklyn, N.Y. Information corrected to November, 1997; © 1996, 1997 John S. Craig
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