Henry James Stevenson

Photographer: H. J. Stevenson
Portable Gallery

Henry James Stevenson
(13 Feb 1864 - 31 Dec 1944)

1864
H J Stevenson is born in Ohio
1878 - 1895
Stevenson works up and down the US west coast as miner, farmer and cowboy.
1895
Stevenson, living in Denver, CO, moves to Oklahoma City, OK; opens a photograph gallery on Broadway between Grand and Main Streets. It was called “The Stevenson’s Art Gallery”
1896 May 01
Stevenson moves to El Reno, OK; works for photographer named Wallace, eventually buying the studio which was located in the 200 block of Bickford Ave, El Reno, OK
1900
(US Census) H J Stevenson as photographer; res: 419 Choctaw, El Reno, OK
1909
(city directory) H J Stevenson as photo supplies at 119 s Bickford, El Reno, OK
1910
Stevenson as photographer at 430 N Edwards, El Reno, OK
1913
Stevenson sells 150 Indian photographs to Oklahoma State Historical Society

1920
El Reno, OK, Stevenson buys Schlitz Building at 115 S Bickford and opens studio there; in US Census he is listed as photographer with “Traveling Shop”
1928
El Reno, OK, city directory Stevenson as photographer at 115 s Bickford
1930
Stevenson’s eyes “go bad” and he retires and runs a filling station at 1535 Sunset Drive
1938 Mar 18
interview with WPA #10268
1944
Henry James Stevenson dies in El Reno, OK

All information is from US Census and city directories. Also helpful was a 10 page document dated 18 Mar 1938, called the Works Progress Administration Indian-Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma. This biography outlines the life of H. J. Stevenson including many details not found anywhere else.

This cabinet card was probably finished around 1920, when Stevenson referred to his business as the “Traveling Shop”.

photographer: Stevenson
El Reno, OK Territory
Example from auction site

photographer: Stevenson
El Reno, Ok Territory
example from auction site

photographer: Stevenson
El Reno, Ok Territory
example from auction site

photographer: Stevenson
El Reno, Ok Territory
example from auction site

The card at the right is probably from the "Wallace" mentioned in the timeline at 1896

photographer: Wallace
El Reno, Oklahoma Territory
example from auction site

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.

New examples and additional information are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made. All submissions should be free of glare and shadows. Do not crop. Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

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