Saturday, August 6, 2022

Olaf O Holcomb




photographer: Holcomb
116 n Santa Fe
Salina, Kansas

Olaf O Holcomb
(1847 - 1930)

There were a generous number of photographers named Holcomb around the end of the 19th century. There was only one Olof Holcomb, however. That did not make him easy to locate. Although Olaf Holcomb moved his residence and partnerships quite often, fortunately he changed cities very few times. And, Holcomb often only used his last name. When his first name was added in documents, it was often misspelled.

Timeline Sources: US census, city directories, state records, newspaper items as noted,

1847 May 16
Sweden, US census, Olof Holcomb is born
1866 or 1867
Holcomb at age 19 or 20 arrives in US
1872-1876
Garretsville, OH, Article in Ohio Photographers 1839-1900 mentions partnership of Lake and Holcomb in operation these years
1877-1879
Garretsburg, OH, Article in Ohio Photographers 1839-1900 mentions partnership of Holcomb and French in operation these years (Garretsburg is probably a misprint as there is no city by that name in Ohio.)
1878
Garrettsville, OH, Article in Ohio Photographers, 1839-1900: StereoView is by Holcomb and French

1878 Aug 08
Saline County Journal news item says Holcomb’s Gallery has moved to the Commercial Block
1878 Dec 05
Saline County Journal, news item says “Doc” Holcomb is building a photograph gallery on Iron av
1879
Garrettsville, OH, Article in Ohio Photographers, Page 73. Mention of Lake and Holcomb
1879 Sep 18
Saline County Journal, news item says Messrs Holcomb & Felt now occupy the gallery in the
Commercial Block
1879 Oct 09
Saline County Journal, news item says Messrs. Holcomb and Felt have moved from the old stand on Iron av to Commercial Block
1880
Salina, KS, US census, as photographer
1881 Jun 02
Saline County Journal, news ad says O O Holcomb is the photographer at Commercial Block
1882
Saline County, county directory, Holcomb family NOT listed
1883 Jan 18
Saline County Journal, news item says Holcomb. The photographer, is visiting in the “eastern country”; Mr Graham is in charge of the Salina gallery

1883 Aug 07
Attends Fourth Annual Convention of the Photographers Association of America at Milwaukee, WI, as a photographer from Kansas
1884
Salina, KS, US census Olof Holcomb marries Elvira Holcomb
1885 Nov 05
Saline County Journal, news item says O. Holcomb has commenced business but does not say where
1886 Sep
Kansas, US census, daughter Olga Holcomb is born
1887 Jul 02
Salina Daily Journal, news item says “Doc” Holcomb photographed a brickyard in Salina
1888 Sep 27
Saline County Journal, news item says O. Holcomb has entered “Gray Bashaw” in horse race
1889
Kansas, Dec US census, son John Holcomb is born
1889 Nov 17
Salina Daily Republican, news item says Holcomb gallery is over the Famous Clothing House
1891 Jan 18
Salina Daily Republican Holcomb and Atherton studio is over the Famous Clothing House
1891 Mar 06
Salina Daily Republican, O Holcomb is now the photographer over the Famous Clothing Store
- continued on the next row-


1891 Jun 18
Salina daily Republican, news item says Holcomb and Atherton studio is over Famous Clothing Store
1891 Dec 31
Saline County Journal, small ads say O Holcomb is the photographer, no mention of Atherton
1894 Dec 17
Salina Daily Republican, news item says Mrs O Holcomb is leaving Salina for Woodhill, IL to join her husband who is located there as a photographer
1894 Dec 19
Salina Daily Republican, small ad says L Stockenberg is at Holcomb’s old stand
1900 Jun 19
Woodhill, Clover, IL, US census, as photographer
1904
Galesburg, IL, city directory as working for F E Anderson Co. Photographic Supplies
1910
White Hall, IL, US census as photographer
1920
Galesburg, IL, US census as no occupation
1926 & 1928
Galesburg, IL, city directory as retired; res 401 w North st
1929
Galesburg, IL, city directory as retired; res 401 w North st; son John Holcomb now operating a studio at 9 e Main

1930 Apr 07
Galesburg, IL, US census, as no occupation
1930 Nov 06
Galesburg, IL, Illinois state records, Olof Holcomb died

The cabinet card here must have been finished between 1879 and 1894 when Holcomb was in Salina, KS, and not at a time when he was partnered with Felt or Atherton, probably not 1879 or 1891.

Saline County Journal - 08 Aug 1878

Saline County Journal - 05 Dec 1878

Saline County Journal - 18 Sep 1879

Saline County Journal - 09 Oct 1879

Saline County Journal - 02 Jun 1881

Saline County Journal - 18 Jan 1883

Saline County Journal - 05 Nov 1885

Salina Daily Journal - 02 Jul 1887

Saline County Journal - 27 Sep 1888

Salina Daily Republican - 17 Nov 1889

Salina Daily Republican - 18 Jan 1891

Salina Daily Republican - 06 Mar 1891


Salina Daily Republican - 18 Jan 1891

Saline County Journal - 31 Dec 1891

Salina Daily Republican - 17 Dec 1894

Salina Daily Republican - 19 Dec 1894


photographer Hopkins and Holcomb
Salina, KS
It has not yet been determined when Hopkins and Holcomb were partners.
Example from Facebook
photographer: Hopkins and Holcomb
Salina, KS
example from pinterest
(Trimmed top and bottom)
Photographer: Holcomb
116 N Santa Fe, Salina KS
example from auction site
(Note that it is owner dated 1891. See timeline above.)


Is the photographer Atherton from Charles City, Iowa, the same as the Atherton that partnered with Holcomb in Salina, Kansas? Nothing has been found so far connecting this Atherton with H M Atherton of Kansas
More research pending.


photographer: Atherton
Salina, KS
example from auction site
photographer: H M Atherton
One Block from Bridge, North Topeka, KS
example from auction site
photographer: Atherton
North Topeka, Eureka, Osage City, Salina
photographer: H M Atherton
North Topeka, KS
example from auction site

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

This is a work always in progress.

Aditional information and New examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

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

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