Knight and Johnson

photographer: Knight & Johnson
811 Market St, San Francisco, CA
(Finished between December 1880 and Jul 1881)

George H Knight and Charles M Johnson

The cabinet card here does not include first names so searching for the two by name in California was almost fruitless.

A search based on the address, 811 Market St. did however, turn up this 1881 item in the San Francisco Chronicle. It shows both first names and initials and places a date for the beginning and end of their partnership. This one newspaper clipping actually dates the card here pretty well.

San Francisco Chronicle - 29 Jul 1881

Searches using their name and initial were better but still cluttered with similar names. In one year, there were seven Charles Johnsons that were seamen, let alone several in other professions including prize fighter.

Other small ads found, show that 811 Market was a photography studio called Aldine Gallery operated by B. F. Howland clear up until November of 1880 when it was apparently burned in a fire.

This cabinet card then had to have been finished between December 1880 and July of 1881.

Timelines of the two photographers were assembled anyway in case there are other cabinet cards around done by the individual photographers.

(Note: one commenter (see below) says that George Henry Knight was born 23 Jun 1942 in London, England.

George Henry Knight
(1851-1922)

Timeline
Sources: US census; city directories; newspaper items; Note: all items are in San Francisco, CA, unless otherwise noted

1851 Jun
London England, George Henry Knight born.
1878
city directory, H A Howland photographer listed at 811 Market
1878 Oct 25
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle small ad for the One-Dollar Gallery at 811 Market st
1877, 1878
neither Knight nor Johnson are in this directory
1879
city directory as photographer with Knight and McDonald; res 83 St. Ann’s Building
1880
city directory Knight as manager Portrait Club Studio 114 Turk
1880 Feb 03, 06, 08, 10;
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle small ad B F Howland is operating the Aldine Gallery at 811 Market st
1880 Sep 03
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle small ad for Aldine Gallery 811 Market

1880 Nov 29
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item fire destroys 811 Market
1880-1889
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle Aldine ads for photograph gallery at 811 Market in San Francisco, CA
1880 Dec 13
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item Partnership of George H Knight and Charles M Johnson is formed
1881
city directory Knight is with Knight & Johnson; res 439 Golden Gate av
1881
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle small ad a furniture/carpet store now occupies 811 Market
1881 Jul 29
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item George Knight sues Charles M Johnson for dissolution of partnership
1881 Sep 18
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item George Knight sues James L Gibson for defamation and theft
1881 Oct 09
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle small ad, Lundy is at 811 Market
1881 Dec 30
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item H G Fisk owner of the building at 811 Market is in custody for violating Fire Ordinances

1882
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item Aldine Gallery re-opens at 108 Powell st
1883
city directory George Knight no employment shown; res 17 Powell
1889 Nov 01
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item 811 Market damaged by fire, again
1891
city directory Knight as photographer; res 2506 California
1896
city directory Knight as manager Home Portrait and Photographing Co. 721 Sutter
1897
San Francisco, CA, Knight as photo printing and general photographing, 721 Sutter
1898
city directory as photographer at 737 Sutter
1899
city directory as photographer at 737 Sutter
1904 Oct 27
Call news item George H Knight has photographs on display at exhibit
1907 Oct 27
San Francisco, (CA) Chronicle new item mentions George H Knight as vice president of Photographer’s Association of California as well as on comittees
1922 Feb 05
George Henry Knight dies

Charles M Johnson
(1850-1932)

1850 Feb
Ohio Charles M Johnson is born
1877, 1878
San Francisco, CA, city directory neither Knight nor Johnson are in this directory
1879 - 1880
city directory Johnson is listed as Foreman and Printer for Bradley and Rulofson studio; res 821 Washington
1881 Jul 29
San Francisco (CA) Chronicle news item George Knight sues Charles M Johnson for dissolution of partnership; says the partnership began 13 Dec 1880
1882
city directory Charles M Johnson as photographer at Aldine Gallery
1883
Jan 04 Oakland (CA) Tribune news item Charles M Johnson marries Mary Van Derbeck
1887
directory as photographer; res 1073 ½ Market
1891
city directory as “solar printer” at 1633 Mission; res 9 Mayre Terrace
1897
city directory as photographer at 10 Mayre Terrace
1898
city directory as photographer at 31 3rd

1899
city directory as photographer at 55 3rd
1900
San Francisco, CA, US census as photographer at 106 ½ 3rd st; lists as partner Lena Franklin, age 35 (apparently the census taker found them at work)
1901
city directory as photographer at 55 3rd
1905
directory as photographer at 10 ½ 6th
1907
city directory as photographer at 1228 Fillmore
1909
city directory, city records, as photographer; res 61 Diamond; marriage to Kate Amelia Utschig
1910
San Francisco, CA, US census as photographer; res 61 Diamond
1911
city directory as photographer at 1228 Fillmore; res 61 Diamond
1913 - 1922
city Directory as photographer at 1028 Market
1926
city directory as photographer at The Johnson Studio, 1007 Market
1930-1931
city directory as photographer at the Johnson Studio 1195 Market; res same
1932 - 1933
city directory Johnson NOT listed so it is presumed Charles Johnson died around late 1931 to 1932

update 07 Aug 2018

Photographer: Johnson
Crown Point, NY
example from Flickr member
Bee Archives

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