Spencer Taylor and Son

Photographer: Taylor and Son
Amsterdam, NY
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of the cabinet card at the left

Spencer A Taylor
(1826 - 1897)

1825 or 1826
New York, state records, Spencer A Taylor is born to Luthor and Magdalena Taylor
1855 Jun 13
Sharon, NY, state census as daguerreotypist; living at home
1860
Seward, NY, US census as ambrotypist, age 30, living with parents
1861
Carlisle, NY, state records, Spencer Taylor and Nancy A Darrow (1837-1908) are married
1862
Ft Johnson, NY, Daughter Carrie Belle Taylor is born (1862- )
1865 Jun 10
Sharon, NY, state census, Spencer A Taylor as farmer
1865
New York, tax assessment, S A Taylor as photographer
1866 May
Sharon, NY, tax assessment, Spencer Taylor as photographer
1866
Sharon, NY, city directory as photographer

1870 Jul 10
Argusville, NY, county records, son Luther E Taylor is born
1870 Aug 19
Sharon, NY, US census Spencer A Taylor as artist
1875 Jun 03
New York State census no occupation listed but his father Luther is listed as photographer
1878
Amsterdam, NY, city directory NOT listed
1879-1882
Amsterdam, NY city directories not available
1880 Jun 15
Amsterdam, NY, US census “A” Taylor as photographer (Wife Nancy A)
1883, 1884
Amsterdam, NY, city directory Spencer Taylor NOT in directory, Residential or Business section; Actual location for these two years has not been determined
1885
Amsterdam, NY, city directory not available
1886
Amsterdam, NY, city directory Spencer A Taylor as photographer with S A Taylor and Company, gallery over 23 e Main
1887, 1888, 1889
Amsterdam, NY, city directory S A Taylor as photographer at 23-25 e Main

1890
Amsterdam, NY, city directory S A Taylor as photographer at 23-15 e Main; son Luther listed separately at 23 e Main
1891
Amsterdam, NY, city directory S A Taylor as photographer with Taylor and Son. 23-25 e Main
1892
Amsterdam, NY, city directory as photographer with Taylor and Son (Luthor) 23-25 e Main; also Amsterdam Portrait and Frame
1892 Feb 16
Amsterdam, NY, state census, Spencer A Taylor and Luthor E Taylor as photographers
1893
Amsterdam, NY, city directory as photographer with Taylor and Son. 23-25 e Main; son Luther also listed as photographer at 30 e Main
1894, 1895
Amsterdam, NY, city directory not available
1896
Amsterdam, NY, city directory as photographer at 30-32 e Main, res same; son Luther not listed
1897 Jul 21
Amsterdam, NY, S A Taylor dies at age 71

There are some gaps in Spencer Taylor’s history but it seems fairly clear that his studio was established at 23-25 e Main from 1887 to 1897 and that he called his operation “Taylor and Son” from 1891 through 1893. Since the directories for 1894 and 1895 are missing it is not clear when he stopped that designation but by 1896 he had moved to 30-32 e Main in Amsterdam.

The cabinet card here would have been finished in that period between 1891 and 1893.

Ad from 1879 Amsterdam, NY, city directory

Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle - 12 Nov 1903

photographer: Taylor's Photo Gallery
23 and 25 East Main, Amsterdam, NY
example from auction site

photographer: Taylor and Son
23 and 25 Main, Amsterdam, NY
example from auction site
(Note the same props in the card at the top of the page.)

Reverse of card at left

There was also a Thomas Taylor and Sons of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, finishing cabinet cards at about the same time.

No relationship has been found.

example found on auction web 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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