Available documents have shown that William C Bell was a photographer
from 1894 through 1944 when he died at age 75. While his base
operation seemed to be in York, PA, (he also kept a residence there)
he had as many as four other studios operating at the same time in
neighboring towns. Piecing it together through city directories of
these towns met missing pages and missing years but this is the best
timeline result that could be made.
York, PA
York city directories after 1904, are available in odd years only
1894 through 1902
York, PA, studio at 6 w Market
1904 through 1913
York, PA, studio at 10-12 w Market
1915 through 1921
York, PA, apparently either works out of his home at 302 e King or
works in one of the other studios in other towns
1923 through 1925
York, PA, studio at 21 s George
1927
York, PA, studio at 25 s George
1931 through 1933
York, PA, studio at 133 s George
1935
York, PA, studio at 38 e Market
1935 to 1944
York studio location is unknown
Wilkes-Barre, PA
1906 Dec 01 The Wilkes-Barre, PA, Record, news item mentions Bell has
returned from York, so possibly he had a gallery there at that
time.
1914 - 1919 Wilkes-Barre, PA city directory as photographer at
39 s Main
1921 Wilkes-Barre, PA, NOT in city directory
Westchester, PA
1886, 1888, 1904, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1923, 1928, 1930, 1932 NOT
in West Chester, PA, available directories
The studio in Westchester, PA, at Market and High streets, either
occurred before 1886 or only for a short period during the missing
years such as 1911 and 1924.
Frederick, MD
There was also a studio at Frederick, MD, as mentioned in an
1891 newspaper item. City directories from Frederick, MD, are
available from 1925 or later so this could not be confirmed. (See
article in next row)
This cabinet card from West Chester, MD, can only be dated at around
1891.
Pittston Gazette - 19 Nov 1912
The (York, PA) Gazette and Daily - 11 Mar 1927
photographer: W C Bell
7 East Patrick Street, Frederick, MD
Example from PhotoTree
Finished around 1891
photographer: W C Bell
6 West Market St, York, PA
From the Flickr Collection of Ken
(same set as the card on the left)
For this one, no connection has been made to W C Bell of
Pennsylvania.
The monogram here seems to be "Wm F B" and the reverse does say "Wm ?
Bell" but there is no apparent connection to Wm C Bell of PA. No
documents have been found yet the place William C Bell in Chicago.
Still looking.
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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sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
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I have a W C Bell. It says Citizens' National Bank Building Frederick, MD
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting. That sounds like a different location that I have found so far.
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