Louis Thors

photographer: Thors
1025 Larkin Street. San Francisco, CA
example from History in Photos blog

This is for some unknown reason, a scarce one. No other examples of Louis Thors work have been found. It was thought at first that the name imprinted on this card was “Thoms” and belonged to the photographer David Thoms, but after comparing the imprints of the two photographers, the difference was discovered. And of course, David Thoms was never in San Francisco, CA.

The example shown here does not actually belong to LOST GALLERY, but comes from another blog “The History in Photos blog”. It is added here because of the connection to Bradly and Rulofson, prominent photographers in San Francisco, CA. Bradly and Rulofson have their own page.

Louis Thors
(1840 - 1910)

1840 Mau 28
Amsterdam, Netherlands, church records, Louis Thors is born to Samuel Joseph Thors and Jeanette Keijzer
1870, 1872
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors NOT listed

1873
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors as photographer with I W Taber; res 1040 1/5 Mission
1874
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors as photographer with Thompson Houseworth & Co; res 13 Geary
1875, 1876
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors as retoucher for Bradly & Rulofson; res 26 1/2 Kear
1877
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors (spelled Thorse) as retoucher for Bradley and Rulofson; res 109 Montgomery
1878
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors negative retoucher for Bradly and Rulofson; res 109 Montgomery
1878
San Francisco, CA, Bradley and Rulofson declare bankruptcy and John H Dall takes over the studio, keeping the Bradley and Rulofson name
1879, 1880
San Francisco, CA, city directory,, Louis Thors photographer, 1025 Larkin; res 40 ½ Geary; brother living at 1025 Larkin

1881, 1882, 1883
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors, photographer, 1023-1025 Larkin; res probably 40 1/5 Geary
1887
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors, photographer, 1025 Larkin; res 405 (40 ½?) Geary; brother Sam at 40 ½ Geary;
1889 Oct 26
San Francisco (CA) Examiner, obit says Kate Louise, wife of Louis Thors, native of Ohio has died, age 40
1890 Feb 11
San Francisco (CA) Call. News item says Louis Thors has move the studio to 14 Grant Ave
1891
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors, photographer, 14 Grant Ave; res 622B Geary
1892 Aug 18
San Francisco (CA) Call, news item says a son is born to Thors and wife
1894 Aug 16
San Francisco (CA) Call news item says a son if born to Thors and wife
1892-1895
San Francisco, CA, city directories not available
1896, 1897
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Thors Photographic Co. 14 Grant Ave; res 1309 Gough

1898
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Thors Photographic Co. 14 Grant Ave; res 1429 Larkin
1898 Aug 17
San Francisco (CA) Call, news item says Thors has moved into new quarters on Grant Ave
1899
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Thors Photographic Co, 826 Market; res 1429 Larkin
1900
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Thors Photographic Co, 826 Market; res same
1901, 1903, 1904, 1905
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Thors Photographic Co, 826 Market, Phelan Bldg;
res 1910 Gough
1904 Jul 21
San Francisco (CA) Examiner news item says Louis Thors is a judge at an amateur photographic contest
1907, 1908, 1909
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors NOT listed; bother Sam NOT listed 1907, 1908, listed in 1909

1910 22 Apr
San Francisco, Ca, US census, Louis Thors as photographer; res 2210 Baker st
1910
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Louis Thors as salesman; res 2210 Baker
1910 Jun 04
San Francisco, Ca, state records, Louis Thors dies at age 70

The cabinet card presented at the top of the page would have been done between 1879 and 1877 when the studio was at 1025 Larkin.

Typical city directory add from 1887

San Francisco (CA) Examiner - 29 Oct 1889


San Francisco (CA) Call - 22 mar 1891

San Francisco (CA) Call - 22 Aug 1892


San Francisco (CA) Call - 28 Aug 1894


San Francisco (CA) Examiner Sun - 29 May 1898

San Francisco (CA) Call - 17 Aug 1898

San Francisco (CA) Examiner Sun - 01 Jan 1899

San Francisco (CA) Examiner - 21 Jul 1904

San Francisco (CA) Examiner -
17 Jul 1898 Above from a feature article with a photograph by Louis Thors

photographer: Thors
14 Grant Street, San Francisco, CA
example from
contributor S Heimerle on Flickr

reverse of card at left
(slightly enhanced to show detail)

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

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