G W Davis

photographer:G. W. Davis
925 Pennsylvania Av, Washington, D C
827 Broad St, Richmond, VA
example from LOST GALLERY

The reverse of the card on the left.

G. W. Davis is mentioned often for the hiring of James Conway Farley, a prominent black photographer, at a time when that was unusual. He is also said to have fired other employees who objected. No biographical information has been found.

1875 - 1877
Richmond, VA, city directory, Davis as photographer at 821 E Broad
1875
Hired James Conway Farley (August 10, 1854 - 1910?) as operator in Davis Gallery (Studio)
1877 - 1897
Richmond, VA, city directory, Davis as photographer at 827 E Broad
1879
By this year, George O. Brown is working at the photographic gallery of George W. Davis.
1900
Richmond, VA, city directory, Davis Photography Gallery at 817 E Broad
No mention of G. W. Davis after 1900

Richmond, VA, City Directory ad - 1881

Update 09 Dec 2025
See additonal information in comment section.

Photographer G W Davis
example from New York Library

photographer: Davis
branch gallery 513 Broad Street, Richmond, VA
example from auction site

photographer: Davis
branch gallery 513 Broad Street, Richmond, VA
example from auction site

Photographer:G. W. Davis
925 Pennsylvania Av, Washington, D C
827 Broad St, Richmond, VA
example from auction site

reverse of the card at the left
(note that this is the same imprint design used on the card at the top of the page)

A newspaper advertisement has been found placing G W Davis at
723 7th Street in Washington, DC,
Jun 30, 1887

Washington DC Evening Star -
30 Jun 1887

>
Photographer Davis
723 7th ST N W, Washington, DC
and Richmond, VA
example from auction site

Could this be the J C Farley hired by Davis in 1875? There is no given name or initials or a location shown on the imprint, so it is impossible to tell at this time.

It appears there were several photographers named Farley in the cabinet card era.

photographer: Farley
no location shown
example from auction site

photographer: Farley
no location shown
example from Cabinet Card Gallery

photographer: Farley
no location shown
example from Cabinet Card Gallery

Other cabinet card photographers named Farley

photographer: Farley (A P or P A)
no location shown
example from contribtor
(No connection has been found)

photographer: Farley Studio
no location shown
example from contribtor

photographer: Farley
no location shown
example from contribtor

reverse of card at left

photographer: W H Farley
no location shown
example from contribtor

photographer: W H Farley
no location shown
example from contribtor

photographer: W H Farley
no location shown
example from contribtor

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.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

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.

All submissions should be free of glare and shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

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

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.

John George Hucks

photographer J G Hucks
New York Gallery
25 Third Street, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site
(Probably finished around 1887)

John George Hucks
(1848 - 1915)

1848 Nov 01
London, England, John George Hucks is born to John James Hucks and Sarah Hannah
1852
Arrives in US at age four
1876
California, son George Alfred Hucks is born
1879
San Francisco, CA, city directory, J George Hucks with Toohey & Hucks (not in business pages); res 2139 Mission
1880
San Francisco, CA, city directory J George Hucks as proprietor of Elaine Photograph Gallery, 914 Market; res 11 Ellis
1881
San Francisco, CA, city directory John George Hucks NOT listed
1882, 1883
San Francisco, CA, city directory J G Hucks NOT listed; James Hucks and John J Hucks Jr at 143 Minns; New York Gallery NOT in business pages
1885 San Francisco, CA, contributor, Hucks at 23 Third street, (see photo below) subject in photo was in San Francisco, CA, in the spring of 1885
1887
San Francisco, CA, city directory J George Hucks as proprietor of New York Photograph Gallery, 23 Third; res 2139 Mission

1888-1890
San Francisco, CA, city directory NOT available
1891
San Francisco, CA, city directory J George Hucks as photographer at 1144 Market
1892-1895
NO directories available
1896
San Francisco, CA, city directory J G Hucks as photographer at 1228 Market; res 2139 Mission
1897
San Francisco, CA, city directory J G Hucks as proprietor of Dore Photo-Studio, 1228 Market; res 2139 Misson; George A Hucks as printer for J G Hucks; res same; New York Gallery NOT listed
1898
San Francisco, CA, city directory J G Hucks as proprietor of Hucks Photo-Studio, 1228 Market; res 2139 Misson; George A Hucks as printer for J G Hucks; res 3321 23rd; New York Gallery NOT listed
1899, 1900
San Francisco, CA, city directory J G Hucks as proprietor of Dore Photo Studio at 1380 Market; res 3321 23rd; George A Hucks as manager of Dore Photo Studio; res same; listed Dore Studio AND Hucks Studio in business pages

1901, 1903, 1904, 1905
San Francisco, CA, city directory John G Hucks as proprietor of Dore Photo Studio. 1380 Market; res 3239 23rd; George A Hucks as Foreman of J G Hucks studio; res same
1907, 1908
San Francisco, CA, city directory John G Hucks as photographer 2208 Mission; res 3239 23rd; George A Hucks as “with” J G Hucks; res same
1909
San Francisco, CA, city directory John G Hucks as photographer at 2308 Mission; res 3239 Mission; George A Hucks as printer for Dore Studio; res same
1910, 1911
San Francisco, CA, city directory John G Hucks as photographer 2308 Mission; res 823 Dolores; George A Hucks as photographer for J G Hucks; res 2155 Mission
1912
San Francisco, CA, city directory John G Hucks as photographer 2308 Mission; res 823 Dolores; George A Hucks as photographer for J G Hucks; res 1289 Church
1913
San Francisco, CA, city directory Pages Missing

1914
San Francisco, CA, city directory John G Hucks as photographer at 2308 Mission; res 823 Dolores; Geo A Hucks (Mary) photographer; res 1289 Church
1915
San Francisco (CA) Examiner item says J George Hucks committed suicide at age 66
1916
San Francisco, CA, city directory pages missing, starts with J
1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924
San Francisco, CA, city directory John G Hucks NOT listed; George A Hucks (Mary) as proprietor of Dore Studio, 2308 Mission; res 1289 Church
1925, 1926, 1927, 1928
San Francisco, CA, city directory George A Hucks (Mary) as proprietor of Dore Studio; res 1289 Church
1928 Apr 19
San Francisco, CA, state records, George Alfred Hucks dies at age 52
1929
San Francisco, CA, city directory Mary Hucks listed as widow; res 1289 Church

Nothing has been found so far on the partnership with photographer Sewell. (See example at right)

San Francisco (CA) Examiner - 27 Jul 1874


Longbeach Daily Telegram - 30 Oct 1915

Photographer New York Gallery
25 Third Street
San Francisco, Cal.
Sewell & Hucks

reverse of the card on the left

photographer J C Hucks
1144 Market, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

photographer New York Gallery
1144 Market, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

photographer: J G Hucks,
New York Gallery
25 Third St, San Francisco, CA
CdV example from contributor K.Sakamaki

reverse of CdV at left

This additional identification and information from the card owner:

Shotaro Sakamaki (1863-1919), a Japanese citizen who went to the U.S. to study the hotel business in the spring of 1885.

The CdV at the right must have been done before or after the period when Sewell was partners with J G Hucks. Nothing has been found so far to document that period.

photographer: Sewell Art Gallery
Sonora, CA
example contributed by Warfield family members
(Inscribed "Dennis Burdett Warfield")

reverse of cabinet card at left

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.

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

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, they will be immediately removed.

Bradley and Rulofson

photographer: Bradley & Rulofson
Entrance, 14 Dupont Street
over city of Paris
Between Market and Geary
San Francisco

reverse of the card at the left
Many examples of
Bradley and Rulofson work
can be found at Wikimedia Commons

There are extensive and detailed biographies available on line describing the lives of Henry William Bradley and William Herman Rulofson. LOST GALLERY will concentrate here on a timeline of events to locate where they worked and when. Again, not all the accountings of the lives of these two men agree. There are some minor differences in dates and events. The following timeline combines the best version available.

During their studio days Bradley and Rulofson photographed hundreds of celebrities and notable Californians. These included such people as Bret Hart, Susan B Anthony, Queen Emma of Hawaii and Emperor Joshua A Norton.

Visit some of these fine sources:
From Broadway Photographs
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Prologue: Guilty Secrets an extensive review
From Rogue Scholar by Richard W. Bailey
Photograph examples
Calisphere
Cabinet Card Gallery examples

Timeline

Henry William Bradley
(1813-1891)
William Herman Rulofson
(1826-1878)

1813 Nov 02
Henry William Bradley born in Wilmington, North Carolina
1826 Sep 27
William Herman Rulofson born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
1846
Bradley returns to North Carolina from New Orleans, LA, where he was studying photography
1847
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, Rulofson establishes a studio
1848 Dec 27
The Weekly Herald and Conception Bay General Advertiser, advertisement for W H Rulofson and Daguerotype Miniatures
1849
Stockton, CA, Rulofson leaves wife and daughter to move to California and establishes a daguerreotype studio

- continued in next row -

ROW TWO

1850 Feb
Bradley leaves North Carolina and opens a photography studio in San Francisco, CA, on west side of Montgomery st between Washington and Jackson sts; this was variously advertised as “over the Pacific Baths” and in July, “Opposite Delmonico’s” and in September “271 Montgomery st, upstairs”
1851 May 04
Bradley’s first studio burns down and he opens a new studio within two weeks over Jack’s and Blake’s Jewelry Store, opposite the post office on Clay Street; also begins selling photographic materials; He advertises his location from June 19 through August as “Moffats Building, opposite post office” and in January, 1852 as ”Clay st corner of Kearney”
1851
John B Cameron and William Herman Rulofson were in partnership as Rulofson & Cameron in Sonora. They conducted business in a car.
1853
Bradley establishes a branch studio in Sacramento, CA, at 68 and 70 ”I“ street, between Third and Fourth streets
1856
Bradley wins prize for photography at California State Fair
1857 January 18
Rulofson buys Cameron's remaining interest in the Sonora gallery.
1858
Bradley closes his gallery at the corner of Clay and Kerney
1859 Sep 21
Wilmington, NC, Bradley marries Betsy Euphemia Cutlar
1861
Bradley moves his wholesale photograph materials business to 622 Clay, San Francisco, CA

1861 or 1863
Rulofson leases out his Sonora Gallery gallery and moves to moves to San Francisco, CA
1863
Bradley and Rulofson join forces in San Francisco, CA, buying out the portrait gallery of daguerreotypist Robert H Vance to establish the photographic art gallery of Bradley & Rulofson at 429 Montgomery st, San Francisco, CA
1864
Bradley and Rolofson win the contract to photograph San Francisco’s defense facilities at Fort Alcatraz and Fort Point; the pair became embroiled in a dispute and resulting scandal in which they were accused of being Confederate spies because they claimed ownership to the nearly 2000 negatives and sold prints in their gallery; the military seized the negatives citing violation of War Department orders against publishing photographs of military installations; the negatives were returned after settlement of the dispute
1866
Bradely and Rulofson begin offering patent enameled card photographs
1867
Rulofson’s wife Amelia dies
1871
W H Rulofson’s brother Edward H Rulloff is hanged for murder
1871
The Chicago, IL, fire causes significant losses to Bradley and his photography supply business leading to bankruptcy in 1877
1872
Bradley and Rulofson install an elevator to their second floor studio at 429 Montgomery

1873
Rulofson wins gold medal in Vienna
1874
Rulofson wins gold medal in Philadelphia, PA,
1874
Rulofson is elected president of the National Photographic Association
1875
Bradley and Rulofson employ Louis Thors at the gallery
1875
The photographers publish “Bradly & Rulofson’s Catalogue of Celebrities"
1876
Rulofson wins second gold medal in Philadelphia, PA, Centennial Exhibition
1877 Oct
Bradley files for bankruptcy
1878
after bankruptcy, Bradley retires, his interest in the Bradley-Rulofson partnership had been assigned to John H Dall and the studio continues in San Francisco, CA. Still under the name Bradley and Rolofson
1878
the Gallery issues a Celebrity Catalogue listing their inventory which ran 51 pages
1878 Nov 02
William Rulofson died after falling from the roof of the Bradley & Rulofson studio in San Francisco. According to a report by The New York Times, he was heard to have exclaimed, "I am killed" during the descent
1878
Bradley closes his wholesale photographic supply business and retires

1878-1883
Studio operates as Rulofson and Bradley managed by John Dall and a staff of photographers
1879,1880, 1881, 1882 (only years available)
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Bradley and Rulofson at 429 Montgomery
1878-1883
studio continues operation as Bradley and Rulofson, managed by Dall and a staff of photographers
1883
Bradley and Rulofson Studio operates under Dall’s sole ownership but at several locations
1883
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Bradley and Rulofson at 14 DuPont
1887
San Francisco, CA, city directory, Bradley and Rulofson at 14 Grant Av
1888 Jan 28
San Francisco (CA) Argonaut news item says the studio has re-opened again at the S E Corner of Geary and Dupont st
1889 September (about twelve times)
San Francisco (CA) Examiner, several ads say Bradley and Rulofson gallery at 14 Grant Av is for sale
1889 September 24
San Francisco (CA) Crhonical, small ad for sale of Bradley and Rulofson negatives; note that the ad lists 60 thousand 8X10 negatives
1891 Apr 27
Alameda, CA, Bradley dies at home suffering from crippling rheumatism; he was 77

The cabinet card at the top was probably done between 1878 and 1887 when it was operated by Dall and a staff and changed locations often.

Go to the CABINET CARD GALLERY site for more excellent examples of Bradly and Rulofson.

ROW Three

The Weekly Herald and Conception Bay General Advertiser -
27 Dec 1848 From contriburot J Ward

San Francisco (CA) Chronicle - 21 Oct 1865


Feather River Bulletin (Quincy, CA) - 28 Feb 1874


The Petaluma (CA) Courier - 03 Jan 1878

Santa Cruz (CA) Weekly Sentinel - 14 Feb 1880

Record Union - 28 Jul 1882


Oakland (CA) Tribune - 28 Apr 1891

3.5

Example of one of the "Celebrity" photographs found on an auction site

San Francisco (CA) Examiner - 17 Dec 1882

San Francisco (CA) - 06 Sep 1889

San Francisco (CA) Chronicle - 24 Sep 1889

(Note: 60,000 8x10 negatives!)

ROW FOUR

Here is a rare and excellent find! This appears to be a portrait of William Rulofson's daughter, Carrie Rulofson (1870-1900). She looks like she might be about 7 years old here so that would date this photo at 1877.

Photographer: Bradly and Rulofson
429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA
example from J Johnston

reverse of card at left

ROW FIVE

Photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
Example from New York Library

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left
Finished sometime after 1863

ROW SIX

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco, CA
example from Be-Holder.com

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco, CA
example from Be-Holder.com

reverse of card at left

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco, CA
example from facebook

ROW SEVEN

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
429 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

ROW EIGHT

photographer Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

Backing example from 1863-1877

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
backing probably from after 1873

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
CDV back
imprint probably used around 1864 or after

ROW NINE

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
CDV example from Marshall on facebook

photographer: Bradley & Rulofson
example from an auction site

reverse of the card at the left

ROW TEN

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
429 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
SF Cal
poor scan from fb

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
SF Cal
example from auction site
(note this imprint differs from all the rest on this page)

ROW ELEVEN

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA
example conributed by Warfield family members (So far, Bradley and Rulofson can be documented at this address from 1863 to 1872. )

reverse of card at left
(reverse inscribed: Dennis B. Warfield
Past Master
Oakdale Lodge: 275
Oakdale )

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco,CA
example contributed by Warfield family members

reverse of CdV at left
(handwritten on card: "Major Warfield")

ROW TWELVE

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from British Museum

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from British Museum

No imprint
credited to: Bradley and Rulofson
example from British Museum

ROW THIRTEEN

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from Broadway Photographs

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from AlaskaWanted.com

ROW FOURTEEN

photographer: Bradley and Rullofson
San Francisco, CA
example from Cabinet Card Gallery

photographer: Bradley and Rullofson
San Francisco, CA
example from Cabinet Card Gallery

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from the Broadway photographs

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
San Francisco
example from Contributor

ROW FIFTEEN

At the right is an example sent in by contributor J Johnston. It was apparently made at the time of the transition from the old location at 429 Montdomery Street to the South East corner of Geary and DuPont streets, about 1888.

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
Geary and DuPont streets, San Francisco, CA
example from contributor J Johnston

reverse of card at left

ROW SIXTEEN

photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA

reverse of card at left

The card at the left is from the Herbert Andrews family. It was contributed by a close friend of the family, Robin Potrzebowski.

While there is no date on the card itself, it was probably finished between 1872 abd 1887.

The card was made after the elevator was installed in 1872 and probably before Bradley sold the studio in 1877. But possibly as late as 1887, as John Hall continued to operate the studio under the original name until about then.

Additional information is always welcome.

ROW SEVENTEEN

Here is an example from J Johnston. It is a CDV from the 1863-1864 period just after Bradley and Ruloffson bought out the Vance Gallery in San Francisco. It shows a completely different imprint on the reverse than any other on this page.

Photographer: Bradley and Rulofson
Corner of Montomery and Sacramento Sts,
San Francisco, CA
example from contributor J Jhonston

reverse of CDV at left

ROW EIGHTEEN

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.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

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.

All submissions should be free of glare and shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

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

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.