Jesse Starr and Benjamin Fowler

photographer: Starr "Successor to Fowler"
210 North 8th St, Philadelphia, PA
example from LOST GALLERY

Jesse Starr

Tracing the activities of Mr Jesse Starr was hindered somewhat by several namesakes including a private Mansion in New Jersey, a clergyman, a school and a schooner. There were so many in fact, it is difficult to tell one from another in some cases. There may even have been more than one of them as photographer, but nothing has been found to support that.

So following is a trail left by Jesse Starr in the Philadelphia, PA, city directories from about 1875 to about 1921. He crosses paths with Benjamin Fowler in 1894.

1874
Camden, NJ, city directory, Four Jesse Starr listed, none as photographer
1876, 1877
Camden, NJ, city directory, J Starr as photographer; res 9 So Fifth
1877
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer; res 521 S 9th (ALSO listed in Camden city directory)

1878, 1879, 1880
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, J Starr NOT listed
1881, 1882
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer; res 3713 Filbert; no business pages
1883
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as artist; res 4230 Market
1884
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr NOT listed; Jesse W Starr JR as contractor; Res St George Hotel
1876, 1877
Camden, NJ, city directory, J Starr as photographer; res 9 So Fifth
1877
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer; res 521 S 9th (ALSO listed in Camden city directory)
1878, 1879, 1880
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, J Starr NOT listed
1881, 1882
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer; res 3713 Filbert; no business pages

1883
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as artist; res 4230 Market
1884
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr NOT listed; Jesse W Starr JR as contractor; Res St George Hotel
1885, 1886
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer; res 4035 Haverford
1887
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer at 1320 Chestnut; res 4225 Lancaster av
1888, 1889, 1890
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer at 1320 Chestnut; res Darby
1891
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer at 15 S 13th: res Darby
1892
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer at 15 S 13th; res Del co
1893
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr NOT listed

1894
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer at 210 N8th
1895, 1896
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr NOT listed
1897
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jessy Starr as photographer; res 1427 Barclay
1898
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer; res 1427 Melon
1899, 1900, 1901, 1902
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Jesse Starr as photographer; res 1418 Melon
1903 to 1915
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, business pages only, Jesse Starr NOT listed
1912
Meadville, PA, city directory, NOT LISTED
1913 Jan 28
Meadville (PA) Evening Republican, classified ad to rent house at 432 Randolph
1913
Meadville, PA, city directory, J P Starr as photographer; res 432 Randolph (Wife Sarah)

1914 Aug 14
Meadville (PA) Evening Republican, classified ad to rent house at 432 Randolph (see example below)
1915 Jun 28
Meadville (PA) Evening Republican, classified ad to rent house at 432 Randolph
(So Starr's tennancy at 432 Randolph had to be between these two dates.)
1915
Meadville, PA, city directory, NOT LISTED
1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, business pages only, Jesse Starr NOT listed

Perhaps more will be found on the elusive Mr Starr. It will be added here.

Benjamin W Fowler
(1868 – 1933)

1868 Oct 26
Woodbury, NJ, state records, Benjamin Wilkins Fowler is born to Benjamin Fowler and Sarah Jane Pedrick
1886, 1887, 1890, 1891
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Benjamin W Fowler NOT listed
1890
Philadelphia, PA, 1900 US census, Benjamin Fowler and Lillian Maude Brubaker are married
1892, 1893, 1894, 1895
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Benjamin W photographer at 238 N 8th; res 1207 Race
1896 to 1930
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Benjamin W Fowler as photographer at 238 N 8th; res 1831 N Franklin
1931-1933
NO additional information has been found
1933 Aug 04
Philadelphia, PA, state records, Benjamin Fowler dies at age 64

So for 38 years, 1892 to 1930, B W Fowler studio was at the same address.

During 1894, he apparently had Jesse P Starr working in the studio. The imprint reads “Successor to Fowler” but that is probably just temporary hype. The association only appears that one year.

If you have a card with an imprint similar to the example at the top, you’re in luck! It was finished in 1894.

But, if you have a card that is imprinted only with the Fowler address of 238 N Eighth Street, it could have been finished any time between 1892 and 1930.

Note this Fowler is NOT the same as the Fowler that worked in Lancaster, PA.

Meadville (PA) Evening Republican -
13 Aug 1914

Meadville (PA) Evening Republican -
28 Jun 1915

These are by Jesse Starr at 1320 Chestnut Street

photographer: J Starr
1320 Chestnut St Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor Elizabeth M
(This card would have been finished
between 1887 and 1890)

reverse of card at left

photographer: Starr
1320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from Smithsonian

These are by Benjamin Fowler at 238 North 8th

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
(NOT a cabinet card)

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

These are by Louis Cass Fowler , a brother of Benjamin Fowler

photographer: Fowler
340 W King, Lancaster, PA
example from auction site

photographer: Fowler
No 12 King St, Lancaster, PA
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of card a 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.

New examples and additional information 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.

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.