Photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
40 N 8th ST. and 820 Arch St
Philadel'a
example from LOST GALLERY
reverse of the card at the left
Gilbert and Bacon Studio and Gilbert Studios Inc
Active Years ---
William Frank Bacon (1870 - 1900)
Conrad Miller Gilbert (1875 - 1911)
Milton Hemperly (1895 - )
Frank T. Bacon (1900 - )
Clara Gilbert (1912-1921)
The Gilbert and Bacon studio was responsible for many portraits of
actors, athletes and other celebrities in the cabinet card era.
Surviving photographs are sometimes valued in the hundreds of dollars.
Their success might also be measured by the fact that no newspaper
advertising was found for either, Also Gilbert appears to have owned
some race horses and was mention in several places about attending
races.
Accounts of the life of William Frank Bacon do not always agree
exactly. The following timeline gathers what seems to be the best
accounting of the studios that involved W F Bacon and C M Gilbert
There are several examples of the work of Gilbert and Bacon studios at
Cabinet Card Gallery
Timeline
Sources: US census, city directories,
Historical Ziegfield Group
New Found Photography
Broadway.cas.sc.edu
1843 Jun 06
Bangor, ME, William Frank Bacon was born
1847 Nov 30
Conrad Miller Gilbert is born in Montgomery Co., PA
1865 - 1870
New York, NY, at the close of the US civil war W F Bacon began
studying photography at the studio of Gurney and Son. He apparently
worked in several studios in New York. Finally, W F Bacon joins the
studio of A K P Trask at 40 N 8th st, Philadelphia, PA
1870 circa
Philadelphia, PA,
A K P Trask
invites Bacon to become partner in his studio at 40 n 8th st in
Philadelphia
1875
Philadelphia, PA, the gallery of Trask is bought out by Conrad M
Gilbert and the partnership of Gilbert and Bacon begins, operating at
40 N 8th st
- continued next row -
1878
Gilbert and Bacon admitted to membership in the Philadelphia
Photographic Society
1880
Philadelphia, PA, city diretory, Gilbert and Bacon begin operations at 40 N 8th AND 820 Arch
1883 Feb 28
Philadelphia, PA, 1900 US census, Philadelphia Times news item, Conrad
Gilbert marries Clara B Underwood
1883
Philadelphia, PA, Milton R Hemperly of Providence, RI, joins the
studio
1886
Philadelphia, PA, C M Gilbert leaves the partnership (one account says
he retires) opening his own Gilbert Photography Inc. studio at
926 Chestnut; In addition to the studio at 820 Arch st, Bacon opens a
second studio at 1030 Chestnut st and retains the business name
Gilbert and Bacon Studio
1889
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Gilbert and Bacon discontinue the 40 N 8th location
1886-1900
Philadelphia, PA, W F Bacon operates the studio at 1030 Chestnut while
Hemperly continues at the Arch st studio both under brand name Gilbert
and Bacon
1893 (circa)
Philadelphia, PA, Conrad M Gilbert is credited alone on a cabinet card
at 926 Chestnut
1893
Milton R Hemperly leaves the studio; W F Bacon has contracted Bright’s
Disease and begins turning over the day to day operation of the
Chestnut studio to his son Frank T Bacon with the assistance of Milton
R Hemperly
1895
Philadelphia, PA, Hemperly buys the Arch st location and continues as
an independent operator
1900 Jul
Philadelphia, PA, W F Bacon’s son Frank T Bacon takes over the studio
at 1030 Chestnut st, with the assistance of Milton R Hemperly and
others, maintaining the brand name Gilbert and Bacon
1900 Sep 13
Philadelphia, PA, W Frank Bacon dies at home of Bright’s disease
1900-1905
Philadelphia, PA, city directory C M Gilbert as photographer 926
Chestnut; res The Bartram
1908
Philadelphia, PA, city directory C M Gilbert as Pres of Gilbert Studio
Inc; res 1210 Chestnut
1910-1911
Philadelphia, PA, city directory Conrad Gilbert as president; res 310
s 40th
1911 Jul 28
Conrad Miller Gilbert dies of chronic Bronchitis at Cap May, NJ
1912
Philadelphia, PA, city directory Gilbert Studios Inc at 926 Chestnut;
Clara B Gilbert as president
1913
Philadelphia, PA, city directory Gilbert Studios Inc at 926 Chestnut;
C B Gilbert pres, Herbert Lackman, vice pres;
1914
Philadelphia, PA, city directory Gilbert Studios Inc at 926 Chestnut;
Clara B Gilbert listed as president of Gilbert Studio, 926 Chestnut;
res The Bertram
1916 - 1921
Philadelphia, PA, city directory Gilbert Photography Inc, 926
Chestnut, operated by Clara B Gilbert (one listing as Sec/Treas); res
The Bertram
(Note: Not all sources of information agree exactly on dates and places, so there is some overlap of dates and events.)
Summary
The Gilbert and Bacon studio :
1875 - 1886 operated by C M Gilbert and W F Bacon
1880 - 1888 Studios in city directory listed at 820 Arch and 40 N 8th
1886 - 1895 studio at 820 (or 830, depending on source) Arch
operated by Milton Hemperly
1887 - 1900 studio at 1030 Chestnut operated by W F Bacon
1900 - ?- studio at 1030 Chestnut operated by Frank T Bacon
The Gilbert Studio Inc
1886 - 1911 studio at 926 Chestnut operated by C M Gilbert
1911 - ?- studio at 926 Chestnut operated by Clara B Gilbert
vol 24 - 1900
Philadelphia Inquirer - 29 Jul 1911
It appears that the photographer Conrad Gilbert might have been a bit high strung.
This one is dated 1892
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
1030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
1887-1900
From the collection of KEN on Flickr
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
40 N Eighth and 820 Arch, Philadelphia
example from Cabinet Card Gallery
Photographer:
Gilbert & Bacon
1030 Chestnut and 820 Arc st, Philadelphia
Example from auction site
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
40 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from pinterest
This one is dated 1888
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
Philadelphia
example from auction site
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
Philadelphia
example from auction site
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
Philadelphia
example from auction site
photographer: Gilbert Studio, C M Gilbert
North F and Eleventh Street, Washington, DC
example from auction site
reverse of the card on the left
photographer Gilbert Studio, C M Gilbert
North F and 11th street, Washington, DC
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
Cor F and eleventh Sts, Wasington, D C example from WIkimedia
820 Arch and 40 N 8th St, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
The example at the right is a card done while Gilbert and Bacon operated at 1030 Chestnut and 820 Arch.
Can anyone identify the uniform?
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon820 Arch Street and 40 N Eighth,
Philadelphia, PA
example from pin -no source shown-
(really poor scan)
1030 Chestnut Street and 820 Arch, Philadelphia
example from pintest
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon1030 Chestnut Street and 820 Arch, Philadelphia
example from Groovychikita
(The uniform as yet has gone unidentifed.)
reverse of card at left
The example at the right shows the 1030 Chestnut Street address on the front and both the Chestnut address and the 820 Arch address on the reverse.
The portrait appears to be done after 1900. The identity of the gentleman is unknown. Can you idenfify him?
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon1030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor S Allison
Reverse of card at left
photographer: Conrad Miller Gilbert
1126 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA
Example from auction site
reverse of the card at the left
The imprint on the card at the right is slightly different than any others that have been found.
Note the extra curl on the final "n" of the name.
Note also the "No." in the address.
These differences appear on some cards but not together.
1030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
photographer" Gilbert and Bacon1030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from Anticuria
photographer" Gilbert and Bacon
1030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
Photographer:
Gilbert & Bacon
40 n 8th and 820 Arch st
Philadelphia
New addition from LOST GALLERY
Photographer:
Gilbert & Bacon
40 n 8th and 820 Arch st
Philadelphia
New addition from LOST GALLERY
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
820 Arch & No 40 N 8th, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
40 n 8th & 820 Arch, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
This card was probably finished around 1870
when Gilbert was still at 40 N 8th
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
40 n 8th & 820 Arch, Philadelphia, PA
example from Rssing.com, no source credit given
This card was probably finished around 1870
when Gilbert was still at 40 N 8th
photographer Gilbert and Bacon
820 Arch Street & 40 N 8th, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
photographer Gilbert and Bacon
820 Arch Street & 40 N 8th, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
photographer Gilbert and Bacon
820 Arch Street & 40 N 8th, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
photographer Gilbert and Bacon
This is probably a reprint for novelty shops and carnivals
example from auction site
photographer Gilbert and Bacon
1030 Chestnut and 820 Arch, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
Photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
820 Arch & 40 N 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Example from auction site
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
820 Arch & 40 n 8th street, Philadelphia, PA
Probably finished around 1875
example from auction site
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
820 Arch & 40 n 8th street, Philadelphia, PA
Probably finished around 1875
example from pinterest
photographer: C M Gilbert926 Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
photographer: C M Gilbert
926 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
1912-1921
From the collection of KEN on Flickr
photogrpher: C M Gilbert
926 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
photographer C M Gilbert
926 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
photographer: The Gilbert Studio
926 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
1912-1921
From the collection of KEN on Flickr
photographer: C M Gilbert
926 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from Library Company of Philadelphia, digital collections
photographer: C M Gilbert
926 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from pintereest
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
1030 Chestnut St and 820 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
Gilbert and Bacon1030 Chestnut St. and 820 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA
Finished probably between 1886 and 1900
example from an auction site
photographer: Gilbert and Bacon
1030 Chestnut and 820 Arch St
Philadelphia, PA
Finished probably between 1886 and 1900
example from auction site
Gilbert and Bacon1030 Chestnut St. and 820 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA
Finished probably between 1886 and 1900
example from an auction site
820 Arch and 40 N 8th St, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor
820 Arch and 40 N 8th St, Philadelphia, PA
from contributor R Clark
1030 Chestnut and 820 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor
1030 Chestnut and 820 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor
1030 Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor
(Note that this one is owner dated 1851, which is incorrect since Gilber and Bacon did not have a studio at 1030 Chestnut until 1886.)
This is a group photograph sent in by a contributor. It is not a
cabinet card but is from the Gilbert studio at 926 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia, PA, Washington and Atlantic City.
The signature in the lower right corner could be G W Gilbert. Conrad
Gilbert had a brother named George Washington Gilbert but no records
have been found to indicate that George ever worked as a photographer.
The signature here does not match a signature by Conrad Gilbert, found
on a passport application from
Best guess for a date on this photograph is around 1910. Any
suggestions are welcome.
Sticker on cover
Conrad Gilbert signature from passport application 1873
photographer: A K P Trask
1210 Chestnut
example from 19th Century Photographers
Gilbert works with Trask around 1865-1870
Reverse of the card at the left
Cyclone, KY
example from auction site
(note: so far no connection has been found with Frank Bacon)
The photograph at the left is not a cabinet card but is an important example of the work of Gilbert. The dimensions of the card are approximately 8.5 X 11 inches. The subject is said to be Helen Keller and Joseph Jefferson. Source Art Nelson Atkins.org
Fifth Ave, NY
example from contributor
(See Gurney mention in timeline at 1865.)
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.
