Collection of 8"x10" and 11"x14" glass plate negatives dating from around 1900 through the later 1910's, attributed to the Wharton & Tyree Studio and Tyree Studio, Raleigh, NC.
J.C. Knowles Photograph Collection
PhC.182
circa 1900 - circa 1919
English
Collection of 8"x10" and 11"x14" glass plate negatives dating from around 1900 through the later 1910's, attributed to the Wharton & Tyree Studio and Tyree Studio, Raleigh, NC.
Wharton and Tyree Studios (Raleigh, N.C.).
State Archives of North Carolina
Collection is arranged in eleven series based on topics. Collection is stored in seven fiberdex boxes, which contain 8"x10" negatives; two oversized fiberdex boxes, which house 11"x14" negatives; and one flat box (temporarily in the Conservation Lab as of June 2013 because five of the original glass plates are broken and preservation enclosures are being built there). Collection has been scanned in its entirety and is available online via the State Archives of North Carolina flickr site.
This collection is organized into series:
Available for research.
Available for research.
Collection has been scanned in its entirety and is available online via the State Archives of North Carolina flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/north-carolina-state-archives/sets/72157633104801098/.
Processed by Karl Larson, 2013;
Finding Aid by Karl Larson and Kim Andersen, June 2013;
Encoded by Aaron Cusick, June 2014;
Cyrus P. Wharton (1852-1929) operated one of the best-equipped and largest photography studios in North Carolina beginning with Wharton's Gallery on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh in 1886. In 1905 he partnered with Manly W. Tyree (1877-1916) and operated as the Wharton & Tyree Studio. Wharton appears to have retired in 1911, and Tyree continued on alone as the Tyree Studio until his death.
[Identification of item] PhC.182, J.C. Knowles Photograph Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Donated in about 1967 by J. C. Knowles, a local Raleigh area antiques dealer and estate sale manager. Mr. Knowles obtained the negatives from a Mr. Leavister sometime before 1967. While purchasing a lamp from Leavister, who was in the business of salvaging furnishings and architectural details from demolished homes in downtown Raleigh, Knowles saw several boxes of old glass negatives and asked Leavister what he was going to do with them. He answered that he had gotten them on one of his demolition sites and said Knowles could have them if he wanted them. Knowles said he wanted them and took them with him when he bought the lamp. After he had the negatives for a while, he decided to give them to the Museum of History. The collection was eventually transferred to the State Archives.
Collection of 8"x10" and 11"x14" glass plate negatives dating from around 1900 through the later 1910's, attributed to the Wharton & Tyree Studio and Tyree Studio, Raleigh, NC. Based on the age of the negatives, where they were found initially, and a notation on one of the plates, it is highly probable that all of them came from Wharton's Gallery, 1886-1905, the Wharton & Tyree Studio, 1905-1912, and the Tyree Studio, 1912-1916, Raleigh, NC. The photographs in this collection are diverse and demonstrate the wide breadth of skill and artistry of the photographer(s). There are gorgeous studio portraits of brides, women resplendent in cocktail gowns and formal wear, beautiful portraits of costumed women, distinguished men and families. There are outside-the-studio portraits of families, groups, local Raleigh area college and school groups, sports teams, and individuals as well as photos of the built environment of Raleigh and several other places, some of them unknown. There are also some rare candid-type shots of people working and interiors of local businesses. Unfortunately, very few of the photos are described and few of the people depicted named.