Early Professional Photographer

George Campbell

Photographer and Other Businesses

George Campbell joined Edinburgh Photographic Society in 1861, the year the society was established.  

9th  PSS Exhibition, Dec 1864

At the 1864 PSS Exhibition, he exhibited:

-   11 landscapes

-   4 photos of groups and

-  4 sets of 12 cartes de visite.

George Campbell became:

      -  1863           "Bookseller, Stationer, News agent"

      -  1864-67:    "Bookseller, Stationer, Photographer"

      -  1868-69:    "Photographic Artist"

      -  1870-76:    "Photographic Artist, Wine & Spirit Merchant"

He continued to be listed as a photographer in the Edinburgh Street Directories until 1882.

Studios

The addresses of George Campbell's studios in Edinburgh were:

Below is a copy of a carte de visite showing a group of five working ladies in black dresses with white pinafores.  They are possibly maids.

©  Reproduced by courtesy of Ron Cosens

They have been photographed outside, possibly behind the house or establishment in which they were employed.  Outdoor cartes de visite are unusual, but this appears to be the sort of subject that George Campbell may well have exhibited in the 1864 EPS Exhibition.

Campbell  -  Photo Artist  -  12 Howe Street  -  Edinburgh

This was the address of George Campbell's studio, 1864-67.

Carte de Visite

I have seen a copy of a carte de visite showing a group of five working ladies in black dresses with white pinafores.  They are possibly maids.

They have been photographed outside, possibly behind the house or establishment in which they were employed.  Outdoor cartes de visite are unusual, but this appears to be the sort of subject that George Campbell may well have exhibited in the 1864 EPS Exhibition.

This was the address of George Campbell's studio, 1864-67.

©    ©

A copy of the picture referred to above was sent to me by Ron Cosens  web site: author of www.cartedevisite.co.uk

1881 Census

George Campbell was listed in the 1881 census as follows:

Photographer

Age:  60

Born:  Glasgow

Resident:  72, Thistle Street, Edinburgh

Children (both born Edinburgh):

[DR Torrance]

Question 1

Campbell in 1861

Was George Campbell related to David Campbell who exhibited 16 wet collodion prints, most for sale at 6/- each, in the 6th PSS Exhibition in 1861?

Question 2

Other Campbell Photographers

Was George Campbell related to any of the other photographers named Campbell, listed in the 1881 Census? 

There were:

-  Elizabeth Campbell, Photographist,  b. Edinburgh, aged 30,
Resident 16 Bristo Place, Edinburgh

-  Miss Isabella Campbell, Photographer,  b. Edinburgh, aged 24
Resident: 40 Lorne Street, Edinburgh

-  James Campbell, Photographer,   b. Glasgow, aged 17
Lodger: 86 West Bow, Edinburgh

-  William Campbell,  Photographer's Apprentice,  b. Congleton, Cheshire
Resident:  8, Angle Park Terrace, Edinburgh

[The above photographers are listed in DR Torrance's book "Photographers in Edinburgh & The Lothians to 1914".]

Question 3

Where after 1882?

The last reference I have to George Campbell working as a photographer in Edinburgh is in 1882.  What became of him after that date?

Was he related to or perhaps the same person as George Campbell who produced lantern slides including some of St Augustine's Colliery in Wakefield, Yorkshire, around the 1890s, labelled:

 "George Campbell,  6 Benjamin Street,  Wakefield".

If you can help to answer this question, please email me.

-  Thank you.

The question above has been asked by Diana Monahan, librarian of the local history society in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England.

George Campbell  -  studio addresses and dates