Firm
Mathew B. Brady’s studios
Brady employed two of the photographers who later worked at Charleston, and his name on a wartime photograph is as likely to mean his firm published it as that he stood behind the camera.
George N. Barnard worked under Brady for the first two years of the war before the army employed him directly. J. F. Coonley is recorded as having joined the Brady operation early in the war as well. George S. Cook managed Brady’s New York gallery in the summer of 1851 while Brady traveled in Europe — and bought a competing gallery of his own at the same time.
Partners and operators
- George N. Barnardemployee · 1861 – 1863
- George Smith Cookmanaged the New York gallery · 1851 – 1852
Statement by statement
- VerifiedBarnard worked under Mathew Brady during the first two years of the war.Davis & Melton 2020
- VerifiedCook managed Brady’s New York gallery in the summer of 1851 at Brady’s invitation.Dictionary of Virginia Biography
Sources
- Stephen Davis and Jack W. Melton Jr., 100 Significant Civil War Photographs: Charleston in the War (Charleston: Historical Publications LLC, 2020).
- “George Smith Cook (23 February 1819–27 November 1902),” Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia, Richmond. https://old.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Cook_George_Smith