Visiting photographers, At the flag-raising, 14 April 1865
William E. James
A Brooklyn stereo photographer who sailed to Charleston on the steamer Oceanus for the Fort Sumter flag-raising of 14 April 1865 and published the result under his own Fulton Street imprint.
The Library of Congress gives his dates as 1835–1887 and prints his imprint in full on the mount: photographed by W. E. James, no. 267 Fulton Street, Brooklyn.
The collection devoted to his stereographs says he opened his first studio in the photographers’ row on Fulton Street after marrying in 1859, specialized in ambrotypes, and saw the possibilities in stereo work; it gives his dates as 1841–1887, which does not agree with the Library of Congress. Both are recorded here.
He is remembered outside photographic circles for a later voyage: the Quaker City excursion of 1867, on which one of his fellow passengers was Mark Twain.
The Charleston connection
James was a passenger on the Oceanus, the steamer chartered to carry northern celebrants to the flag-raising at Fort Sumter on 14 April 1865. His stereograph of the ceremony is at the Library of Congress. By his collection’s account he made the trip on assignment from Anthony & Company of New York to photograph postwar Charleston in stereo — a claim this section has not independently verified.
War service and standing
None. A civilian on a chartered excursion steamer.
Process and equipment
Stereo card photography for the parlor viewer, the mass medium of the period.
Attribution
James signed his work, which puts him in a small minority in this section. The mount carries his name and address, and the Library of Congress transcribes both.
Career
- 1835Born, per the Library of Congress authority record. The William E. James Stereograph Collection gives 1841. Library of Congress The William E. James Stereograph Collection
- about 1859Opens a studio at 267 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. The William E. James Stereograph Collection Library of Congress
- 14 April 1865Photographs the flag-raising at Fort Sumter, having traveled on the Oceanus. Library of Congress The William E. James Stereograph Collection
- 1887Died. Library of Congress
Do not confuse with
- Other photographers named James — The name is common; the Fulton Street imprint is what identifies this one.
Representative works
- Raising the flag at Fort Sumter, April /14/65 / photographed by W.E. James, no. 267 Fulton Street, Brooklyn[Brooklyn] : [W.E. James, no. 267 Fulton Street] [14 April 1865] · William E. JamesVerifiedLibrary of Congress · LOT 14110-11, no. 7 (H) [P&P]
Working locations
- W. E. James, No. 267 Fulton Street, BrooklynNo. 267 Fulton Street, BrooklynLocated to a stretch of one street
Where the work is
- Library of Congress LOT 14110-11, no. 7 (H); LC-DIG-stereo-1s04512, from the Robin G. Stanford Collection.
See also
Statement by statement
Every material claim on this page, with its standing and its source. A statement the record does not support is shown as unavailable rather than filled in.
- VerifiedPhotographed the flag-raising at Fort Sumter on 14 April 1865 and published it under his own Brooklyn imprint.Library of Congress
- AttributedLived 1835–1887.Library of Congress
- DisputedBorn in 1841 rather than 1835.The William E. James Stereograph Collection Library of Congress
- UnverifiedTraveled to Charleston on assignment from Anthony & Company.The William E. James Stereograph Collection
Sources
- Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/
- The William E. James Stereograph Collection. https://wejames.com/