Hidden Attic Full of Historic Photos Includes One of Susan B. Anthony

The studio products and illustrations or photos of James Ellery Hale lay in an attic in Geneva, New York for a long time. (Image: David J. Whitcomb)

The historic areas of upstate New York are outstanding areas to go antiquing—old treasures normally turn up in not likely places. For one antiques enthusiast, the locate of a life span was waiting around for him in the attic of a constructing he ordered in the little city of Geneva. A law firm named David J. Whitcomb bought the older developing to develop his regulation practice. While fixing a ceiling, the attorney identified a fake floor below which was a trapdoor top to an attic stuffed with the continues to be of a switch-of-the-century images studio. Amid the treasures of the attic are rare portraits of early suffragists, including Susan B. Anthony.

Whitcomb experienced no notion about the concealed attic when he purchased the Geneva creating. His mend initiatives on an higher-flooring discovered a concealed drop-ceiling. Curious, he piled some chairs and peaked his head by means of the lure door. Whitcomb told CNN, “The initially factor I saw was a full bunch of picture frames stacked alongside one another and these frames are lovely. They are the turn-of-the-century, they are gold, gilded, and they shone seriously vibrant and I was like ‘Oh my God,’” he mentioned. “I lowered myself and stated ‘I imagine we just discovered the Goonies treasure.’”

Whitcomb and a buddy extensively explored the attic the upcoming working day. They uncovered many unbelievable items dating to the late 19th and early 20th generations. The attic harbored glass negatives, old prints, and large antique photographic devices. It grew to become evident that the products experienced the moment belonged to a professional portrait photographer. The name James Ellery Hale led Whitcomb to the Geneva Historic Society for a lot more facts. Many thanks to the exploration of previous president of the modern society Dan Weinstock, Whitcomb uncovered that Hale had lived in Geneva from 1892 to 1920. The photographer most likely obtained Whitcomb’s building all-around 1900. While it is unclear just when the attic and its contents were sealed off, neither of the former owners of the building (again to the 1960s) ended up aware of the attic’s existence.

Of the photos uncovered in Hale’s selection, lots of depict neighborhood people today whose identities are largely shrouded in the intervening century of record. These consist of formal portraits of younger women of all ages with Gibson lady aesthetics and group photographs of community sports activities groups. Such images are useful records of historic developments, including the early involvement of girls in aggressive sports activities. Even so, among the the pictures are many properly-recognised faces. Hale photographed several vital women within the suffragist movement—upstate New York was a hub of suffragist activity. Whitcomb believes one of the photographs depicts Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a staunch leader of the movement from its early days.

The most considerable obtain between the pictures is a substantial print of Susan B. Anthony. The picture was taken by Hale himself in 1905, the 12 months prior to Anthony passed absent. The image—depicting a lady who led the combat for women’s legal rights for decades—has lengthy been broadly regarded. It is regarded Anthony’s formal portrait, as Hale gave the copyright to the Susan B. Anthony Memorial Affiliation. It is also an impression on file with the Library of Congress. Having said that, the discovery of this authentic print by the photographer himself is monumental. Whitcomb also experiences that he found the corresponding unique glass adverse. Broken into a lot of parts, it is yet unclear if it can be reconstructed.

Whitcomb has consigned the treasures of his attic to the auction residence A single Resource Auctions & Antiques in Canandaigua, New York. The pieces will be conserved and ultimately presented for auction. Whitcomb has retained a number of of his preferred parts he can be expecting a windfall from the rest of the selection. The Susan B. Anthony pictures are expected to sell for amongst $10,000 and $50,000. The whole selection is valued at close to $100,000. To make this significant discovery offered to all, the auction home and Whitcomb have collaborated on a Facebook site which will write-up highlights and discoveries from within the selection. Certainly, there are even additional hidden gems amid the masses of antique substance.

You can follow the E Hale/Susan B Anthony Assortment to continue to be up-to-date on this time capsule of historical past. For even additional photographs, you can check out the pics taken by personnel photographers for the Rochester’s Democrat and Chronicle.

Attorney David Whitcomb was not expecting to obtain a treasure trove in a concealed attic of his new law workplace in Geneva, New York.

David J. Whicomb poses with the attic treasure he discovered.

The attorney found out a hidden fall-ceiling with a trapdoor.

The equipment and images located are destined for restoration and auction.

In the attic was the contents of a transform-of-the-century photography studio which once belonged to James Ellery Hale.

This portrait of Susan B. Anthony was taken by Hale, it has prolonged served as her formal portrait.

The Hale collection incorporates antique digicam gear, frames, and several photos and negatives.

A further portrait seems to be a depiction of Anthony.

Among the pictures learned are kinds of suffragists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

This portrait may be of the suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

The collection will be auctioned off, but you can adhere to together as new discoveries arise.

Several other industrial portraits of unfamiliar sitters were also uncovered.

Specialists at the auction dwelling are beginning to establish the topics of the discovered photos.

David J. Whitcomb: Organization Web site | Hale Assortment

My Fashionable Achieved granted authorization to use photos by David J. Whitcomb.

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