LOST GALLERY is tracing the histories of a couple hundred photographers from the Cabinet Card era, about 1860 through about 1920. For many of these photographers there remains only sketchy information but a few left many details about their lives.
There are genealogy histories and newspaper clippings on some.
Some histories formed timelines showing where the photographer was working and when. This information will help researchers date old photographs in their family albums.
From time to time, Thinks Happen will feature one of the more interesting histories.
Today's photographers are Gilkey and Martin
Photographer: Gilkey & Martin
226 S. Main
Ottawa, Kansas
Before 1894
It appears that the Martin of “Gilkey and Martin” was actually William H. “Dad” Martin who began the “Tall Tales” postcard business. These were cards depicting giant grasshoppers, rabbits, cabbages or onions, promoting some exaggerated comical tall tale.
Martin took over the photograph studio from Gilkey in 1894 and began making his photo-montage comic cards.
He sold the photography studio the next year in 1895, to work full time on his post card business.
He became very wealthy and sold the postcard business in 1912. He then started the National Sign Company.
Interesting Links
The In-Between
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Photographer: Gilkey & Martin
226 S. Main Street
Ottawa, Kansas
John Henry Gilkey
(13 Jun 1853 - 22 Mar 1923)
The records are a bit sketchy but apparently Gilkey and Martin worked together between 1886 and 1894. After that Martin worked alone as a photographer until he sold his studio in 1895.
It is important to note that although John H. Gilkey is the only Gilkey found in the Ottawa, KS, area between 1886 and 1923 he is never noted as photographer in any document found so far.
John H. Gilkey arrived in Ottawa about 1903. He apparently left the photography business to do farming and the directories and census reflect that he is living in Richmond, a farming community just outside of Ottawa, KS. Richmond is included in the Ottawa city directory. He dies in 1923.
1853
Gilkey born in PA
1870
(US Census) Gilkey at 17 is in Lackawannock, PA
1880
(US Census) Gilkey at 27 is in Lackawannock, PA
1884
(Ottawa city directory) No Gilkey, Calvert, MacDonald or W. H. Martin are listed
1886
(US Census 1900/KS reg) Gilkey and Elizabeth A Calvert marry
1900
(US Census) Gilkey as farmer w/Lizzie in Richmond, KS
1903
(Ottawa city directory) Gilkey as farmer w/Lizzie in Richmond, KS; Martin is not listed
1910
(US Census, Ottawa city directory) Gilkey as farmer w/Lizzie in Richmond, KS;
1913
(Ottawa city directory) Gilkey as farmer w/Lizzie in Richmond, KS
1915
(KS state Census) Gilkey as farmer w/Lizzie in Richmond, KS
1920
(US Census) Gilkey as farmer w/Lizzie in Richmond, KS
1921
(Ottawa city directory0 Gilkey as farmer w/Lizzie in Richmond, KS
1923
(FindAGrave) Gilkey dies 23 Mar;
The cabinet cards imprinted with Gilkey and Martin were probably done between about 1886 and 1894
Photographer: Martin
226 S Main Street
Ottawa, Kansas
William H. Martin
(1865-1940)
1865
born in Illinois
1886
(Ottawa city directory) Martin as photographer with E. H. Corwin in Ottawa
1888
(US Census) Martin and Goldie A. MacDonald marry
1894
(In-Between website) Martin buys Corwin studio (actually Corwin probably just moves out);
1900
(US Census) as photographer in Ottawa, KS
1903
(Ottawa city directory) as photographer at 226 s Main, Ottawa, KS (Corwin studio at 209 s Main)
1908
(Web Sources) Martin issues first “Tall Tale” postcard
1909
(Web Sources) Closes photo studio to concentrate on postcard business
1910
(US Census) as photographer but soon closes the studio to concentrate on the postcard business; wife Goldie dies
1912
(Web Sources) about here Martin sold off the comic post card business
1920
(US Census) as merchant
1921
(Ottawa city directory) as National Sign Co. at 1204 s Main
1940
(FindaGrave) dies in Ottawa, KS
Two examples of Martin's "Tall Tale" post cards.
To review all of the KNOWN photographers in LOST GALLERY, start HERE.