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Again Is Raised the Question ot Who Made the First Camera in the U. S. and Took the First Photographic Portrait | By ELMO SCOTT WATSON (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) WHO made the first camera in America? What pioneer pho tographer first used a "fast action" picture-taking ma chine to get a successful por trait of a human being? According to a recent Asso ciated Press dispatch from Hampden Sydney, Va., hon ors belong to Dr. John Wil liam Draper, an Englishman who was educated at the Uni versity of Pennsylvania, be came a professor of chemis try at Hampden Sydney col lege more than a century ago and achieved a wide reputa tion not only in chemistry but in physiology, history and philosophy as well. This dis patch said: An old box-shaped camera left at Hampden Sydney college in 1839 by Dr. John William Draper is going to be taken from its cen tury-old resting place to a niche in the Smithsonian Institution, officials of which have accepted it as the first camera in America and the first "fast action" camera in the world. The presentation probably will take place at the June commencement. To prove that it was the first camera of modern type, eight years of research was conducted by the Rev. Howard C. Cobbs, who was a professional photog rapher at Charleston, W. Vs., be fore he began his studies for the ministry. The college asked Mr. Cobbs to make a picture of the'camera in 1933 for George W. Eastman, president of the Eastman Kodak company. The young student learned its history from Dr. J. H. C. Bagby, professor of chemistry. He tried it with modem film and it worked. He learned that Dr. Draper made his famous "first portrait" of a living person at New York university in 1839 or 1840, soon after leaving Hampden Sydney. Mr. Cobbs becamp convinced that the camera here was older than the one used at N. Y. U. and was the first modern-type camera. Everything he un earthed indicated that he was right in his belief, but he could get no "iron-clad" proof. Mr. Cobbs took his data to the Smithsonian. Officials congratu lated him on his work, then sug gested that he study records there. He found Just what he needed, and it was in Dr. Draper's own words in a letter to the Photographic and Fine Art Jeurnal, published in 1858, in an swer to an inquiry "who made file first photographic portrait?" Dr. Draper explained that he bad worked with sensitive plates before anything was published in Europe by Daguerre or Talbot; that he had tried a lens of large aperture and short focus to speed up action enough to permit por ? traits of living persons; that he succeeded notably later with in formation about Daguerre'a more sensitive plates. It was while at Hampden Syd ney that he carried on his ex periments, he said, even trying mirrors from a telescope before obtaining a lens. The telescope Is here and will be presented with the camera. His connection with portraiture, he said, dated to the summer before publication of Daguerre's process. Daguerre's process was published in August, 1839. Dr. Draper went to New York univer sity in September, 1839, and with Daguerre's more sensitive plates and his methods succeeded. Had he discovered the more sensitive plate, Virginia might have claimed the honor of the first portrait as well as the first camera. Despite the assertions in that news story, However, It is possible that some one may soon rise to challenge Dr. Draper's right to the honor of having made the first camera in America and being the first to get a successful por trait. Here's why: Last year was celebrated the "Centennial of Photography" dur ing which honors were paid la Louis Jacques Mande Dageuerre, . the Frenchman, who is univer sally acclaimed as "The Father of Photography." On the eve of that celebration the MacMillan company of Mew York published "Photography and the American Scene?A 8ocial History, IBM- ? IMS," the result of more than six years of research by Dr. Robert Taft, professor of chemistry at the University of Kansas. In the first two chapters of his book, Dr. Taft gives a well-doc umented account of the work of the pioneer "daguerreotypists" in this country who became intereet *. DB. JOHN W. DRAPER (From an ambrotype made by Mathew W. Brady about 1857.) ed in the new art very toon after articles about Daguerre's proc ess had been reprinted from French and English journals in Amerfban newspapers as early as March, 1839. One of these was D. W. Seager, an Englishman, who was living in New York-in 1839. As a result of Dr. Taft's investigations, he makes the statement that Seager "was the first person to make a successful daguerreotype in the United States; which he did on Septem ber 27, 1839." As for the claim that Draper made the first successful portrait of a human being. Dr. Taft's con clusions also give that honor to another man. Alexander S. Wol cott of New York. Wolcott, who was an instrument maker and manufacturer of dental supplies, took a daguerreotype of his part ner, John Johnson, on October 7, 1839, according to Taft, and this was the "first photographic por trait." Draper's Contributions. Although denying to Draper the honor of being the first to make a successful photographic por trait, Dr. Taft sums up his impor tant contributions to photography thus: "He was among the earliest to attempt photographic portraiture. TV earliest photographic por trait which has survived. It la a daguerreotype at Miss Deretfcy Catherine Draper, made by her brether. Dr. Jeha W. Draper, probably In the summer at ISM. These attempts were based on such scientific principles as were then known; he sent abroad an early daguerreotype portrait, ap parently the earliest which has survived; he published an exten sive account of these experiments, thereby enabling and encourag ing others to benefit from his ex perience; and he became as sociated with Morse in the open ing of an establishment for the purpose of taking portraits, thus becoming one of the founders of a new profession." ? . Dr. Taft's mention of "the earli est daguerreotype portrait which has survived" is a reference to Draper's famous portrait of his sister. Miss Dorothy Catherine Draper, which is still in existence and which is owned by the Rev. Sir John C. W. Herschel of Eng land, grandson of Sir John F. W. Herschel, the distinguished Eng lish scientist to whom Draper sent it in the summer of 1840. It was accompanied by a letter, the full text of which is printed for the first time in Taft's book. In this letter Draper stated, that "I believe 1 was the first pet son \ here who succeeded in obtaining portraits from life." "It will be noted that the letter is dated July 28, 1840, and that no reference is made to the date on which the portrait was made," comments Dr. Taft. "It will also be noted that the exposure of this early daguerreotype portrait was only 65 seconds. Previously pub lished accounts concerning this daguerreotype have given expo sures ranging from 10 to 20 min utes, which have evidently been based upon such general informa tion as was available in Seager's exposure table (printed in the American Repertory of Arts, Sciences and Manufacturers for March, 1840, the first ever printed in this country), "Judging from these facts, the ' date of the letter, the relatively short exposure required and an examination of the portrait itself which shows rather great con trasts, I am of the opinion that it was taken outdoors during the summer of 1840." In September, 1840, Draper published an article in the Lon don, Edinburgh and Dublin Philo sophical Magazine in w hi til be described in detail his method of making photographic portraits, such as the one of his sister. He stated that in his earlier attempts he dusted the face of the person ? iffintf fr?r fK* nnrfrait with whitA powder (probably flour) to secure greater contrast but that a few trials showed him that there was no advantage in this. To get greater illumination on the sub ject he used mirrors to reflect the sun directly upon the sitter "but in the reflected sunshine, the eye can not support the effulgence of the rays." In order to support the head and keep it still during the long exposures required for these early pictures, a staff ter minating in an iron ring was at tached to the sitter's chair and so "arranged as to have motion in all directions to suit any stature and any altitude." Instrument of Tortnre. "The modern patron of the pho tographer's art may not recog nize the instrument of torture de scribed above," writes Dr. TaTt, "but to those who had photo graphic portraits made 'in the long ago' it will be remembered as the familiar head rest which was part of every photographer's equip ment, a device which was used, as can be seen, from the early in ception of the art up to fairly modern times." It must have been a very try ing experience for Miss Dorothy Catherine Draper and it is doubt ful if many of the belles of 1840 would have been willing to endan ger their complexions by having flour smeared over it or sitting exposed to strong sunlight for long minutes while trial pictures were being taken, not to men tion enduring the discomfort of that "instrument of torture," the iron bead rest. So she deserves great credit for her contribution to the development of the art of photography and even though it is debatable if her brother can just ly claim the honor of being the first to make a photographic por trait, there is little doubt that one distinction does rest with the Draper family. Dorothy Catherine Draper was the first photographic "model"? the ancestor of the "glamour gals'.' who smile so bewitching iy at us from the pages of thou sands of magazines and newspa pers today. War Adds Odd Words to Talk Language Habits Affected By Conflict, Surrey of Speech Reveals. WASHINGTON.?Bombs and guns of the European war have jolted the language habits of this nation's "man-in-the-street" even though he lives safely 3,000 miles from the front, a survey of popular speech here reveals. Strange foreign words, and curi ous English phrases that he never heard until last September already are a part of the average man's speech because he is "bombarded" with them daily in his newspaper and in speeches he hears. "Blitzkrieg"?the German word for lightning war?is one of these. It is on the lips of nearly everyone to describe any swift thrust or sur prise victory in sport or business. Even children play at "blitzkrieg." In Latin-America it is translated "guerra relampago." To the Germans it means the type of thrust made into Poland to smash or paralyze the enemy with an over whelming force of airplanes, tanks and other swift instruments of de struction. 'Blackout' Is Common. "Blackout," the word to describe total darkness in cities on defensive against air raids is another popular new word. "Lebensraum," the German word which denotes the resources and land for which the Reich leaders say they are fighting also has been popularized. There are few other German phrases in the current war speech, however. French words are absent because of relative quiet on the Maginot front. Most of the popular words are from the English, either new, or revived from nearly forgotten times. "Trojan Horse" is one of the last class. It refers to the ancient wars when Greeks captured Troy by se cretly infiltrating troops into the city inside a statuesque wooden horse which the Trojans supposed was a prize of war. "Safety zone" which describes the 300-mile wide ocean belt drawn by the American nations around the continent from which they hope to bar any belligerent action, is also new and widely known. "Combat zone" is another term which has grown out of American reaction to the war. It is purely of United States origin because it re fers to the sea zones in Europe from which United States ships are banned in the hope that they will thus avoid being sunk. Total War" Introduced. 'Total war," which means a na tion employing every agency in its power without restriction, to win a war, also has been popularized re cently. "Leaflet bombs," "war of nerves," "air-raid warning," "all clear," "scuttle," and similar words also have just come into popular use. Some of them are revived after vir tual extinction as applied to earlier wars. Another class of new words de scribes new war materials such as "magnetic mines," and "balloon barrages," but these are still rather technical and not especially com mon in use. "A phrase left from the Russo Finnish war which still has much popular currency is "ski-patrol," re ferring to small groups of men on skis who intercepted enemy attacks, usually from ambush. The word is used socially to dinote daring ac tion in difficult circumstances. Ship's 'Bad Luck' Hawk Placed in London Zoo LONDON.?The "bad luck" pere grene falcon rescued when the Japa nese liner Terukuni Maru was sunk by a mine has been placed in the London too. The hawk had alighted hungry and exhausted on the ship as the vessel steamed north toward the Finglieh channel. Saki, the stew ard, fed the hawk and gave her shel ter. His shipmates pleaded with him to release her. "She will bring bad luck," they said. So Said re leased the hawk, which soared high and vanished. Next day she was back, and Saki would not let her go. When the liner struck the mine Saki took the bird with him into the lifeboat and turned her over to members of the crew of the Bea versford, bound for London. A Bird in Hand Worth Federal Man's Attention NEW ORLEANS, LA. ? Vincent Matassa knows now that a bird in the hand means he goes in the cage. Matassa was treed under $900 band for holding a captive mocking bird. United States Commissioner R H. Carter Jr. ruled that he violated the migratory bird treaty act by be ing caught with a feathered friend. Dogs Once Fair Game in Colonial Massachusetts BOSTON. ? Dogs were banned from Nantucket and Duke counties in Massachusetts 300 years ago. The colonial law ruled that any canines found in those counties might be killed, with no action allowable against the person committing the act Lights of New York by L.L STEVENSON ' Chicanery: Here's the latest rack et being worked on Broadway?a re vival of an old trick yet one that's proving highly successful. A not too busy drinking place is selected and a cheater comes in as a stran ger to a confederate who is already at the bar. The stranger gives a demonstration of sleight-of-hand and then, as a final trick, requests the loan of a five spot from the till. The bill is vanished and slipped to the confederate who immediately buys a drink for himself. By this time, the bartender is a bit worried over the fin that has disappeared. So the dis honest one tells him to look in the register and sure enough, there is the identical fiver, serial number and all. With that, the trickster and his confederate suddenly remember important engagements and depart on their separate ways only to meet and divide their loot. ? ? ? . C'est la Gnerre: During a visit to Bill and Dot down in Washington, Dot's mother, Mrs. Louise Hamer, discovered that grandpa, the nestor and pride of Bill and Dot's turtle col lection, was not enjoying himself because his particular delicacy, ant eggs, was not readily obtainable in the national capital. So when she returned to New York, Mrs. Hamer visited a downtown pet store. There she learned that ant eggs at present are indeed scarce because they are imported from Russia and Finland. Conditions overseas being what they are, ant eggs have increased in price from 75 cents to $3 a pound. For tunately, ant eggs are extremely light, so two packages were sent to Washington and last reports have it that grandpa once again is en joying the delicacy that appeals to him and thus is able to scorn chopped- steak. * . ? Street Scene: Little mothers look ing after their charges in the shad ows of' frowning tenements . . . One oT those horse-drawn, hand-op erated merry-go-rounds . . . With a tired-looking steed standing pa tiently . . . While the owner with smiles and" gestures invites pa trons into the seats . . . The seats are filled and the merry-go-round man starts to crank . . . But only for a moment . . . Eager young sters spring forward with pleas to be allowed to do his work . . . and while he rests, youth turns the crank . . . and the little mothers, as their charges, gurgle and coo, smile . . . While I, being an old one, am reminded of Tom Sawyer and that job of whitewashing a fence. ? ? ? Cat Story: Mrs. Lavelle G. Brown of Glendale, Calif., in town with her husband who was here on business, told me of her cat Tony, a short haired 14-pound regular old torn with a big head, but well beloved never theless. One day Mrs. Brown missed Tony and calls, endearing and other wise, failed to cause him to appear. Fearing that he had been lured away by some siren or a desire for exploration, Mrs. Brown wondered what she would tell her husband whom Tony always greeted with af fection. But, as she was preparing dinner, Mrs. Brown opened die re frigerator and out strolled Tony. It seemed that, being attacked by hun ger urge, he had gone inside in search of refreshment, and the door had been closed. But, as defrosting was in process, no harm was done and Tony greeted Mr. Brown as usual. ? ? ? Swing: The other night at Fiesta Danceteria, one of the swing bands had just left the stand when a bus boy carrying a tray of dishes and silver fell down the flight of stairs connecting the upper and lower dance floors. He was unhurt but there was a terrific clatter of china and knives and forks. Immediately several dozen pairs of jitterbugs got up to dance while a more exuber ant swing-o-nut jumped from his chair and shouted, "Boy, what an arrangement 1" ? ? ? Redskins: Harold Lamaton, ex Broadway producer who turned flve and-dime impresario, wanted a pair of Indians in full regalia to symbol ize the nickel piece at the opening of a new dinery. After several round-the-town calls, he got in con tact with Harry Lee, booking agent. First, Lee wanted Lamston to hire the entire Indian tribe that had worked at the World's fair. Final ly, working down from a rate of $10 an hour, they came to terms and then Lamston wanted to know if the Indians were the McCoy. "Sure," declared Lee. "These fel lows are C. P. I." "What's 'C. P. I.'?" demanded Lamston. "I thought you knew," responded Lee. "C. P. I means 'Certified Pub lic Indians.' " (B*n Syndicate-WNU Sarrtca.) Sign Grow* Too Empty; Repairs Are Ordered FULLERTON, CALIF. ? The city council decided something had to be done about the electric sign that is supposed to say "Wel come to FuUertOD." First one letter went out and it read: "We come to Fullertoc." Then it became, "We to Fullerton," and finally, "We to Full." Then they ordered repairs. t WHO'S NEWS THIS WEEK ' By LEMUEL F. PARTON {Consolidated Features?WNU Service.) XTEW YORK.?If there is a touch of hysteria as we prepare to prepare, it is more among the basses than the sopranos. Counsels ... . , of important Women Leaders women have Urge We Think been singu With Calmness Iarl; calm and r e - strained. There is little shrill out cry among them. Currently, Mrs. Sadie Orr Dunbar, president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and Miss Juliet M. Bartlett, the latter taking of fice as newly elected president of the New York Women's City club, urge calmness. Miss Bartlett says we "should keep our feet on the ground and our heads cool." Mrs. Dunbar, addressing the federation convention at Mil waukee, stresses the collective need for thought, rather than emotion. "Never in our national history has there been a more desperate need for clear under standing," she says. Mrs. Dun bar's Job is "community organi sation," heading this effort for the University of Oregon med ical school. It is understand able that she should emphasize reasoned techniques rather than emotional excitements. "Com munity organization" seems to describe our present national endeavor. Elected to the presidency of the federation in 1938, for a three-year term, Mrs. Dunbar represents about 2,000,000 club women. She tells, them, "I want women to tune in with modern life." A widow and a grandmother, of pioneer stock, she has behind her a unique tradition of "collective organization." Her grandfather was the first white man to plant corn in Ganger, Mo., where she was born in a log cabin. Her family trekked on to Chanute, Kan., to Fresno, Calif., and thence to Ore gon, where, after her graduation from the State university she taught school. She has served 24 years as executive secretary of the Oregon Tuberculosis association. She was one of six children and is the mother of a grown son .and daughter. ?? A GOOD reporter these days should have a 'diploma from the Massachusetts institute of Technol ogy. Making inquiries among ex _ . perts as to Experts Assure ^ posgibilj. Of Swift Work ties of swift In Prepared?** ' industrial and military pre paredness, this inquirer finds the an swers reassuring, but complicated, to be taken on faith, with political factors still an unsolved X in the equation. Both pertinent and en couraging is a general agreement by authorities that with all our fumbling and faltering, the index of productivity in a free state is higher than in a slave state once it gets going. Secretary of the Treasury Mor genthau recently met with repre sentatives of the machine tool indus try in Washington to start team work on tooling and standardization for the mass production of planes. Participating were Dr. George Jack son Mead, vice chairman of the Na tional Advisory Committee on Aero nautics. He accepts a newly creat ed post, at $10,000 a year, the office being established to facilitate deci sion on types of planes, swift stand ardization of parts and swift produc tion. On technical qualifications, Dr. Mead shows a good report card, as one of the leading air plane designers of America. He received the Sylvanus Reed award, for 1039, for his technical contributions to the advance ment of avhttion, and his pro fessional add business experi ence has covered both the tech nical and industrial field. Mr. Mead attended the Massachu setts Institute of Technology from 1911 to 1915. In 1917, he was in charge of the power plants at the laboratories of the United States air station at Dayton, Ohio. He then became a plane designer for the Wright-Martin Aircraft corporation and later chief engineer for the Wright Aeronautical corporation. He founded the Pratt k Whitney Co., and was thief engineer of the United Aircraft corporation. He is 49 years old, a native of Everett, Mass. m t_J OOFERS and spoolers fade, and 11 men who know something im portant climb into (he headlines. It is Sir James Barrie's play, over again, where specialized knowledge took over at a time at urgency. As our metallurgical industry blue prints a steel matrix of national de fense. Walter S. Tower becomes president at the America Iron and Steel institute, which is the clearing house for planned and integrated effectiveness in the industry. Mr. Tower is an expert on both econom ics and geography. Out-In Frock With BraidEdgedPanels DON'T you think it's one of the prettiest ideas for cotton prints that ever bloomed in the spring?all set for a summer of great popularity* There's some thing so perky and young about 8716, with its choice of low-cut or tailored collar finished, with a come-hither bow, and panels out lined in braid, to call attention to the supple slimness of your waist! It's simple and comfortable enough to wear around the house, but it'smuch, much too pretty to spend all its time at home. Wear it to market and for runabout, too. Make this of plaid or checked gingham, polka dot percale or plain - colored chambray, with bright ric-rac braid. Step-by-step sew chart comes with your pat tern. Pattern No. 8716 is designed for sizes 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. Size 14 dress with either neckline, re quires 4% yards of 36-inch fabric without nap; 8 yards ric-rac to trim; % yard ribbon for bow. Send order to: SEWING CIBCUC PATTERN DEPT. Ml W. forty-Third SL New York Enclose IS cents In colas lor Pattern No Size Name Address INDIGESTION mmy affect the Heart Qab?w?d le d? jtinrti er gull#* may act Owe hair-trta?r on the heart. At the flrat mgn at flleti ? mart man mad women depend on BeU -aaa Tablets be Mt |M free. No laxative bet made of the faetaat ecttan medidnee known for acid tndfeeatfan. If the ExJSEfcssrBwa -jLZizrs: Contented Spirit To secure a contented spirit, measure your desire by your for tune and not your fortune by your desires.?Jeremy Taylor. ALL FLIES ^1 Golden Age The age of gold was the age when gold did not rule.?Lezay de Marnezia. KURT DESPONDENT GIRLS: ? ml Nmu'lfriand" ta Lrdta B. Ftab ba'a themtlli CoajxW. Try M Lytfia L PMdun's 5S3SS 1WATC H1 VOO oan dapand on fta apaeial solas the marchants of our town announoo in tha oolumnO of this papar. Thay maon monoy soring to our raudais. It always pays to patronisa tha marclumta who odaarttsa. Thay ass not afraid of thsir mar ehondlM ocr nrtr? *4 Si THE SPECIALS |
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
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June 13, 1940, edition 1
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