Lewis family
Region: United States Period: 1850–1890 Tag: LewisThe members of the Lewis family were all involved in photography-related businesses. The patriarch was William Lewis, a daguerreotype pioneer in the United States. From the 1840s onward, he operated a trade in daguerreotype equipment in New York together with his son, William H. Lewis. In 1849, they patented designs for gilding daguerreotype plates and for a daguerreotype holder.
William H. Lewis also designed several stereoscope models. Some of his patents were assigned to E. & H. T. Anthony and Company. The same applied to the graphoscope patent of his brother, Henry J. Lewis. This suggests that the two Lewis brothers had a contractual arrangement with, or were perhaps employed by, E. & H. T. Anthony.
A third son of William Lewis was Richard A. Lewis, who was also active as a daguerreian in New York and worked as a photographer.
Related items:Anthony, E. & H.T. Daguerreotype Graphoscope Lewis, Henry J. patent
Further reading:
- Craig, John S.. "Lewis, William" in: Craig's Daguerreian Registry (November 1997) . via: craigcamera.com
- Wing, Paul. Stereoscopes: The first one hundred years (1996) , p. 134