Finding aid for the Jeremiah Merritt Greene Photograph Album
Title:
Jeremiah Merritt Greene Photograph Album
Repository:
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
Creator:
Greene, Jeremiah Merritt
Dates:
ca. 1865
Quantity:
0.20 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract:
 Jeremiah Merritt Greene (1829-1916) was a Cleveland, Ohio, professional photographer. He came to Cleveland in 1857 from Syracuse, New York, and learned photographic processes through his work at the studio of Cleveland photographer James F. Ryder. He opened his first studio in Cleveland in 1859, and maintained his photographic business in there until 1910. The collection consists of one photograph album, titled Photographic Sketches by J. M. Greene, and including eighteen albumen paper prints made by Cleveland, Ohio photographer Jeremiah Merritt Greene. The images include views of Western Reserve architecture, hotels, homes, a locomotive, a paddle-wheel steamship, Abraham Lincoln's catafalque on Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio, views of an unidentified river (possibly the Chagrin River falls), and the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, known as the Old Stone Church. Copy prints are available for preliminary research purposes.
Identification:
PG 470
Location:
closed stacks
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Jeremiah Merritt Greene

Jeremiah Merritt Greene (1829-1916) came to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1857 from Syracuse, New York. Greene worked at the studio of James F. Ryder where he learned photographic processes. In 1859, Greene left Ryder and opened his first studio in Hoffman's Block on the corner of Superior at Public Square. Greene relocated to the Forest City Gallery at 243 Superior in 1861. A year later Greene and Ryder attracted regional attention at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus for their India ink monochrome and hand-colored portraits on canvas. Greene stayed at 243 Superior until the summer of 1865 when the studio became home to S. M. Luther and a partner. In early 1868, Greene was in residence at C. F. Hwerdt's Portrait Gallery located in Brainard's Hall at 205 Superior Street. However, at the end of the year he opened his own studio in the Warner Block, 47 and 49 Public Square, next to the First Presbyterian (Old Stone) Church. For the next forty years Greene took on few partners, frequently moved his operation, and maintained his business until 1910. At the time of his death, in January 1916, Greene was considered the oldest photographer in the United States.

Scope and Content

The Jeremiah Merritt Greene Photograph Album, ca. 1865, consists of one photograph album, titled Photographic Sketches by J. M. Greene, and including eighteen albumen paper prints made by Cleveland, Ohio photographer Jeremiah Merritt Greene. The images include views of Western Reserve architecture, hotels, homes, a locomotive, a paddle-wheel steamship, Abraham Lincoln's catafalque on Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio, views of an unidentified river (possibly the Chagrin River falls), and the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, known as the Old Stone Church. Copy prints are available for preliminary research purposes. The collection includes 18 black and white photographs of varying sizes.

This collection is of value to researchers interested in the history of Cleveland and the Western Reserve. The collection consists of images of Western Reserve architecture, hotels, homes, a locomotive, a paddle-wheel steamship, Abraham Lincoln's catafalque on Public Square in Cleveland, views of an unidentified river (possibly the Black River in Elyria), and the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, known as the Old Stone Church.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection has been maintained in original order.

Restrictions on Access

The original album is available for research with consultation with the Curator of Manuscripts or the Director of the Library.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Architecture -- Ohio -- Western Reserve -- Photographs.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Photographs.
Greene, Jeremiah Merritt -- Photograph collections.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Funeral journey to Springfield -- Photograph collections.
Locomotives -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Old Stone Church (Cleveland, Ohio) -- Photograph collections.
Photographers -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Steamboats -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Western Reserve (Ohio) -- Photographs.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 470 Jeremiah Merritt Greene Photograph Album, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased at Sothaby's by the Western Reserve Historical Society in 1995.

Processing Information

Processed by Chuck Piotrowski in 1996.


Detailed Description of The Collection



Jeremiah Merrit Green Photograph Album, ca. 1865

Box 1
Photographic Sketches by J. M. Greene, containing the following views: First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, known as the Old Stone Church, viewed from the northeast quadrant of Public Square looking west; unidentified falls and town [falls with Broadway Spa, 1870]; Weddell House, hotel at Superior and Bank Streets, Cleveland; unidentified house; Locomotive Chicago, of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad Company, at Euclid Avenue Station, Cleveland; Abraham Lincoln's catafalque and tent in Public Square, Cleveland; Steamboat Seabird of the Buffalo and Cleveland Line on the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, Ohio; Beebe House, hotel on town square in Lorain, Ohio; unidentified house; unidentified house; unidentified river [Black River?]; unidentified river [Black River?]; unidentified river [Black River?]; unidentified falls [Black River?]; unidentified river [Black River?]; unidentified falls [Black River?]; unidentified falls [Black River?]; and unidentified house, ca. 1865