Lyman Mackson (1 results)

Archive of 46 original albumen photographs, sized from 3 x 6 in. up to 4 x 6 in., all of the images smaller than 4 x 5 in. on albumen paper stock, many w/ embossed photographer's stamps, several w/ photographer's imprint w/in negative, some w/ small rubber stamp at lower fore-edge of verso, as well as pencil manuscript annotations identifying subject, inventory nos. w/ in negatives of several (a few w/ evidence of having been previously mounted, a couple w/very slight dog-eared corners, 1 w/ closed tear at lower fore-edge, a couple w/ image evidencing poor process chemicals), still an exceptional group of images. This set of photographs was created by two different Illinois & Missouri photographers at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY -- both of whom had lived and worked in Chicago at the beginning of the 1890's offering reasonably priced "unofficial" vernacular images of the 1893 Columbian Exposition World's Fair, followed by the Pan-American World's Fair. The fair featured a range of acts and attractions featured at the Exposition, which included Bostock's Trained Wild Animals, "A Trip to the Moon," "Cleopatra's Temple," Henry Roltair's illusionist show, "House upside down," and the Battle of Missionary Ridge Cyclorama. Many of the Exposition buildings, including the prominent Electric Tower were covered in approximately 2 million 100 watt incandescent light bulbs, producing an incredible display when turned on each night attracting millions of people who visited. This Exposition marked a defining moment in Buffalo history, with the city becoming the focus of international architectural, artistic, technological and industrial attention at the Fair. It is sadly largely remembered as the scene of the tragic assassination of President McKinley. Vernacular souvenir photos are quite scarce, and these have an unusual sharpness, in light of the fact that like the 1893 Columbian all were prevented from bringing in tripods to shoot the Exposition. One of the photographs captures African natives from the Midway's "African Village" which incorporated Africans from the colonial empires of Great Britain, Belgium, Germany & France, along with participants from Georgia who were "staged" in the "Old Plantation" representing the enslavement of African-Americans in North America. Another Black History exhibit included was the "Negro Exhibit" previously exhibited at the 1900 L'Exposition Universelle in Paris depicting the accomplishments of formerly enslaved people, and languished at the far back of the Manufacturers and Liberal Arts Building. Samuel Lyman (1854-1939) was an intrepid tinkerer, junk dealer, and photographer who shot souvenir photos for his customers during the Columbian Exposition in 1893. Two of his sons, Joseph Lyman (1887-1953) and Harry Lyman (1883-1940) became successful photographers in Kansas City, MO during the Roaring 20's. Mackson (fl. 1885-1910), immigrated from Russia into Chicago in the 1880's, and operated a small photo studio there until about 1900, before relocating to Kansas City, and St. Louis, MO during the opening decade of the 20th Century, operating photography studios in both cities. See: The Midway, Buffalo New York Uncrowned Community Builders (2025).