Posted by Jeff Richman on August 15th, 2017

The year was 1828. They were in love. Charles Alfred Baudouine was 20 years old, Ann Phillips Postley 15. Five years later--in 1833-they would marry. She would die, "after a lingering illness," in 1890. He would die in 1895. They are interred, together again, at Green-Wood, in section 14, lots 11608-11611, with many other members of their family. Green-Wood recently purchased at auction a book and real estate deeds pertaining to Charles and Ann. The book starts with this calligraphic title page: The album contains 68 pages of poems and… Read more

Posted by Jeff Richman on July 25th, 2017

Christopher Ashton Serrano (1991-2016) seemed to have found his calling. A young man, in his mid-twenties, he had discovered—and pioneered--Urban Explorer/High-Risk Photography. It was a subculture of photography, incorporating both physical and mental challenges. Climbing to the top of a building or bridge was difficult enough; doing so, knowing that you might be arrested for trespass at any moment, made it even more difficult. Posting on Instagram, with 130,000 followers (BBC Newsbeat called him "an instagram star"), Christopher—as “heavy_minds”--took risks—risks that made his parents uncomfortable but that he assured them… Read more

Posted by Jeff Richman on July 10th, 2017

It was a long time—and a long way--coming. One hundred and fifty years and a trip around the world, to be precise. Thomas Francis Meagher (1823-1867) led an extraordinary life. Born in County Waterford, Ireland, he put his life on the line to fight, under arms, for Irish independence (he was known as “Meagher of the Sword” for arguing for, and acting upon, his view that violence against the British was necessary). It was Meagher who helped introduce a new Irish flag, symbol of a Free Ireland. For his revolutionary… Read more

Posted by Jeff Richman on May 22nd, 2017

I recently came across a listing for an online auction for a half-plate daguerreotype photograph of Samuel E. Darling and his wife, Margaret Broadbent Darling. As per the listing, the seller had determined that they were married on August 4, 1851, and lived in New York City. Their identification was based on their names that were written on the mat surrounding the photograph and behind the photograph. Here's the seller's description of this item: Mathew Brady 1/2 Plate Daguerreotype of newlywed couple Samuel E. Darling and his wife Margaret Broadbent.… Read more

Posted by Jeff Richman on April 11th, 2017

As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of United States entry into World War I,  I share this story about a group of World War I photographs. About 25 years ago, at a photo show featuring old images, I came across a wooden box filled with glass stereoviews. Stereoviews are side by side images of the same scene, photographed through twin lenses approximately as far apart as the eyes of a typical person, so that, when looked at in a special two lens viewer, they appear to be three dimensional (3D).… Read more