Two months ago I came across an unusual find while browsing through online auctions. That find was an antique wedding invitation, originating from my hometown of Dallas and dating to the late 19th century. A closer look revealed the advertised bride to be the daughter of W. Wirt Williams, a name associated with nineteenth century Dallas photography and whose most well known studio was located at the 334 Elm address... read more

While the most notable early photographers operating out of Dallas have been documented, there are many for whom little to no information appears to have been preserved. These photographers and their studios present very challenging subjects for research, but that’s no reason to deny them their places in local history. With this installment in my Early Dallas photography series, I'm going to try to shine a light on those places in history, piecing together fragments of information found in the historical record... read more