Description: Taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing on November 5, 1909, this photograph shows the students of Prosperity School, likely in Prosperity, Raleigh County, West Virginia. The small chalkboard in front of the students reads "Prosperity, November 5, 1909, Homer Jackson." Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_b15_f853
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Portrait photography--United States--History; Education; School children; School buildings
Places: Prosperity (West Virginia)
 

Description: Photograph of a baby seated on a quilt before a photograph of President William McKinley, a shotgun, and a United States flag with images of McKinley, his Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, and their campaign slogan, "Prosperity at Home, Prestige Abroad." The photograph may have been taken during the 1900 presidential campaign to show support for McKinley and Roosevelt, or to pay tribute to President McKinley after he was assassinated in September 1901. This photograph was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. Like most of Ewing's work, it was likely taken in southeastern Ohio or central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05063
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); McKinley, William, 1843-1901; Presidential campaigns; Children; Portraits
Places: Ohio; West Virginia