RSS 1.0George E. Curtis Photographs of Niagara Falls collection, ca1860s-1870s RG 703
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A collection of albumen photographs featuring the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York taken by George E. Curtis c. 1860s-1870s. Photographs also include parks located near these falls.
George E. Curtis, born ca. 1841, his birthplace has been given in various sources as Buffalo, NY, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. He died 16 December 1910 in Niagara Falls, NY and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery with his wife Emma Symonds Curtis. In 1864, Curtis enlisted in the United States Navy at Erie, Pennsylvania and served aboard the USS Michigan and USS North Carolina. He was discharged in February of 1865. Active from 1860s-1910, he is well known for his stereoscopic views of the Niagara Falls. Additional photographs located in the collections of the Eastman Museum, Rochester, NY and the New York Public Library: Photography Collection and others.
This collection came from photographer James Cremer of Philadelphia as a sample set of Curtis’s images of the falls stored in a period sample box. The sample box was manufactured by Samuel Peck and Co., a New Haven-based company that manufactured photographic accessories in the 1870s. James Cremer, a stereoscopic photographer himself, is best known for a series of photograph views of the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition and owner of the Stereoscopic Emporium on South 8th Street in Philadelphia, Pa. The collection comes from the estate of his grandson Henry Richardson Cremer, a photographer himself.
Highlights of the collection include the snow and ice encrusted landscape of the Falls and parks, as well as tightrope walker Henry Bellini, and the new suspension bridge. Most of the photographs have been captioned in perhaps Curtis’ own hand.
Copyright is retained by Brock University. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing from materials in the collection. Most items may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Recent Submissions
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Photograph L - Man reading a book beside the first public drinking fountain in PhiladelphiaA photograph of a man reading a book beside the first public drinking fountain in Philadelphia.
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Photograph K - First public drinking fountain in PhiladelphiaA photograph of the first public drinking fountain in Philadelphia, inscription reads, “Pro bono public, Esto perpetua” [located on Forbidden Drive, Philadelphia, PA].
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Photograph J - Entrance of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial ArtA photograph of the entrance of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art.
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Photograph I - Frozen trees and arch located in a park [Prospect Park?] [NY]A photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. The image appears to be frozen trees surrounding a frozen arch (possibly Prospect Park).
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Photograph H - Giant icicle formed from freezing falling waterA photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. The image appears to be a giant icicle.
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Photograph G - A man overlooks the water surrounding Terrapin Tower and bridge [NY]A photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. The image appears to be standing on the bridge beneath Terrapin Tower and possibly two others at the top of the tower.
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Photograph F - Two men in a boat below the Falls, one rowing, the other shooting a rifleA photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. The image appears to be two men in a boat below the Falls. One man is rowing and the other is holding a rifle.
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Photograph E - Ice coated trees in a park [Luna Island?]A photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. The image appears to be ice coated trees in a park (perhaps Luna Park).
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Photograph D - Ice coated tree at the American FallsA photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. The image appears to be an ice coated tree at the American Falls.
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Photograph C - American and Horseshoe Falls, spring or fallA photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. The image is of the American and Horseshoe Falls in the Spring or Fall.
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Photograph B - Henry Bellini, tightrope walker, prepares to fall into the waters below the FallsA photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. This photograph is of Henry Bellini preparing to fall into the waters below the Falls.
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Photograph A - Henry Bellini, tightrope walker, prepares to cross the FallsA photograph by George E. Curtis with no caption. This photograph is of Henry Bellini who came in August of 1873 to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He appears to be preparing to cross.
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Photograph 124 - Horseshoe Fall from Goat Island, NiagaraA photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "Horse shoe Fall from Goat Island Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 124.
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Photograph 122 - New suspension bridge showing Falls, NiagaraA photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "New Suspension Bridge Showing Falls Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 122.
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Photograph 117 - Scenery near Streets Island, Niagara [ON]A photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "Scenery near Streets Island Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 117.
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Photograph 116 - Cave in Luna Island ice mountain, Niagara [NY]A photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "Cafe in Luna Island Ice Mountain Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 116.
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Photograph 114 - Pathway leading under the Horseshoe Fall, NiagaraA photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "Pathway leading under the Horseshoe Fall Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 114.
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Photograph 113 - The old man of NiagaraA photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "The Old Man of Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 113.
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Photograph 112 - Statue tree, NiagaraA photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "Statue Tree Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 112.
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Photograph 110 - American Fall from below, Niagara [NY]A photograph by George E. Curtis with the caption that reads: "American Fall from below Niagara". The back of the image is numbered 110.
