MS-249
THE HARTLEY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION
The Hartley Family Photograph Collection was accessioned into the Piqua Public Library Archives and Special Collections on July 7, 2016 as the result of a donation by Mr. and Mrs. Ron Wiley. The collection is housed in two Hollinger boxes containing 33 files. The collection consists of two Piquonian yearbooks (Piqua High School – 1929 and 1932); 52 photographs; and two photo albums. One album contains 23 tintype portrait photographs and the other album, dated c. 1902, contains 43 print (4” x 5”) photographs. There are also four files of miscellaneous items. The photos generally date from the 1870’s through the 1940’s. The ownership and rights to these materials have been transferred by Deed of Gift to the Piqua Public Library and there are no known restrictions on their use.
The photographs are of the Hartley family who are the ancestors of the Wileys. The photographs are generally not identified in any way. All identifications in this collection are from either the internal evidence on the photograph (signs, markers, etc.) or external evidence (comparisons of pictures with Piquonian photographs or google searches of business names). This collection was processed by Gary Meek in July 2016.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Hartley Family Photograph Collection is divided into the following seven series:
SERIES I: Piqua Area Photographs – Box 1, Files 1-9
SERIES II: Portraits by Piqua area professional photographers – individuals are not identified. – Box 1, Files 10-17
SERIES III: Group photographs by Piqua area professional photographers – Box 1, Files 18-22
SERIES IV: Photographs in which neither the persons nor the photographers are identified – Box 1, Files 23-25
SERIES V: Photograph Albums – Box 1, File 26 and Box 2, File 1
SERIES VI: Over-sized photographs – Box 2, Files 2-3 – Note: These files are located in Drawer 25 of the Local History Department Map Case
SERIES VII: Miscellaneous – Box 2, Files 4-7
CONTAINER LIST
SERIES I: Piqua Area Photographs
BOX 1
File
1 Piquonian 1932 – John C. Hartley was a 1932 Piqua High School graduate. The large majority of the Staff and Senior photographs are autographed.
2 Piquonian 1929
3 Broadway, Piqua, Ohio – post card c. 1900
4 Rowan Memorial in the north west corner of the Public Square, Piqua, Ohio – c. 1909
5 Wolford Jewelry and Watches – Perry M. Wolford, Jeweler and optician, north east corner of High and Wayne Streets – c. 1909
6 Superior Underwear Company photographs:
[1] Superior Underwear building under construction by Hall/Cronan of Dayton, Ohio – a post card – c. 1914
[2] Superior Underwear Company post card taken from the north side of the Miami & Erie Canal – an Interurban trolley or street car is in the photo – c. 1918
[3] A 6” x 8” photo pasted on a 10” x 12” mat of Superior Underwear Company with the employees sitting in or leaning out of the windows. Two rag top automobiles are sitting out in front – c. 1925
[4] A 8” x 6” photo pasted on a 12” x 10” mat of an interior office at Superior Underwear Company – possibly the office of the shipping department – Clifford T. Hartley (father of John C. Hartley mentioned in File 1) was a shipping clerk at Superior Underwear Co. – three men are at work in the office.
[5] A 8” x 6” photo pasted on a 12” x 10” mat of the shipping department stock room at Superior Underwear Co. – three men (not identified) are seen in the photograph.
[6] A 8” x 6” photo pasted on a 12” x 10” mat of the shipping department stock room at Superior Underwear Co. – six men (not identified) are seen in the photograph.
7 Fletcher, Brown Township, Miami County photographs (all are post cards):
[1] The Fletcher train depot under construction
[2] North Street, Fletcher, Ohio
[3] School Building, Fletcher, Ohio
8 Fletcher High School invitation to the 17th Annual Commencement – June 5, 1907
9 Ohio Military Institute, College Hill (Cincinnati), Ohio – post card
BOX 1
SERIES II: Portraits by Piqua area professional photographers – individuals are not identified.
File
10 Portraits by Crane Studio, Piqua, Ohio – George D. Crane photographer between 1926 and 1939:
[1] Portrait of a boy (approximate age 12) and a girl (approximate age 6)
[2] Portrait of a man (approximate age 50) – possibly Clifford T. Hartley
[3] Portrait of a young man (approximate age 20) – possibly John C. Hartley
[4] Portrait of a young man (approximate age 18) – identified from the 1940 Piquonian as James William Hartley
11 Portrait of a young boy (approximate age 4) by Hunter Studio, Piqua, Ohio – Ray L. Hunter photographer between 1907 and 1918
12 Portraits by Beecher Studio, Piqua, Ohio – Sylvester R. Beecher photographer between 1911 and 1941:
[1] Portrait of a girl (approximate age 3)
[2] Portrait of an elderly lady (approximate age 80) – possibly Julia A. Hartley, wife of James T. Hartley
13 Portrait of a young lady (approximate age 18) by Favorite Studio, Piqua, Ohio – Adrian H. Cissna photographer between 1939 and 1946. The young lady is possibly Charylene Hartley.
14 Portraits by C. A. Gale Art Parlor, 411 ½ Main St, Piqua, Ohio – Charles A. Gale photographer between 1868 and 1891:
[1] 2 ½” x 4” full body portrait of a young boy (approximate age 6)
[2] Cabinet portrait of a young girl (approximate age 18 months)
15 Portraits by Lloyd Studio – John M. Lloyd photographer between 1899 and 1916:
[1] Portrait of a young man (approximate age 20) – possibly Clifford T. Hartley
[2] Portrait of a lady (approximate age 30)
16 Full portrait of a young lady – possible a wedding photograph – the photo was taken in Piqua, Ohio in 1914 but the studio name has not been deciphered – it is possibly a photograph by Allen H. Middleswart who worked in Piqua between 1914 and 1932. The photo is possibly Bertha M. Suber Hartley.
17 1 ½” x 2” tintype photograph of an infant taken by Charles Schnell’s Photo Gallery, Troy, Ohio – Charles Schnell photographer between 1878 and 1897
SERIES III: Group photographs by Piqua area professional photographers
File
18 Group of children, young people, and a few adults – possibly a school picnic in the Fletcher, Ohio area – the photograph was taken by Magill Studio, Piqua, Ohio (no further information about Magill Studio)
19 Large group of people from very young children to very elderly adults – photographed by Hunter Studio – Ray L. Hunter photographer between 1907 and 1918. The group is either an extended family or is a church group.
20 Elementary school class photograph, possibly Fletcher school 3rd – 6th grade in front of a brick two front door building. The photograph was taken by Rodgers Studio, Piqua, Ohio – W. C. Rodgers photographer between c. 1902 and c. 1907.
21 Group of young people (approximate ages 13-18), possibly Fletcher High School Group – photo taken by J. R. Byerly, Fletcher, Ohio
22 Photograph by Lawson & Matthews – Mrs. H. Lawson and Edward W. “Dick” Matthews photographers between 1886 and 1888 – the photo is of the interior of a church decorated for Children’s Day.
SERIES IV: Photographs in which neither the persons nor the photographers are identified
File
23 Photographs of individual persons:
[1] ¾” x 1” mounted photograph of an elderly man in white shirt, vest and hat – c. 1895
[2] Cabinet style photograph of a young girl (approximate age 4) – c. 1910
[3] Portrait of a young man (approximate age 20) – c. 1910 – photo taken by Huntzinger, Piqua
[4] Post card dated 1908 addressed to Miss Bertha Suber – the post card is of a young lady and the note with the photo is signed by Mary G.
[5] Portrait of a young man – possibly a senior portrait – c. 1950
24 Photographs of two to four persons not identified:
[1] Snapshot photo of a young man and a young lady – based on the 1932 Piquonian, the young man is John C. Hartley. The young lady is possibly Edith his wife. Photo c. 1936
[2] Photograph of a father and his two sons – the father is probably Clifford T. Hartley and the sons are John C. Hartley and James W. Hartley – photo is c. 1928
[3] Ambrotype photograph of an older man and woman outdoors in front of a tent
[4] Post card photograph of a grandmother and three young children – 2 girls (approximate ages 6 and 9) and a boy (approximate age 2) – on the back in the address area is written “Miss Bertha Suber” and on the message side is written “Aunt Jennie” – c. 1900
[5] Gilt framed photograph of a husband and wife – c. 1870 – possibly Thornton and Ann Hartley
[6] Husband and wife sitting in a hollowed out area in a tree
25 Photographs of more than ten persons not identified:
[1] Post card photograph of 24 ladies and one infant taken out doors under some trees.
[2] Photograph of a school class of 29 students and a male teacher taken in front of the school. The students appear to be fourth through sixth graders – c. 1895 – possibly Fletcher, Ohio school.
[3] Photograph of a school class of 22 students and a female teacher taken in front of the school. The students appear to be first and second graders – c. 1895 – possibly Fletcher, Ohio school.
[4] Photograph of a group of three young adult men and eight young adult women in front of a small single story house. The men as seated in a carriage. – c. 1890’s.
[5] Group photograph in a banquet room – 48 well dressed adult women and two boys (approximate age 10) – the photo is 8 x 10 glossy and is c. 1945. This is a formal group photo of the banquet of a women’s organization.
BOX 1
SERIES V: Photograph Albums
File
26 A 4” x 5” x 2” album containing eleven pages and 23 tintype photographic portraits of adults and children – the photos are c. 1880
BOX 2
File
1 An 8” x 6” x 2” album containing 24 double sided pages and containing 43 – 4” x 5” photographs, none of which are identified in the album. Identifications provided here are gleaned from enhanced images of the photos and from external sources. The photos are all c. 1902. The back inside cover of the album identifies it as being from Edward B. Fox, Photo Operator, 174 Fifth Ave., New York City
[1-6] These photos contain scenes from the Hudson River Valley. Photo #5 is of the S.S. Mary Powell, a Hudson River day steamer that ran between Rondout (Kingston), New York and New York City. Photo #6 is a photo of Newburgh, New York on the Hudson.
[7] blank
[8-9] location not identified
[10-26] Photos of Atlantic City, New Jersey
[27] A fire ladder wagon pulled by a three horse (troika) team – location is possibly Dayton, Ohio area
[30-36, 39] Possibly Dayton area – trains and bridges
[42-45] Soldiers on parade and boarding trains for deployment – possibly Dayton area
[47] Very large group of men and women in front of a two story frame house with large columns
[48] Fire ladder wagon pulled by two horses – possibly Dayton area
SERIES VI: Over-sized photographs
File
2 16” x 20” black/white photograph of a very large number of men standing on the steps in front of the Dayton Masonic Temple. Printed on the photo is a white triangle with the number “32” inside it and the following: “129th Class, November, 1944, Dayton, Ohio. This photo is located in Drawer 25 of the Map Case.
3 12 ½” x 16 ¼” photograph of the Hartley family – c. 1890’s – none of the individuals are identified. This photo is located in Drawer 25 of the Map Case.
SERIES VII: Miscellaneous
File
4 Two post cards – one is addressed to Mr. John Suber, Fletcher, Ohio, Miami County – on it is a picture of sugar cane and a sugar mill with “Greeting from Honolulu, May 13, 1907” – the other card as a picture of an office and written on it is “Interior of my office, Honolulu.”
5 Post Card to Mr. & Mrs. Sam Baugh & Family from John L. Phillips, N.A.S. Banana River, Florida. Card is a penny post card and is post marked 1945.
6 Valentine to a daughter from mother and daddy – no further information
7 Western Union telegram to Mrs. C. T. Hartley from James W. Hartley dated April 6, 1945