William Henry Brown and George C. Bennett Photographs

Collection

Identifier: PAAC-0030

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This small collection consists of portraits of New Mexico notables in various formats and sizes, some mounted on card stock, as well as stereo views of New Mexico scenes. Stereos are by W.H. Brown, Bennett and Brown, and George C. Bennett, with duplicates attributed to both. Photographer's image number appears in parentheses.

Dates

1866 - 1884

Creator

Brown, W. H. (William Henry), 1844-1886 (Photographer, Person)

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to researchers on a request basis only, pending approval of request to view original material.

Copy Restrictions

User responsible for all copyright compliance. Permission to publish must be obtained from Photo Archives. Form to request permission available at: https://www.nmhistorymuseum.org/collections/photo-archives/order-photos

Biographical Information

Due to the overlap and confusion regarding attribution for these two photographers' stereo work, both are processed under this one collection. Stereo cards are stamped W. Henry Brown, George C. Bennett, and Bennett and Brown.

William Henry Brown came to Santa Fe from Saint Louis in 1866 with his father, the photographer Nicholas Brown. Nicholas Brown is considered one of the earliest known photographers in New Mexico whose work is extant. William Henry Brown worked in partnership with his father in a studio next door to the Santa Fe Hotel. In 1867 a trip to Chihuahua, Mexico with his father resulted in a studio there which he operated until 1869. He then drops from records until his return to Santa Fe in 1880 to form a partnership with “operator” George C. Bennett from a studio on the Westside of the Plaza. Even though his photography business advertises only the Brown name, Bennett was his operator until at least 1883. Brown's health problems increasingly forced the hiring of other photographers, including his wife Fannie, to operate his business. In 1882-1883 his studio produced a large amount of work for the New Mexico Historical Society including portraits of New Mexico Territorial notables. During this time he produced 500 dozen stereographs for the Palace Hotel. His studio also produced high quality stereographs, work actually done by Bennett, much of which formed the nucleus of the present day Museum of New Mexico collection. He moved to Parral, Mexico in 1884 and then in 1885 to El Paso, where he died of consumption.

George C. Bennett was primarily active as maker of stereographs and view cards. He first appears in Santa Fe as part of Bennett and Burrall before operating briefly on his own. He established a partnership with William Henry Brown from 1880-1882, doing most of the firm's traveling and view work. As agent of the Brown studio Bennett did extensive work for the noted archaeologist Adolph Bandelier at Acoma, Cochiti and Frijoles Canyon 1880-1883.