The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Thorpe, Roy Victory, 1882-1978

Title:               Collection

Dates:             ca.1887-ca.1920

Call No.:         Col. 112

Acc. No.:        91x121

Quantity:        3 boxes

Location:        18 D 2

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Roy Victory Thorpe was a photographer and newspaper publisher in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  He was born in Amsterdam, New York, on July 1, 1882; his parents were Charles H. and Harriet Victory Thorpe.  Charles Thorpe was in the newspaper business and then started a business printing and publishing illustrated trade editions of newspapers, which required him to move frequently (arriving in a new town, staying for about 6 weeks to write and print the town business history, and then moving on).  The Thorpes had residences in Menands, Glens Falls, and Plattsburg, New York; Laconia, Lancaster, and Littleton, New Hampshire; and Detroit, Michigan, among other places.  The 1900 census lists Roy living with his mother in Lowell, Massachusetts, both noted as being photographers.

 

Roy began his photography career as an apprentice to Gokay photographers in Bennington, Vermont, for two years.  Afterwards, he took photographs for his father's publishing venture and later opened his own studio in Lowell, Massachusetts, when he was 16 years old, closing it after he had a bout of typhoid fever when he was 21.   In the meantime, his father had purchased the newspaper in Littleton, New Hampshire, and Roy rejoined his family there, working with his father in the newspaper and publishing business.  The Thorpes, father and son, eventually returned to their nomadic printing business, but Roy finally settled in Menands, New York, working for a newspaper with offices in Albany, Troy, and Schenectady.  

 

In 1914, Roy Thorpe married Louise Margaret Powers of Laconia, New Hampshire.  They had at least two children.  Roy died on April 24, 1978.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection consists of forty-nine photographs taken by Thorpe in a studio, outdoors, and in people's houses, and thirty-nine trade editions of newspapers as described below.

 

Photographs in the collection were taken by Thorpe in a studio, outdoors, and in people's houses.  The twenty-one studio shots are portraits of family members, children, and young adults in their best dress.  In addition to the subjects, studio props, wicker furniture, children's chairs, and background settings are depicted.  The twenty-one outdoor photos show domestic architecture and street scenes in a small town in turn-of-the-century America.  Finally, there are five interior views.  Two show Thorpe's waiting room; two are of coffins surrounded with flowers reflecting mourning customs in Lowell, Massachusetts; and one depicts a dining room set up for a party (possibly for Roy Thorpe's wedding reception).

 

Collection also contains thirty-nine trade editions of newspapers published by Thorpe and his father between 1897 and 1916 in upstate New York, New England, and the mid-West.  These editions were frequently published to commemorate a town's anniversary, to feature local businesses, and to highlight important local worthies.  They provide photographic illustrations of shops and store interiors.  Confectioners, shoe stores, drug stores, banks, dress stores, clothiers, jewelers, groceries, and dry goods and carpet stores are represented.  In addition, the newspapers include essays on the histories of the businesses and their proprietors.  Some also picture local dwellings, interiors, streetscapes, and public buildings.

           

 

ORGANIZATION

           

The collection is organized into six series of photographs (Thorpe family photos, photos taken while an apprentice, tintype, studio portraits, outdoor photos, and interior scenes), plus a seventh series of newspapers.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The photographs are mostly visual, but the limited text is in English.  The newspapers are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

           

            People:

                        Thorpe, Charles H. - Photographs.

                        Thorpe, Hattie B. - Photographs.

                        Victory, C. H. - Photographs.

                       

Topics:

            Newspapers - Extra editions.

            Architectural photography.

            Indoor photography.

            Close-up photography.

            Portraits - Photographs.

            Wicker furniture - Photographs.

            Children - Costume.

            Interior decoration - Photographs.

            House furnishings - Photographs.

                        Dining room furniture - Photographs.

                        Mourning customs - Massachusetts - Lowell.

                        Cities and towns - History - Sources.

                        Store decoration.

                        Streets - Photographs.

                        Store fixtures.

                        Stores, Retail.

                        Commercial buildings - Photographs.

                        Dwellings - Photographs.

                        Buildings - Photographs.

                        Storefronts - Photographs.

                        Photoprints.

                        Newspapers.

                        Black-and-white photographs.

                        Publishers.

                        Photographers.

                        Architectural photographers.

                        Still photographers.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 18 D 2

 

                                                                       

 

Series 1: Thorpe family photographs (all in Box 1):

 

.1         Roy V. Thorpe, taken at the Thorpe Studio, 182 Merrimac St., Lowell, MA.  Signed.

            [evidently given to an aunt or uncle as Roy is identified as “my nephew”]

 

.2         Charles H. Thorpe, taken at the Lowell studio.

            [Roy’s father]

 

.6         “Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Victory, Died Jan. 7, 1888.”

            [another copy of this photo owned by a family member identifies these as Charles Henry and Mary Elizabeth Victory, the maternal grandparents of Roy V. Thorpe; it is unclear which Victory died in 1888]

 

 

 

Series 2: Photos taken as an apprentice at Gokay, 109 North St., Bennington, Vt. (all in Box 1):

 

.3         Bust of Hattie B. Thorpe in Victorian dress.

            [Roy’s mother]

 

.4         Informal interior shot of an older woman and Roy V. Thorpe, sitting in front of a fireplace, with clock on the mantel.   This is a companion to the photo below.

            Taken when Thorpe was an apprentice at Gokay.

 

.5         Companion to the photo above, taken from a different angle, with a man and a woman, probably Charles and Hattie Thorpe. 

            Taken while at Gokay.

           

 

 

Series 3: Tintypes  (in Box 1):

 

.7         Young girl standing beside a stool with a padded cover and tassels.

            [possibly Harriet (Hattie) Beatrice Victory, later Mrs. Charles Thorpe]

 

 

 

Series 4: Studio photographs of people (all in Box 1):

 

            Posed shots of children and young adults in formal attire featuring studio props and settings.  Many of the photos show wicker furniture and children's chairs.  None of the photos are marked or identified in any way.

 

Folder 1:          .8-.12

Folder 2:          .13-.16

Folder 3:          .17-.19

Folder 4:          .20-.22

                        [note: a copy of .20 appears in .45; probably .20 is Mildred Kennedy, but possibly it is a sister of Mildred]

 

 

Series 5: Outdoor photographs (in Box 1 or 2, as noted below)

 

            Photos feature domestic architecture of public buildings and dwellings, and scenes of shopping areas in small town turn of the century America.

 

Box 1:

 

.23       Caption on front: "Photo by Mr. T. & Mrs. Thorpe - Minnie Sceal - Mrs. Davis and Central House." 

            On back: "Central House, North Attleboro, Mass. Note - Mrs. T's room front second floor. Note 2 House raised 2 ft. Oct. 16th 1898."

            A large Victorian home, being used as a boarding house run by Mrs. C.W. Davis; three women are in front, one in a hammock.

 

.24       Exterior of bow-fronted house (a twin or duplex), with women and children sitting on the porch.  Three chairs are featured.

 

.25       Large Gothic Revival brick dwelling with ivy covered walls.  Landscape depicted.

 

.26       Women standing in front yard. Neighborhood scene.

 

.27       Architectural shot of a house.

 

Box 2:

 

.28       Exterior of a small house and surroundings; rocking chair in yard near wooden sidewalk.

 

.29       Corner shot of a house with the name of Helen Morss on the door.

 

.30       Man (possibly Charles Thorpe) sitting in front of a house.

 

.31       Exterior of a house with landscape featured; also shown are wooden sidewalk and a fire hydrant.  See also .32.

 

.32       Opposite side of the same house as in .31, with additional buildings in the back of the house depicted.

 

.33       Exterior of a small farmhouse, barn, and additional sheds.

 

.34       Architectural shot of a large house with several porches; a fire hydrant is also seen.

 

.35       Scene of a snow covered street,with store fronts, including a bank, laundry, and building with sign "Mrs. E.A. Woodward."

 

.36       Same street, with a corner shot of Mrs. E.A. Woodwards' building (possibly a boarding house, or the sign may refer to a ground floor shop).

 

.37       Distant shot of building exterior, probably a school as a bell hangs in a cupola.

 

.38       Corner of a three story brick building with young boys sitting in front; possibly a school

 

.39       Corner shot of a three story dwelling (with dormers in attic story), with porch surrounding first floor, possibly a hotel.

 

.40       Three story brick building with a cupola, probably a school; wooden shed next to the building and other buildings beyond it are also seen.

 

.41       Street scene, with sign on a building labeling it Harrington Block.  Horses and buggies are parked in the street.  Many American flags are flying, so possibly the photo was taken around the Fourth of July.

 

.42       Corner of Palmer and an unidentified street, featuring the store fronts of O’Donnell and Gilbride, dry goods, small wares, and carpeting.  A variety of merchandise is displayed.

            This photo is labeled as being from the Thorpe Studio, Lowell, Mass.

            [note: the O’Donnell and Gilbride store in Lowell, Mass., burned in Jan. 1904, and did not reopen, so this photo predates that fire]

 

.43       Small dwelling, with a wheelchair in front.

 

 

Series 6: Interiors (in Box 2 or 3, noted after description of photo)

 

.44       Dining room set up for a party.  Food is on the table.  A marble top side table and dining room set are featured.  A deer head hangs on the wall; a telephone is also depicted. 

            If the monogram on the table cloth can be read as LMP (the last letter is difficult to figure out), then it is possible the dining room is decorated for the wedding reception of Louise Margaret Powers and Roy Victory Thorpe, 1914.  (in Box 3)

 

.45       Child’s coffin surrounded by flowers; the coffin is open and the body of Mildred Ethel Kennedy can be seen.  Calendar for 1902 is on the wall.

            [Mildred Ethel Kennedy of Lowell, Mass., daughter of Mabel A. Piersons and Hiram L. Kennedy, died June 3, 1902.  She was 2 ½ when she died.  The large photo on the wall above the coffin is the same shot as .20 in Box 1.] (in Box 3)

 

.46       Adult coffin surrounded by flowers; this coffin is closed; the name Iola appears on a ribbon attached to some of the flowers (in Box 2)

 

.47       Thorpe's studio and waiting room.  Photo show photographs on the wall and in a glass

            case; a telephone is also on the wall. (in Box 2)

 

.48       Thorpe's studio and waiting room; same room as in .47 above but the decor has been somewhat rearranged. (in Box 3)

 

 

Series 7: Trade Editions of Newspapers (all in Box 3)

 

            These newspapers were frequently published to commemorate a town's anniversary, to feature local business, and to highlight important local worthies; these were produced and published by Charles H. Thorpe, often with the assistance of Roy V. Thorpe.  They provide photographic illustration of shops and store interiors (possibly some were taken by Roy Thorpe).  Confectioners, shoe stores, drug stores, banks, dress stores, clothiers, jewelers, groceries, and dry goods and carpet stores are represented.  In addition, there are histories of the businesses and biographical information on their proprietors.  Some also picture local dwellings and their interiors, streetscapes, and public buildings.  One shows the reception room of Miss Baird's Home School.

 

.49       Amesbury Daily News, Amesbury, Mass., Mar. 26, 1901

.50       The Alma Argus, Alma, Mich., Dec. 17, 1897

.51       Amsterdam Daily Democrat and Evening Recorder, Amsterdam, NY, Sept. 30, 1895.

.52       Bangor Daily Commercial, Bangor, Maine, Nov. 2, 1900

.53       Bath Daily Times, Bath, Maine, July 5, 1900

.54       Biddeford Daily Journal, Biddeford, Maine, Oct. 28, 1899

.55       The Carthage Tribune, Carthage, NY, Feb. 19, 1916

.56       Cheshire Republican, Keene, NH, Aug. 18, 1899

.57       The Chicopee Herald, Chicopee, Mass., Aug. 17, 1897

.58       Clinton Daily Item, Clinton, Mass., Dec. 23, 1897

.59       The Democrat, Hoosick Falls, NY, July 12, 1899

.60       Eaton County Republican, Charlotte, Mich., Mar. 8, 1895

.61       The Evening Chronicle, North Attleboro, Mass., Oct. 15, 1898

.62       The Evening Journal, Pittsfield, Mass., Apr. 27, 1899

.63       The Fostoria Daily Dispatch, Fostoria, Ohio, May 20, 1895

.64       The Franklin Gazette, Malone, NY, June 8, 1906

.65       The Granville Sentinel, Granville, NY, Oct. 16, 1908

.66       Herkimer Citizen, Herkimer, NY, June 16, 1914

.67       The Journal and Courier, Little Falls, New York, Dec. 1, 1914

.68       The Lafayette Journal, Lafayette, Ind., Dec. 21, 1894

.69       The Marlboro Times, Marlboro, Mass., Mar. 24, 1898

.70       The Massena Observer, Massena, NY, Oct. 7, 1915

.71       Milford Daily News, Milford, Mass., Aug. 20, 1898

.72       The Morning Journal, Lafayette, Ind., Nov. 20, 1894

.73       Muskegon Enterprise, Muskegon, Ohio, Feb. 1897

.74       Nashua Daily Press, Nashua, NH, June 1, 1900

.75       Northampton Daily Herald, Northampton, Mass., Nov. 1, 1901

.76       Norwalk Gazette, Norwalk, Conn., Feb. 10, 1899

.77       The Oneonta Press, Oneonta, NY, Mar. 4, 1915

.78       Plattsburgh Daily Republican, Plattsburgh, NY, Aug. 21, 1916

.79       The Reformer, Bennington, Vermont, June 16, 1899

.80       The Southbridge Journal, Southbridge, Mass., May 26, 1898

.81       The Spencer Leader, Spencer, MA, Dec. 11, 1897

.82       Steuben Courier, Bath, NY, June 18, 1915

.83       The Taunton Evening News, Taunton, Mass., Nov. 26, 1898

.84       Times and News-Letter, Westfield, Mass., Oct. 6, 1897

.85       The Vermont Watchman, Montpelier, VT, Aug. 7, 1901

.86       The Webster Times, Webster, Mass., July 1, 1898

.87       Weekly Press, Adrian, Mich., Nov. 2, 1894