Finding Aid to the Roy Victory Thorpe Collection, ca. 1887-ca.1920

Col. 112

© Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library  
Winterthur, DE 19735  
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Table of contents

Background note:
Roy Victory Thorpe was a photographer and newspaper publisher in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He often worked with his father, Charles H. Thorpe, in printing and publishing illustrated trade editions of newspapers. He began his photography career as an apprentice to Gokay photographers in Burlington, Vermont, for two years. Afterwards, he took photographs for his father's publishing venture and later opened his own studio in Lowell, Massachusetts, in about 1902. The businesses operated by Thorpe and his father often moved, and they had residences in Menands, Glens Falls, and Plattsburg, New York; Laconia, Lancaster, and Littelton, New Hampshire; and Detroit, Michigan.

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 a coffin surrounded with flowers reflecting mourning customs in Lowell, Massachusetts; and one depicts a dining room set up for a party.

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

Administrative information
Restrictions
None

Copyright restrictions may apply

Provenance
Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum.

Additional descriptive information
Note
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Repository code: DeWint File name: coll 12.xml Abstract: Roy V. Thorpe was a photographer and newspaper publisher in New England. The collection includes some of his photographs and special editions of newspapers. Extent: 0.6 linear foot Date range: Ca.1887-ca.1920 Related materials: Language: English Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera Winterthur, DE 19732 (302) 888-4853 Roy Victory Thorpe Collection Col. 112 Creator: Roy Victory Thorpe Title: Collection Dates: ca.1887-ca.1920 Call No.: Col. 112 Acc. No.: 91×121 Quantity: 2 boxes Location: 18 D 2

Added entries
Subjects
  • Architectural photography.
  • Buildings - Photographs.
  • Children - Costume.
  • Cities and towns - History - Sources.
  • Close-up photography.
  • Commercial buildings - Photographs.
  • Dining room furniture - Photographs.
  • Dwellings - Photographs.
  • House furnishings - Photographs.
  • Indoor photography.
  • Interior decoration - Photographs.
  • Mourning customs - Massachusetts - Lowell.
  • Newspapers - Extra editions.
  • Portraits - Photographs.
  • Store decoration.
  • Store fixtures.
  • Storefronts - Photographs.
  • Stores, Retail.
  • Streets - Photographs.
  • Thorpe, Charles H. - Photographs.
  • Thorpe, Hattie B. - Photographs.
  • Victory, C. H. - Photographs.
  • Wicker furniture - Photographs.

    Genre terms
  • Black-and-white photographs.
  • Newspapers.
  • Photoprints.

    Functions and occupations
  • Architectural photographers.
  • Photographers.
  • Publishers.
  • Still photographers.

    Contact information

    Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library
    [http://www.winterthur.org]
    Winterthur, DE 19735

     

    Collection inventory
    Series 1: Thorpe family photographs

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

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

    .6.  Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Victory, Died Jan. 7, 1888. Taken while at Gokay.


    Series 2: Photos taken as an apprentice at Gokay

    .3.  Bust of Hattie B. Thorpe in Victorian dress.
    Box 1

    .4.  Informal interior shot of an older woman and a boy (probably the nephew Roy V. Thorpe), showing fireplace and mantel clock. Taken when Thorpe was an apprentice at Gokay.

    .5.  Same interior from a different angle, with a man and a woman. Taken while at Gokay.


    Series 3: Tintypes

    .7.  Young girl standing beside a stool with a padded cover and tassels hanging.
    Box 1


    Series 4: Studio photographs of people

    		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.


    .8-.12.  
    Box 1: Folder 1

    .13-.16.  
    Folder 2

    .17-.19.  
    Folder 3

    .20-.22.  
    Folder 4


    Series 5: Outdoor photographs

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


    .23.  Caption: “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.”
    Box 1

    .24.  Exterior of contemporary house with women and children sitting on the porch. Three chairs are featured.

    .25.  Large dwelling with ivy covered walls. Landscape depicted.

    .26.  Women standing in front yard. Neighborhood scene.

    .27.  Architectural shot of a contemporary house.

    .28.  Exterior of a small house and surroundings.
    Box 2

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

    .30.  Man sitting in front of a house.

    .31.  Exterior of a house with landscape featured.

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

    .33.  Exterior of a small house and barn.

    .34.  Architectural shot of a large house with several porches.

    .35.  Scene of a snow covered street and 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 (probably a boarding house).

    .37.  Distant shot of building exterior, possibly a school.

    .38.  Corner of a three story building with young boys sitting in front

    .39.  Corner shot of a three story dwelling with porch surrounding first floor.

    .40.  Three story building with a for sale sign.

    .41.  Street scene, with sign on a building labeling it Harrington Block. Horses and buggies are parked in the street.

    .42.  Corner of Palmer and unidentified street featuring the store front of O'Donnell and Gilbert. A variety of merchandise is displayed.

    .43.  Small dwelling, with a wicker stroller in front.


    Series 6: Interiors

    .44.  Dining room set up for a party. Food is on the table. A marble top table and dining room set are featured.
    Box 3

    .45.  Coffin surround by flowers, reflects mourning customs in Lowell, MA. Calendar shows the month Jan. 1902.
    Jan. 1902.
    Box 3

    .46.  Same coffin surround by flowers
    Box 2

    .47.  Thorpe's studio and waiting room. Photo shows photographs on the wall and in a glass case.
    Box 2

    .48.  Thorpe's studio and waiting room.
    Box 3


    Series 7: Trade Editions of Newspapers

    		These newspapers were frequently published to commemorate a town's anniversary, to feature local business, and to highlight important local worthies. They provide photographic illustration of shops and store interiors. Confectioners, shoe stores, drug stores, banks, dress stores, clothiers, jewelers, groceries, dry goods, and carpet stores are represented. In addition, there are histories of the businesses and biographical information about 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, Massachusetts, March 26, 1901
    March 26, 1901

    .50.  The Alma Argus, Alma, Michigan, December 17, 1897
    December 17, 1897

    .51.  Amsterdam Daily Democrat and Evening Recorder, Amsterdam, New York, September 30, 1895.
    September 30, 1895.

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

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

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

    .55.  The Carthage Tribune, Carthage, New York, February 19, 1916
    February 19, 1916

    .56.  Cheshire Republican, Keene, New Hampshire, August 18, 1899
    August 18, 1899

    .57.  The Chicopee Herald, Chicopee, Massachusetts, August 17, 1897
    August 17, 1897

    .58.  Clinton Daily Item, Clinton, Massachusetts, December 23, 1897
    December 23, 1897

    .59.  The Democrat, Hoosick Falls, New York, July 12, 1899
    July 12, 1899

    .60.  Eaton County Republican, Charlotte, Michigan, March 8, 1895
    March 8, 1895

    .61.  The Evening Chronicle, North Attleboro, Massachusetts, October 15, 1898
    October 15, 1898

    .62.  The Evening Journal, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, April 27, 1899
    April 27, 1899

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

    .64.  The Franklin Gazette, Malone, New York, June 8, 1906
    June 8, 1906

    .65.  The Granville Sentinel, Granville, New York, October 16, 1908
    October 16, 1908

    .66.  Herkimer Citizen, Herkimer, New York, June 16, 1914
    June 16, 1914

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

    .68.  The Lafayette Journal, Lafayette, Indiana, December 21, 1894
    December 21, 1894

    .69.  The Marlboro Times, Marlboro, Massachusetts, March 24, 1898
    March 24, 1898

    .70.  The Massena Observer, Massena, New York, October 7, 1915
    October 7, 1915

    .71.  Milford Daily News, Milford, Massachusetts, August 20, 1898
    August 20, 1898

    .72.  The Morning Journal, Lafayette, Indiana, November 20, 1894
    November 20, 1894

    .73.  Muskegon Enterprise, Muskegon, Ohio, February 1897
    February 1897

    .74.  Nashua Daily Press, Nashua, New Hampshire, June 1, 1900
    June 1, 1900

    .75.  Northampton Daily Herald, Northampton, Massachusetts, November 1, 1901
    November 1, 1901

    .76.  Norwalk Gazette, Norwalk, Connecticut, February 10, 1899
    February 10, 1899

    .77.  The Oneonta Press, Oneonta, New York, March 4, 1915
    March 4, 1915

    .78.  Plattsburgh Daily Republican, Plattsburgh, New York, August 21, 1916
    August 21, 1916

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

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

    .81.  The Spencer Leader, Spencer, Massachusetts, December 11, 1897
    December 11, 1897

    .82.  Steuben Courier, Bath, New York, June 18, 1915
    June 18, 1915

    .83.  The Taunton Evening News, Taunton, Massachusetts, November 26, 1898
    November 26, 1898

    .84.  Times and News-Letter, Westfield, Massachusetts, October 6, 1897
    October 6, 1897

    .85.  The Vermont Watchman, Montpelier, Vermont, August 7, 1901
    August 7, 1901

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

    .87.  Weekly Press, Adrian, Michigan, November 2, 1894
    November 2, 1894