Charles D. Mosher

Charles D. Mosher’s Art Gallery
Life Span: 1870-1871
Location: 30 Washington Street, West of Wabash on Washington Street, next to Mr. Brand’s Temple of Art at 28 Washington Street, and John Carbutt’s Studio at 34 Washington Street.
Architect: NA

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1866

Mosher Charlie

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Mosher C. D. photographer, 30 Washington

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1873
Mosher C. D. photographer, 951 Wabash

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1875
Mosher C. D. photographer, 951 Wabash av.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Mosher Charles D. photog. 29, 125 State, home 3726 Wabash av.

Chicago Tribune, December 20, 1868

Photographs for Christmas.
There is an awful rush to Charlie Mosher’s, at 146 Lake-st., for Photographs. N.B. Come early if you expect to get a sitting the same day and avoid the crowd.

Chicago Tribune, October 23, 1870

Mosher’s Art Gallery
Mr. Mosher’s Art Gallery at No. 30 Washington street, is now open for business, and all his friends are invited to call and see one of the most perfectly arranged galleries in the city. It is elegantly furnished, and the cameras were manufactured in Europe especially for Mosher. First-class artists are employed at this gallery, and consequently first-class work is always done.

Chicago Tribune, February 20, 1875

Foreign Reputation of a Chicago Artist.—C.D. Mosher
Among the largest, finest, and most famous galleries is that of Mr. C.D. Mosher, 951 Wabash avenue, being the only building in the city of like magnitude devoted wholly to the accommodation of the several departments of the art,—a handsome three-story brick, the first floor, which is richly furnished, constituting the grand reception-room; the second, the operating room; the third, the artist’s studio and finishing rooms. Mr. Mosher’s career as an artistic photographer, covering a period of over a quarter of a century, twelve years of which has been with the people of Chicago, has been one of unsurpassed prosperity, and within the past five years has given a local and foreign distinction to his name. His beautiful sun-pictures are among the household treasures of the first families of our city, and there are thousands who believe their family groups of photos would be incomplete unless taken by this great modern artistic photographer, whose well-earned and self-made reputation has extended not only throughout America but to England and Europe. The soft lighting and shadow effects effects of the old masters of Europe, and draw expressions of praise from their great art-journals, and from thousands of private letters. No more vivid conception can be obtained of the infinite growth and improvement of this most useful, most practical, and most interesting of the arts during the past twenty-five years than from a study of the magnificent gallery of the portraits of famous persons that adorns the pleasant and hospitable reception-room at Mosher’s.

Chicago Tribune, September 9, 1875

MOSHER, ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHER
We have noticed an editorial article written by Mr. Simpson of London, in the leading photographic journal of Europe. In this article is given a long and detailed description, from an artistic standpoint, of Mr. C. D. Mosher’s photographs:

Mosher’s photographs were not equalled in interest or or excellence. The careful rendering of light and shade, and half tone so perfect,—reminding us of Ruskin’s dictum to the effect that not even the space of a pin’s head in any natural object is without some degree of graduation,—has the appearance of living flesh, which would present a warm touch, and yield with a soft elasticity if the finger were pressed against it.

We notice that another editorial writer, this time in the great American Photographic Journal, Mr. E. J. Wilson, of Philadelphia, says:

Mosher’s photography is exquisitely beautiful, and fully up to the high standard of his art today.

Mr. Mosher has just returned from the East, where he had been in the habit of going during the past ten years, in the dull summer season, to study every improvement and novelty in his art. These improvements and novelties he is always the first to introduce to the Chicago public. Our representative, calling a Mr. Mosher’s place, No. 951 Wabash avenue, was particularly impressed with that artist’s Photographic-Historical-Autograph Album. This is a new and beautiful ides, certain to effect a revolution in the interest and sale of albums. We understand that Mr. Mosher is having a large number of these albums manufactured by the old-established house of Altemus & Co., Philadelphia, and that he will have these put in market by canvassers and agents on or before Jan. 1. They will be for sale only by Mr. Mosher, or his accredited agents.

Inter Ocean, December 6, 1879

Next to the pleasure of the actual presence, in having the portrait of a friend, the counterfeit presentment, where it looks out upon the life an its original might have done. The faces of the earth’s great ones come down with the dust of centuries on them, to freshened and retouched by each succeeding generation. The interest in them is universal, and the searcher among the act treasures of the Louvre, or in the private galleries at Genera, or the cathedral and museum at Antwerp, or the National Gallery in London, or among the grim, stiff figures in Holyrood, or looking at the revolutionary heroes hung around the walls of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, finds the interest the same. The study of faces of the men and women of the past opens up a most attractive field. It does not need the enthusiasm of an antiquary to prosecute the search. Now and then an enterprising solon of an old family constructs a genealogical tree, but these represent but the names of the stock; the likeness is wanting. It will no doubt be of great interest and value to those who are present at the second centennial of America to have the pictures of the men and women who lived at the time the first centennial was celebrated. One of Chicago’s enterprising citizens has conceived a plan for preserving these memorials, so that the generations to come may know of what sort their great-great parents were, and what manner of persons the prominent ones of this age were. The citizen referred to as moving in the direction indicated in Mr. C. D. Mosher, the photographer. He has already in his studio the photographs and brief biographical sketches of 798 leading citizens of the city of Chicago, of Cook County, of the State of Illinois, and of the United States, and some of the leaders of Europe of the present day. These likenesses are of the city. county, State, and national officials, leading gentlemen in the medical, legal, and ministerial professions, the journalists, merchants, manufacturers, and those who are prominent in Chicago circles. These pictures are cabinet size, and represent well those who are to be read of hereafter. All have left their autographs with their portraits. These interesting records are to be prepared and deeded by Mr. Mosber to the city, and will be carefully deposited in a safe in the new City Hall, and are to be
taken out and inspected twenty-five years after they are stored. Then, at the second Centennial, 1976, they will be opened and again examined by the generation then living. But an interview with Mr. Mosher will explain his plans at length, and to secure these a representative of this journal waited upon that gentleman yesterday at his studio, No. 125 State street.

“Will you inform the public, Mr. Mosher. through The Inter Ocean, what your plans are in the memorial which you propose to deed to the city of Chicago?”

“I made photographs of many of our prominent editors, clergymen, attorneys, physicians and old settlers; then I had brief biographical ketches written of each one, and preserved them in historical albums, with their autographs. They were classified by professions. These were placed upon exhibition at the Centennial in 1876, and were awarded the highest testimonial as works of art, and as a new and acceptable method of keeping such valuable materials where our successors could refer to and use them. My idea was to store them in a memorial safe, where they could not be destroyed by fire, or defaced by use These plans were heartily approved by some of our leading citizens whom I consulted, and they promised to aid me in this enterprise. I felt a pride in Chicago’s greatness, and desired to complete this historical collection by adding to it photographs of leading men in all branches of trade, and giving short outlines of their lives and the business done by them. The city officials whom I consulted told me that these memorials could be kept with the city records in the new City Hall. You will see how Chicago can by this plan be well represented in 1976. About 800 have already responded to my invitation.”

“This covers your plans as regards the city and State. What have you done or proposed about prominent citizens outside the State?”

“My intention is to secure the photographs of as many leading men who live and have lived in the United states as possible; also the portraits of Europe’s distinguished men. To aid me in this, I would like the assistance of Chicago’s influential citizens, for I believe it will be an honor to our city to have these likenesses to hand down to posterity.”

Will these photographs that are taken last until the second centennial? Have you provided for that?”

I have no evidence that they WILL LAST A HUNDRED YEARS; but should there be any new process discovered by which to make a more permanent photograph than that now made of nitrate of silver, and not too expensive, before the time comes to place the likenesses in the safe I shall print them by that new, process. The written biographies will stand, as will the photographs, as I shall have them encased in thick layers of powdered charcoal, which will absorb all dampness and injurious gases. In this way I think the likenesses may be kept as perfect as when placed in the safe. The atmosphere is so impure that white paper will in time turn yellow without this precaution of filtering the air through the most perfect filter of liquids known to chemistry.”

“How about these biographies you speak of?”

“They are to be brief, comprehensive, and will be from one hundred to three hundred words each; they will be written on one side of a sheet of old government parchment paper, in a plain, legible hand, with indelible ink, so as to be permanently preserved for the historians of the future.”

*What other memorials, if any, do you intend to place in the safe for coming generations to see and study?”

“My purpose in to invite some leading newspaper or appoint it officially in every large city in the United States to print one issue especially devoted to statistics of its own city just before the memorial safe la closed. These interesting facts will be laid away, and will doubtless be very valuable at the second Centennial. Then I shall ask each State of the Union to contribute full and complete statistics of its business, productions, etc., with other facts that might be of interest. I will invite several of the prominent ministers in America and a few in Europe to, contribute one memorial sermon, to be delivered before, bis church on an appointed day, and a copy thereof subscribed to by the pastor, accompanied with a brief history of the church; and at the end of the second Century request, that a copy of the sermon returned to the church it came from, or at the place where it was delivered, to be redelivered by the pastor of the church of that day, giving his congregation an idea of the preaching of the present day. This, I believe, would be interesting and instructive, and the church historian of the future would find it valuable. I have another plan, which is to offer prizes for the best productions in literature, music, and art, dedicated to the memorial to be kept in the offering as souvenirs from the contributors. These and the sermons will be memorial reading-room, behind glass reading-cases, and read without handling or wear. should desire copies in my deed made from all papers of interest and returned to the cities and States they came from to be republished, an it would aid materially in reviving the old landmarks and give the public much useful information.”

“What will be done with this history in 1976?”

“In the deed I shall request that a committee be appointed from the city of Chicago to confer with the Second Centennial Commission to have this collection of pictures and biographies placed in a Memorial Hall, with a news-room for the newspapers, sermons statistics, and memorials. The pictures and life-sketches will be placed side by side in showcases, so that the public and the descendants of the photographed persons may see their ancestors and know what sort of men and women they were. After this exhibition they will be replaced in the memorial safe, until the third Centennial in 2076, then to be exhibited as before.”

“Are there any other conditions to be made in this deed you speak of?”

“There are one or two. I shall appoint one day in every quarter of a century from July 4, 1876, to hold a quarterly memorial reunion to hear appropriate addresses and music, with stories of the history of old Chicago, in memory of the citizens whose likenesses appear in the memorial. When the second centennial comes there will be a grand memorial service, to which all nations will be invited, and particularly those who have contributed to the memoriais. There has been a desire expressed that the wives of these leading citizens whose photographs are to be handed down to posterity also have their pictures taken to accompany their husbands. This I think I will do. In the meantime I hope to secure the co-operation of the prominent men and newspapers here and elsewhere to aid me in what I believe to be s grand enterprise, and one our successors will sincerely thank us for inaugurating.”

Chicago Examiner August 12, 1908

Photographs of several hundred pioneer Chicago business and professional men, together with a number of women who also were prominent in the city in the early days, were removed yesterday from the Mosher memorial vault in the old City Hall to a temporary vault in the present municipal building. They will be transferred to larger quarters when the new City Hall is completed, and all that will remain of the old vault will be the door, on which is the inscription telling of its mission.

The contents of the vault are to be displayed to public gaze in 1976, the occasion of the second centennial of the country’s independence. It was presented to Chicago on the occasion of the first centennial thirty-two years ago.

C. D. Mosher, who was a prominent photographer of Chicago in the early days, presented the vault and the collection of photographs. Most of them were in sealed packages. Those that were not sealed were in albums and contained short biographies of the originals. In all there were nearly 2,000 pictures.

Commissioner of Public Works. John J. Hanberg and his deputy, Paul Redieske, directed the removal of the pictures. A crowd of curiosity seekers watched the trausfer of the souvenirs after E. William Prestien, a safe expert, had removed the combination. The albums were passed around for inspection.

Mrs. Louis S. Mosher, a cousin of the donor of the collection, was present in the hope that she would be able to see a photograph of her mother. She was disappointed in her quest. It was surmounted by two clasped hands dated 1876 and 1976. Mosher’s 1870’s memorial portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Gurdon S. Hubbard are depicted.

Chicago Tribune, August 12, 1908

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Five albums, full of the faces of men whose names for the most part are now known across the continent, were opened for a moment and then closed up again, to remain secure from light and air until 1976.

Chicago Tribune, July 4, 1926

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In response to demands to view the Mosher memorial photographs of prominent Chicagoans from 1876 to 1883, which by direction of the donor’s will, are to be exhibited every twenty-five years, the collection will be on display at the Chicago Historical society for the entire summer beginning July 6, it was announced yesterday by officials of the society.

Mr. Mosher left the collection, which consists of about 10,000 photographs, with directions that it be exhibited every quarter of a century until 1976 and then displayed permanently. The society had overlooked this provision until besieged by the old time Chicagoans who came to the building to view the pictures in connection with the sesquicentennial celebration.

Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, June 12, 1976

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More than 100 years ago Chicago’s most famous portrait photographer, Charles D. Mosher, began planning an exhibit for the Bicentennial. It opens today at the Chicago Historical Society.

From 1875 to 1890 Mosher photographed thousands of prominent men and women with the iudea that the “cabinet size” photographs would be exhibited during the Bicentennial “so the public and the descendants of the photographed persons may see their ancestors and know what sort of men and women they were.” These portraits, some bound in elaborate leather volumes, were his Memorial Offering to Chicago.

Mosher nominated himself National Historical Photographer to Posterity and set about making a “complete historical record.” His last work was shown by the society in 1926. The new, larger exhibit includes five of his albums he exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial exposition, advertising handbills and the kind of camera he used. Among the letters and other documents on view are some relating his favorite causes—women’s rights and temperance.

The exhibit is open until Aug. 31. Admission to the historical society, Clark Street and North Avenue, is $1 for adults, 50 cents children aged 6-17 and 25 cents for senior citizens. The society is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Chicago Tribune, June 8, 1897

Charles D. Mosher, one of the oldest photographers in Chicago, was prostrated yesterday afternoon in Ernest W. Kohlsaat’s Washington street restaurant, and expired immediately. He was 68 years old, and had been established here in the photographic business from 1863 up to four years ago, when he sold out to engage in other lines.

Mr. Mosher had entered the restaurant in the company of M. J. Garcelon, a business acquaintance, and and just taken his seat at a table. Without any previous indication of illness, he suddenly fell to the floor in convulsions.

Mr. Garcelon and several bystanders hastened to assist Mr. Mosher, but it was soon evident that he was beyond human help. He expired without regaining consciousness.

The body was taken to Rolston’s, 22 Adams street. It is thought death was caused by apoplexy. An inquest will be held today.

Mr. Mosher’s residence has been for some time past at 6455 Ingleside avenue. Mrs. Mosher and two sons by a previous marriage survive. The sons are C.W., and E.W. Mosher. C. W. Mosher was the President of the Capital National Bank of Lincoln, Neb., which met disaster in 1891. Both sons at present reside in Chicago.

Mr. Mosher was born in Providence, Saratoga County, N.Y., on Feb. 10, 1829, his parents being English Quakers. He served an apprenticeship with a cabinetmaker, but when 20 years old he became interested in photography, the art being comparatively in its infancy.

In 1849 young Mosher went to Albany, N.Y., to enter the studio of an old acquaintance, who was then at work upon a number of pictures which were to be taken to the world’s fair in London in 1851. Here he gained his first experience in his chosen profession.

For a number of years thereafter Mr. Mosher travelled extensively through western New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois with a small protographing outfit, taking pictures of pioneers wherever he could find a place to set up his shop for a few days.

In 1863 he settled permanently in Chicago, opening an establishment at 163 Lake street.

Days of Pioneer Photographers.
Those were the days of such pioneer photographers as Hasler, Fassett, Carbutt, and Rocher, who had their share in bringing the art of photography to its present state of excellence. Mr. Mosher did his part, and by means of an improved device for transmitting light contributed materially to the solution if one iof the most perplexing problems photographers had to meet.

In January, 1855, Mr. Mosher was married to Miss Sarah J. Marsh. His widow, whom he married in 1877, was Miss Clara L. Smith.

Mr. Mosher was for over fifty-one years a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows. He was also a member of Plymouth Congressional Church.

Mr. Mosher’s most notable work was in taking and collecting the pictures of national celebrities and the pioneer settlers of Chicago and its vicinity. Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, and their contemporaries had posed before his camera, and his collection of the pictures of old settlers was regarded the most complete in existence.

Mr. Mosher’s Chicago Studio Locations:

1864-65—142 Lake Street
1865-66—146 Lake Street
1866-67—140 Lake Street
1867-69—146 Lake Street
1870—30 Washington Street
1872-77—951 Wabash
1877-90—125 State Street

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