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Mr. Brand’s Temple of Art
Life Span: 1869-1871
Location: 28 Washington Street (Pre-1909 Address)
West of Wabash on Washington Street, next to Carbutt’s Studio and Mosher’s Gallery
Architect: TBD
From the Chicago Medical Times, Vol. 1, 1869
Mr. E. L. Brand’s New Temple of Art, 28 Washington Street, is all that is beautiful, chaste, and grand, and ranks as the finest in the West if not the Americas. Brand was known for his “anatomical photography of the human body and its elements”, including photography of “carefully dissected cadaver specimens for the purpose of anatomical research at Bennett College.”
Mr. Edwin Brand’s New Gallery of Art
28 Washington
About 1869
Chicago Tribune, January 28, 1894
Col. E. L. Brand has sold his studio on Wabash avenue to Charles F. Hartley and will retire from the business. The deal was closed yesterday and Mr. Hartley takes possesion at once. Thirty-six years ago Mr. Brand came to Chicago and began taking pictures. He was then located over Potter Paimer’s dry goods store, No. 208 Lake street. As an evidence of the success he made, his secures 400,000 fine negatives, so labeled and boxed that the original photograph of a man, woman, or child taken thirty years ago can be produced in five minutes. The exact purchase price is not known, except to the buyer, seller, and Edvard H. Peters, who negotiated the trade, but it is said to be $150,000. Mr. Brand said the price was twice as much as the largest sum ever before paid for an establishment of the kind. Among the negatives is one of Abraham Lincoln, taken when he was a candidate for the United States Senate; several of Stephen A. Douglas; the finest collection of negatives of Gen. Grant in the world: one of James A. Garfield, taken within an hour after he was nominated for the Presidency; of Gen. Sheridan. Chester A. Arthur, Edwin Booth, Christine Nilsson, Adelina Patti, Parepa Rosa, Gen. George Crook, and many other distinguished people, as well as of most of the prominent families of Chicago. Besides the pictures he gets sixty cameras of every style and make from the old-fashioned up-side-down popgun to the latest instantaneous dash light invention. Havitng amassed a fortune in the shape of real estate and houses Mr. Brand will hereafter give his attention to the collection of rents and matters in connection therewith. He is at the head of the Chicago and belongs to several other organizations.
Chicago Tribune, December 26, 1900
After expressing regret at his inability to go downtown to purchase Christmas presents for his family, Edwin L. Brand, one of the oldest photographers in Chicago, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at his residence, 1918 Michigan avenue. For ten days Mr. Brand had been confined to his bed with an attack of the grip, but had been improving during the last few days. The Immediate cause of his death Was an attack of apoplexy.
In the morning he seemed stronger and more hopeful than for some time. After dinner his family gathered in the room and all engaged in the distribution of Christmas gifts.
Talks of Buying Gifts Later.
The various members of the family brought their gifts to Mr. Brand, and he thanked each one in turn. Finally he raised himself from his pillow and said:
I am so sorry that I am sick, for I was not able to go downtown and select presents for you all. But in a few days 1 will be able to go shopping and I want you all to remember that my Christmas gifts to you are coming later.
“The best Christmas gift we could receive Is for us to know that you are getting well,” replied Mrs. Brand, and his son and daughter echoed the sentiment. A few moments were then spent in rejoicing over the improved condition of the sick man, when Mrs. Brand was called downstairs and her son stepped from the room, leaving his sister alone with her father.
Just at 3 o clock a noise was heard in the room and the daughter, rushing out, cried:
“Papa is dying!” Mrs. Brand and her son and daughter hastened into the room, while a servant ran for a physician. Mr. Brand was able to recognize the members of the family, but could not speak. Before the arrival of a physician he died.
Continues Work Too Long.
For over a month Mr. Brand had been suffering from a severe cold, put refused to remain indoors. He continued hard at work until ten days ago, when he was seized with a fever and compelled to take to his bed. His illness was pronounced to be grip. He had improved during the last few days and on Sunday morning his physician told him he would be able to go to his place of business during the week.
During his illness he spent much time in studying a new plan for picture reproduction which he recently had devised.
Born in New York State.
Mr. Brand was born In Edmnestan, N. Y., in 1835. His youth was devoted to the study of photography. He worked at Leonardsville, N. Y.; Cleveland, O.; and Kingston, Canada. In 1855 he came to Chicago and went into business at 109 Lake street. Later he changed his studio to 34 Washington street, where be remained until the big fire. He was living then at 1223 Wabash avenue and he fitted up a studio in his residence. Five years later he moved his studio to 210-212 Wabash avenue. Six weeks ago his last change was made to 78-75 Jackson boulevard.
Mr. Brand was a member of the order of Oddfellows and of the Knights of Pythias. During the civil war he was Captain of a company of Chicago , which was recruited by Colonel Ellsworth. Mr. Brand did not see active service: He was a member of St. Paul’s Universalist Church. the Calimaet, Chicago Athletic, Hamilton. and Washington Park clubs. He left a widow and two children, Edwin L. Brand Jr. and E. Belle Brand.