Copelin & Melander

Copelin & Melander,
Life Span:~1857-1871
Location:
Architect:

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

Melander Louis M.

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Copelin & Melander (Thomas Copelin and Lewis Melander), photographers, 131 Lake

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1871
Copelin & Melander, photographers, 131 & 133 Lake

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1873
Copelin & Son (Thomas and Alexander J. W.) photographers, 244 W. Washington
Melander Lewis M., photographer, r. 368 Fulton

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1875
Melander L. M. & Bro. (Lewis M. and Silas P. Melander) photographers 88 N. Clark
Melander Lewis M. (Melander L. M. & Bro.) r. 86 N. Clark
Melander Silas P. (Melander L. M. & Bro.) r. 86 N. Clark

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Melander L. M. & Bro. (Lewis M. and Silas P. Melander) photog, 208 Ohio

Chicago Evening Post, November 23, 1871

Stereoscople Views.
Chicago people will recollect with regret that the popular photographic firm of Coplein & Melander, No. 131 Lake street, has been broken up by the fire. Mr. Melander has, however, put himself in partnership with S. M. Henderson, Esq, of Aurora, Ill, and at No. 18 Fox street, in that handsome city. They now perform solar work of a first-class style.The new firm is under the title of Melander & Henderson. In addition to an extraordinary variety of pictures and photo-graphs, the firm are doing a large business in the way of selling stereoscopic views of our ruins, taken from negatives by talented artists. The views embrace the relics of all the public buildings, principal blocks, banks and churches in the burnt district, and will be the most complete reflection of our unprecedented and ever memorable disaster. Messrs. Melander & Henderson will establish a new gallery in Chicago early next spring, and hope to enjoy the popularity so deservingly won by the old Lake street establishment.

Chicago Tribune, December 11, 1872

L. M. Melander is at Hall’s, 217 West Madison street, and is making finer photographs and porcelain pictures than ever. He will be most happy to serve his old friends and customers at the above place.

Inter Ocean, May 30, 1874

Visit Melander’s, 88 North Clark street, if you would see a well-appointed photograph establishment, as well as some beautiful specimens of photography.

Inter Ocean, September 19, 1879

The same architect (C. O. Hansen) has in a hand a photograph gallery for Melander Brothers, which will, when completed, be a model of its kind. It will be commenced to-day at No. 208 Obio atreet. The size is 109 feet in length by 25 in breadth. and will be equal to three stories, while the front is about equal to two and a half stories. While arrangements for the various departments are all spacious and admirable; the front elevation is well worth description. It is to be of iron and glass. The first story has an open front. with iron pilasters. The corner or column-plasters, for the two are combined, give a stately appearance. From the capitals of these columns a neatly ornamented cornice, which projects slightly, appropriately completes the first story. In the center of this cornice is a bust of Daguerre in basso-relievo.

From this cornice the other story rears & highly decorated structure. The open work of glass is flanked on both ends by turrets covering niched recesses containing statues of Thorwaldsen and Canova. Above the keystones of those arched niches are, on each side, bas relief scenes from mythology. The turrets are then continued above the main roof a few feet, and are decorated with floriated iron work. The style is the modern gothic and renaissance combined. The iron work will be painted to represent stone. When completed this building will be a gem of architectural design. The cost will be about $6,000.

Chicago Tribune, April 25, 1880

A beautiful façade, evincing artistic taste, attracts attention to the elegant atelier just completed by Melander, at 208 Ohio street, where he has removed his extensive photo graph business from 88 North Clark street.

Cartes de Visite

Chicago Tribune, May 7, 1882

Mr. L. M. Melander and wife and Miss T. Anderson sailed yesterday for Europe to spend about six months.

Chicago Eagle, April 1, 1916

S. P. Melander, the famous Chicago photographer, who is one of the pioneer photographers of Chicago, has been established in that business in this city for the past fifty-seven years. He has really been connected with the art of photography in this city for a much longer time. He commenced as a boy at the age of 14 when he went to work as an apprentice for John Carbutt at 131 Lake street. In 1868 he went into business for himself and up to this day takes an active part in all the work done in his fine studio which is located at 57 West Ohio street.

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