Miss Alice Robertson, Photographer
Many are aware that Alice Mary Robertson, a missionary's daughter, served as Oklahoma's first Congresswoman in Washington. During most of her life, people affectionately called her "Miss Alice."
However, did you know she owned a photography studio for many years? She became a "photographer" after seeing the benefits of using photographs to illustrate her points during speeches. While at the Lake Mohonk Conference in October 1892, she sought improvement in Native American lives at the annual of "Friends of the Indian" meeting. She asked that funds be raised nationally for the education of Indian daughters. Among the girls she mentioned as an example of a need was the orphan of Captain Samuel Sixkiller. To make her point she displayed a number of photographs of Indian girls.
After returning to Muskogee from the New York conference in the spring of 1893, she found that Jacob F. Standiford, the subject of last week's blog, wanted to sell his photographic studio. Being mechanically inclined as well as a good photographer, he had become an agent for gasoline-powered electric generating plants.
His house in Muskogee that accommodated his photography studio had been for sale for months when Alice Robertson returned from back east. Standiford thus readily accepted Miss Alice's offer. After taking possession, she spent time and effort modernizing the old portrait rooms. She also hired a man named Tolbot to assist her, no doubt a former assistant of Standiford's. An advertisement described him as "one of the very best artists in the west."
His employment, however, raises questions of exactly what Miss Alice's role was. Chester Cowan, Still Photo Archivist for the Oklahoma Historical Society, says that she worked in other areas of the business, but not behind the camera.
A year later, Miss Alice undertakes another major renovation. The resulting cost forced her to take her employee as a partner. Thereafter, the business became known as "Robertson & Co." Miss Alice again returned to Lake Mohonk conferences in 1899 and 1900. Each time she took more photos to illustrate Native American life. She persisted in bringing their problems and progress to the public's attention.
Photographs attributed to the firm include an undated photograph with the notation, "Miss Robertson's scholars at the Muskogee School at Mus-ko-gee Indian Territory." The local newspaper mentioned that the firm had a negative of the Buck Gang shortly after the outlaws were hung in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Arthur Palmer was another of Miss Alice's partners. Palmer continued to use card stock for cabinet photographs that was impressed with the Robertson name. In order to improve her financial circumstances, Miss Robertson became the supervisor of the Creek Indian schools in 1900.
Her photography enterprise was almost over. The business struggled for another few years before finally going out of business. Standiford's start ended under Miss Alice's management.
However, did you know she owned a photography studio for many years? She became a "photographer" after seeing the benefits of using photographs to illustrate her points during speeches. While at the Lake Mohonk Conference in October 1892, she sought improvement in Native American lives at the annual of "Friends of the Indian" meeting. She asked that funds be raised nationally for the education of Indian daughters. Among the girls she mentioned as an example of a need was the orphan of Captain Samuel Sixkiller. To make her point she displayed a number of photographs of Indian girls.
After returning to Muskogee from the New York conference in the spring of 1893, she found that Jacob F. Standiford, the subject of last week's blog, wanted to sell his photographic studio. Being mechanically inclined as well as a good photographer, he had become an agent for gasoline-powered electric generating plants.
His house in Muskogee that accommodated his photography studio had been for sale for months when Alice Robertson returned from back east. Standiford thus readily accepted Miss Alice's offer. After taking possession, she spent time and effort modernizing the old portrait rooms. She also hired a man named Tolbot to assist her, no doubt a former assistant of Standiford's. An advertisement described him as "one of the very best artists in the west."
His employment, however, raises questions of exactly what Miss Alice's role was. Chester Cowan, Still Photo Archivist for the Oklahoma Historical Society, says that she worked in other areas of the business, but not behind the camera.
A year later, Miss Alice undertakes another major renovation. The resulting cost forced her to take her employee as a partner. Thereafter, the business became known as "Robertson & Co." Miss Alice again returned to Lake Mohonk conferences in 1899 and 1900. Each time she took more photos to illustrate Native American life. She persisted in bringing their problems and progress to the public's attention.
Photographs attributed to the firm include an undated photograph with the notation, "Miss Robertson's scholars at the Muskogee School at Mus-ko-gee Indian Territory." The local newspaper mentioned that the firm had a negative of the Buck Gang shortly after the outlaws were hung in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Arthur Palmer was another of Miss Alice's partners. Palmer continued to use card stock for cabinet photographs that was impressed with the Robertson name. In order to improve her financial circumstances, Miss Robertson became the supervisor of the Creek Indian schools in 1900.
Her photography enterprise was almost over. The business struggled for another few years before finally going out of business. Standiford's start ended under Miss Alice's management.
Labels: Arthur Palmer, Buck Gang, Capt. Samuel Sixkiller, Chester Cowan, Jacob F. Standiford, Lake Mohonk Conference, Miss Alice Robertson, Mr. Tolbot
posted by Wally Waits at
6:25 PM
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