The Republican journal., 1915-07-15
THE coLcokD PORTRAIT STUDIO.

The remarkable rise of the "Colcord Portrait
Studio" to its new and greatly enlarged quar-
tiers at II Whitman Street. Dorchester. Mass,
is an even better study of persistent endsavor
than Carleton's zone Way Out. In a unique
form. it is the old story of the triumph of hu-
man will over every obstacle.
Mr.. Colcord is man of long experience in the
field Of photography Starting out in youth
from his hometown in Maine to follow the
sea. as all energetic young men did in his day,
his failing health early obliged him to seek a
less strenuous employment. He turned in
stinctively to an artistic vein in his nature which
has always disclosed itself, and which had
led him while on the sea to occupy his spare
moments in sketching ships and faces. and
the strange scenes of foreign lands.
He established his first Portrait Studio in
Mass. At length, after other ventures, he
entered large studio in Boston where he re
manned number of years. Throughout this
time, he was a great sufferer from the curse
of rheumatism which had come upon him early
in life Illness at last completely Frustrated
him, and he was obliged to give up all work
outside his own home.
This proved to be a blessing in disguise. At
times confined to his chair, at other times able
to move about only with the greatest difficult
ty, Mr.. Colcords active and energetic person.
ality chafed under the necessity of inaction.
In this state of mind. idea was born-the
idea of the Home Studio. Great is the virtue
of M
Colcord was aware that many people encoun-
tered feeling Of strangeness in the ordinary
Photographic studio. They were embarrassed
they were not themselves. Particularly with
small children was there apt to be trouble and
dissatisfaction. The results never came up to
the expectations. Why not a studio in the
home, the patrons to be received as callers
offered chair, and snapped, as it were, in the
midst of conversation? That silly embarrass-
ment which was apt to overcome the most
confident of adults, hardening their looks and
spelling all the delicate shades of the por-
traiture, would be entirely removed. AS for
the children, there would be nothing in the
room to disturb them. Chiefly as pastime.
Mr.. Colcord began taking pictures of his
friends as they came to call. The results
were surprising. Each new sitter agreed that
he or she had never had such perfect like
ness. The pictures really "looked NATURAL
there was nothing stiff or formal about them
Orders began to pour in. More and more sit
tiers appeared at the door of the Home Studio
Several unforeseen departments of the bust
ness had to be hurriedly organized-the de-
partments of printing, mounting and mailing.
The business grew by leaps and bounds; it
soon required the services of several helpers.
Another real idea had caught on.
With renewed health he now finds himself
obliged to move into larger and better quar-
tiers; for he does not propose to allow the Stu
dio to crush out the Home. The combination
of the two he rightly feels to be his talisman
of success. The original Home Studio was at
10 Edison street, Dorchester. Mr.. Colcord has
purchased a house one street below the old
place on one of the best streets in Dorchester;
and the new Home Studio at II Whitman
street will be adequate for all kinds of photo
graphic work. All are invited to inspect the
new quarters, which we're opened on June 3Oth
Mr.. Colcord is an uncle of Lincoln Cocord,
the short story writer, who has won recogni-
tim uith roIo Of n