The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

All Topeka knows ]. c. ("Jim'D
Wolcott.
He has taken thousands of newspa-
per and group photographs of public
buildings, public gatherings accidents.
fires, floods and interesting people.
In some cases these photographs have
been used for purely commercial sales,
but in a majority of his shots" in the
last few years the results have been
used in the columns of The State Jour
nal
As stated few lines ago, all To-
pella knows Jim
In a short time Topeka will miss
Jim"
From 4x5 to Florida.
The jump from a 4x5 box camera
to a Florida fruit grove has necessi-
tated a jump from Topeka to Florida
and WolcOtt leaves in few months
for his new ONE at Lake Wales, Fla
Tt is just a question of whether I
am going to run that grove down there
or let II run me-" WoIcott explains
1T needs constant attention and by
opening photograph and art store
ITS Lake wales I can keep busy the
year around without paying the bank
rupting railway fares from Kansas"
Started With Camera in 1901.
It was in 1904 that Jim Wolcott pur-
chased his amateur camera. After ex-
perimeuting with snap shots around
town during his off hours from col
lege and from carrying papers he de-
cided TO make the photograph outfit
pay for itself. He solicited kodak de-
veloping and printing and found to his
surprise that the responses were
greater than his spare time. As his
business grew he bought more ma
terials and more equipment and finally
took over the entire basement OF the
house.
Two years later .Wolcottk photo
graph work and his snaps of college
athletic teams and about town organi-
zations attracted the attention of ].
*. Jones. who was in business at sos
Kansas avenue. He asked Wolcott to
do printing and developing for his
store. Wolcott accepted the offer and
wc7t to bat on his Kansas avenue
''strike"-wildly enthusiastic over n
chonce to be identified commercially
at last
worked. It grew beyond the needs Of
the store and one day Tones went to
Wolcott with proposition.
$50 and start,
I doa't have time to give t. this
big photograph business you have built
up" he told Jim. Il would like to see
YOU go into business yourself will
lend YOU $50 and with that money you
can have the whole outfit-what do
you say?"
II was er-rand and gl-I-orious day
for Jim Wolcott- 1t was his initiation
into big business''-and Kansas ave
nue. = that. The only delay in ACCEPT
ing the Jones offer was catch in his
breath due to his surprise. The deal
was made and in 1906 Wolcott was
''on his way
Buys Geo. Godfrey Moore Store.
A short time after this deal was
closed and Wolcott had paid back the
loan he became attached to the George
. Godfrey Moore art store at 72l Kansas
avenue. Moore was in the art and pic.
ture framing business. Jim Wolcot-
wanted such a line in connection witt
his photography and also he wanted
the location. He made an offer, Moore
accepted and again the man who wa:
building his business on a AXIS bo1
camera foundation was adding to hi:
stock.
Then years ago Wolcott moved tc
s25 Kansas avenue because he found Il
necessary to use additional space fol
the shop Here he is using TODAY
three floors-and his business is re.
cognized highly in the commercial
life of the city
Wolcotts energy and ability Il
bring quick results have mean
much to State Journal readers. He ha,
brought to The State Journal artis
complete photograph of an acciden
ten minutes from the time he snapped
the shutter of his camera. Seldom
does he take more than fifteen min.
utes to take and deliver a photograph
Wolcott has been a loyal supporter
of his town. his community and hi.
state. He will be missed by Topekani
and by out of town readers of Tn.
State Journal.