Evening star., 1940-05-05
First Portrait Camera
To Be Presented 10
Smithsonian
Richmond Minister'S
Research Proves Claim
Of Hompden-Sydney
BY FRANCIS G. KNIGHT.

BY FRANCIS q. KNIGHT.
A century-old camera accepted by
experts as the first one made in
America and the first fast-action
camera in the world has been do
mated to the Smithsonian Institu-
ton by Hampden-Sydney College,
where DR.. John William Draper
made 1t when he was a member of
the faculty from 1886 to 1889.
The old box-shaped instrument
has been the subject of much debate.
Recently it was proved to the salts
faction of Smithsonian officials to
be the original camera used by DR..
Draper in his experiments to perfect
his process of portrait photography.
The Rev. Howard c. Cobbs, Rich
mond, Va, Presbyterian minister,
became interested in the old equip
ment when he was a student at
Hampden-Sydney College and after
eight years of research he has &C
cumulated evidence which Identifies
this camera as the first of its kind.
1t will be presented to the Washing
ton museum at the June commence
ment exercise of the Virginia college
Mr.. Cobb Began Research.
AS the official photographer for
the college the Rev. Mr. Cobbs was
assigned in 1882 to photograph the
old camera for the Eastman Kodak
Co. He was informed by DR.. J. H. C..
Bagby, member of the Hampden-
Sydney faculty, that the camera was
the original made by DR.. Draper,
but there were no records to prove
this fact. The ministerial student,
who had been a commercial photog-
rapher for 10 years in Charleston,
w. Va. began self-appointed task
to produce records to identify 1t as
the original.
From the oldest living alumni Of
the college the Rev. Mr. Cobbs
learned that DR.. L. L. Holiday, q
professor at Hampden-Sydney from
1849 to 1882 and friend of DR..
Diapers, had told his classes that
this old camera had been used by
DR.. Draper in portrait experiments
when he was a member of the
faculty.
The Rev. Mr.. Cobbs found that DR..
Draper had joined the faculty of
New York University IN 1889 after
leaving Hampden-Sydney and that
the Northern school claimed the
distinction of being the birthplace
of portrait photography on the basis
that DR.. Draper had taken a picture
there of his sister, which is con-
sidered the earliest permanent por-
trait.
While using the old Hampden-
Sydney camera to take pictures of
two members of the faculty, the
Rev. Mr.. Cobbs noticed that it was
longer and had less finished ap-
pearance than the one DR.. Draper
used in the photograph at New York
University. He was impressed by
this fact and convinced that 1t
would have some bearing on prov
ing his point.
Took Evidence to Smithsonian.
When New York University be-
gan making plans to observe the
hundredth anniversary of DR.. Dra-
pers joining their faculty, one OF
the professors requested Hampden-
Sydney officials to prove that their
old camera was the original used
by Dr. Draper. The Rev. Mr.. Cobbs
then decided to take his evidence
to the Smithsonian Institution and
offer to give the old camera to them
in behalf of Hampden-Sydn
At q conference with c. w. Nit
man, head curator of the Smith
sonian; A. G. Olmsted, chief pho
tographer, and Austin H. Clarke
curator of echinoderms, the Rev.
Mr.. Cobbs presented his findings
and told his story. His audience
was favorably impressed. A volume
In the Smithsonian library con-
tanned information to fill a 10-year
gap, 1889 to 184e, missing in his evi-
dence.
The book contained an article ap-
pearing in the Photographic and
Fine Art Journal. which included a
letter written to the journal by DR..
Draper in answer to the question
"Who made the first Photographic
portrait?"
Took First Picture in 1888.
In the letter, DR.. Draper expressed
surprise that any one questioned
his having made the first portrait
of person. He said he had taken
the first one 20 years ago. which
would be in 1898. He did not leave
Hampden-Sydney until 1899. The
inventor of the portrait photography
process wrote that he had expert
mented in photography while at
Hampden-Sydney College and had
tried to shorten the long time re-
quired for setting picture, but had
failed to obtain clear results be-
cause the aperture was too small
and the focus too long in his
camera.
Since the camera with which DR..
Draper took the first permanent
portrait of person at New York
University was much shorter in TO-
Gus and larger in aperture, this in
dicates that the Hampden-Sydney
camera was the original.