Photographs of Richmond made by C. R. Rees during the Civil War.
These
are the only outdoor photographs known to have come out of Richmond during the war
(pre-1865). Doubtless, Rees made other photos during the war, but since his
gallery burned in the evacuation fire (at 145 Main street, according to the 1860
City Directory), the only surviving photos are those which
had been extensively sold, and probably even smuggled North. To my knowledge,
these six images are the only wartime Richmond photographs.
Written Accounts
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
5/8/1861; Ad for Rees' photographic
gallery |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
5/10/1861; advertisement for
Rees' photographic gallery |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
7/1/1861;
ad for Rees' photographic gallery |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
12/31/1861;
Thos. B. Rees,
Main between 9 & 10 wants to hire cook for small family |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
2/8/1862; death notice for little girl of T. B. & E. S. Rees |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
4/1/1862; death notice for
little boy of Charles R. & Jennie Rees. |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
6/19/1862; C. R.
Rees’ slave jailed for theft |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
8/13/1862; T. L.
Ennis at Rees’ Photo gallery, Main St., adv for washerwoman family of three |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
10/24/1862; Rees
applying for “photograph and ambrotype operators” |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
12/23/1862; Thos.
H. Rees adv for lost Confederate bonds |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
12/30/1862; Rees
adv for photographer & for albumen “photographists.” |
|
Lowell
Daily Courier |
3/11/1864; Rees photo of Libby Prison is on
display in Lowell, Mass. |
|
National
Tribune |
12/29/1891; Excellent set of letters from Libby
Prison, recounting treatment and life in prison. Mentions purchasing one
of the Rees images from the prison guards, and sending it North. |
"Charles R. Rees
Active as a daguerreian, Richmond, Va., and New York City, N.Y. In
1851 he was listed as a daguerreian at the corner of 8th and Main
Streets, Richmond, in business as Rees Brothers, with C.J. Rees.
This is probably the same Charles Rees listed from 1853 to 1855 in
New York City. In 1853-1854 he was listed at 289 Broadway, in
business as Rees & Co. He refused to divulge information on other
partnership members for the partnership directory. In 1854-1855 he
was listed as Rees & Co. at 385 Broadway, and also at 289 Broadway.
Stamped on the brass mat of a ninth plate daguerreotype, "Rees & Co.
289 Broadway". He was noted as opening the new gallery in 1854.
About 1853, Holmes was noted as working for or being a part of the
company. In 1859 Rees was listed as Rees & Co., ambrotype gallery,
139 Main Street, Richmond. He may have employed Edward (Edwin) Rees,
who boarded at his home. W.G.R. Frayser may also have been part of
the firm. There is also a listing for "T.R. Rees", probably Charles
R., with a gallery at 145 Main Street, Richmond, in 1860.
Information corrected to November, 1997; © 1996, 1997 John S. Craig"- from Craig’s Daguerreian Registry
Military Service:
T. B. Rees: 1st Virginia State
Reserves, Co. H
Enl. 5/29/1862 in Richmond, age 24
C. R. Rees: 2nd Virginia
State Reserves, Co. C
Paid for 39 days’ service between 7/7/1863 and 1/4/1864
Page
last updated on
10/29/2008
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