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J. A. Pugh

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James Adolphus Pugh
Self portrait albumen print of Pugh in his book Leaves of a Wanderer
Born(1833-07-03)July 3, 1833
DiedJanuary 22, 1887(1887-01-22) (aged 53)

James Adolphus Pugh (July 3, 1833 – January 22, 1887) was an American photographer, based in Macon, Georgia, at the time of the Civil War.[1] Pugh trained with and eventually took over the studio of R. L. Wood.[2] His studio specialized in providing photographs of soldiers going to war.[3] His studio was called Pugh's Photograph and Fine Art Gallery and printed ambrotype, tintype and daguerreotype photographs.[4]

Pugh sailed to Europe in 1867 in order to attend the International Exposition and wrote a book about his European travels. In it, he spoke of how he "[held] it to be a duty every man owes to his family, to have both his and their likenesses taken at least once a year."[5] His studio featured sinks with running water to make sure his prints had as much of the salts washed off of them as possible.[5]: 58  In addition, he featured scenery backdrops painted by artists in New York City and an art gallery of photographs and paintings in his studio.[6] Later in his career Pugh took up painting himself, creating life sized portraits of people from ambrotypes he'd taken of them.[7]

In 1873, he won Best Photograph, Best Photograph in Oil, Best Photograph in Pastel, and Best Collection of Photographs at the Georgia State Fair.[8]

Personal life

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Pugh was born in 1833, one of twelve children of Jesse and Nancy Reece Pugh. His brother David worked with him at his business.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Eltzroth, E. Lee. "Three Photographers and the Military, 1861". Hunting & Gathering. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Death of Mr. J. A. Pugh". Macon Weekly Telegraph. Vol. LXI, no. 43. January 24, 1887. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Pugh studio ad". Georgia Telegraph. Vol. XXX, no. 49. July 15, 1856. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Fine Arts, letter to the editor". Georgia Telegraph. Vol. XXXII, no. 10. July 15, 1856. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b Pugh, J. A. (1868). Leaves of a Wanderer. Macon Georgia: J. W. Burke & Co. p. 59. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Pugh studio ad". Macon Daily Telegraph. No. 2747. April 22, 1869. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Works of Art". Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Georgia Journal & Messenger. December 28, 1869. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
  8. ^ "The Bibb County Fair". Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Georgia Journal & Messengerh. No. LXVII No. 2. June 24, 1873. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  9. ^ "North Carolina, 1850 federal census : population schedules", United States census, 1850; Randolph County, North Carolina; roll 641, line 8. Retrieved on January 12, 2019.
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