Taber, I. W. (Isaiah West), 1830-1912

Morris Badt was born in Schwersenz, Posen, Germany in 1830. He emigrated to New York in 1847 and moved to San Francsico in 1851, where he established a mercantile business. He later established businesses in Elko and Wells, Nevada. He married Lena Posener in 1868. Badt died in San Francisco in 1899. Mirel Lipshuetz Badt was the stepmother of Morris Badt. (From genealogical information provided by donors.)

From the description of Morris Badt family portraits [graphic]. ca. 1880-ca. 1890. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 644732452

Governess and school teacher, resident in California from the late 1860s until her death.

From the description of [Portrait of Elizabeth Powell at age thirty-six [graphic] / photographed by I.W. Taber]. 1874 (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 60605826

Irving Murray Scott was an engineer and ship builder who became president of the Union Iron Works Co. of San Francisco.

From the description of Irving Murray Scott portraits [graphic]. ca. 1870-ca. 1896. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 771948860

Isaiah West Taber (1830-1912) opened a photographic studio, I.W. Taber & Company, in association with Thomas H. Boyd, in San Francisco about 1875. He produced a variety of large format images, including portraits of prominent people.

From the description of Mr. C.P. Huntington's reception : Palace Hotel, San Francisco : albumen print, 1888 May 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122510656

Abraham Powell was born in Philadelphia in 1828. He sailed for California in January of 1849. He was a ship-builder, civil engineer and lumber baron. He served as mayor of Vallejo and as director of the Society of California Pioneers (cf. Swasey. Early Days and Men of California, 321-326).

From the description of [Abraham Powell portrait] [graphic]. [ca. 1890] (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 307458617

Well-respected 19th century California photographer, with a studio in San Francisco.

From the description of Photographs, ca. 1870. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86130342

References cite both Isaac W. Taber and Isaiah West Taber as a professional photographer based in San Francisco circa 1890s. Isaiah West Taber was selected as the creator for this collection based on the name authority description in the Library of Congress.

From the description of I.W. Taber photographs, ca. 1890s. (University of Alaska, Fairbanks). WorldCat record id: 641304380

Isaiah West Taber was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts August 17, 1830. Taber came to California in 1850, where he spent four years working first as a miner, then a farmer. Taber returned to New Bedford in 1854 where he studied dentistry and began a dental practice. An interest in amateur photography eventually became his life-work. He settled in Syracuse, New York, where he opened his first studio. In 1864 he returned to California at the inducement of the photographers Bradley and Rulofson, whom he worked for until 1871. Taber established the "Taber Gallery" at No. 12 Montgomery Street in 1871. His highly successful business was well-known for portraiture and a vast stock of California and Western views. Due to his success and stature in California, Taber was awarded the photographic concession of the Midwinter Fair of 1893-94 in San Francisco. Taber's career ended in 1906 when his entire collection of glass plates, view negatives and portraits on glass were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and fire. He died February 22, 1912.

The California Midwinter International Exposition was held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park from January 1 to July 9, 1894. Inspired by the World's Columbia Exposition at Chicago the previous year and conceived by Michael de Young, the Midwinter Fair sought to promote California's mild, year-round climate, as well as to portray its beauty and wealth of diverse resources. In addition to featuring exhibits from counties throughout the state, the Midwinter Fair invited other states and nations to exhibit wares and customs characteristic of their regions. Attracting circa 2,500,000 visitors, the Midwinter Fair is considered to be the first event to publicize on an international scale the attractions of California as a favorable vacation area. Still remaining from the Midwinter Fair in Golden Gate Park are the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, developed from the Fine Arts Building, and the Japanese Tea Garden, developed from the Japanese Village--both of which are pictured in the present album.

From the description of California Midwinter International Exposition photograph album, 1893-1894. (San Francisco Public Library). WorldCat record id: 608083894

Biography

Isaiah West Taber was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, August 17, 1830. Taber went to sea at the age of fifteen and spent several years working on whaling ships in the North Pacific. He came to California in 1850, where he spent four years working first as a miner, then a farmer. Taber returned to New Bedford in 1854 where he studied dentistry and began a dental practice. An interest in amateur photography eventually became his life-work. He settled in Syracuse, New York, where he opened his first studio. In 1864 he returned to California at the inducement of the photographers Bradley and Rulofson, whom he worked for until 1871. Taber established the "Taber Gallery" at No. 12 Montgomery Street in 1871. His highly successful business was well-known for portraiture and a vast stock of California and Western views--many of which were the unacknowledged works of other photographers. Taber's success and stature in California and abroad are evident in his being awarded the photographic concession of the Midwinter Fair of 1893-94 in San Francisco, his being sent to London in 1897 to photograph the pageant of the Queen Victoria Jubilee, and his commission to photograph King Edward VII. Taber's career ended in 1906 when his entire collection of glass plates, view negatives and portraits on glass were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and fire. He died February 22, 1912.

(Sources: Hart, James D.A Companion to California.New York:Oxford University Press,1978, p.439; Murray, W. H.The Builders of a Great City: San Francisco's Representative Men.San Francisco:The Journal,1891, p.329-330 ; and Burdette, Robert J.American Biography and Genealogy. California edition.(Chicago:Lewis Publishing Co., [191-]), p. 756-761.)

From the guide to the California Scenery, Published by Taber, Photographer, San Francisco, Cal., ca. 1885, (The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley.)

Biography

Isaiah West Taber was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts August 17, 1830. Taber went to sea at the age of fifteen and spent several years working on whaling ships in the North Pacific. He came to California in 1850, where he spent four years working first as a miner, then a farmer. Taber returned to New Bedford in 1854 where he studied dentistry and began a dental practice. An interest in amateur photography eventually became his life-work. He settled in Syracuse, New York, where he opened his first studio. In 1864 he returned to California at the inducement of the photographers Bradley and Rulofson, whom he worked for until 1871. Taber established the "Taber Gallery" at No. 12 Montgomery Street in 1871. His highly successful business was well-known for portraiture and a vast stock of California and Western views -many of which were the unacknowledged works of other photographers. Taber's success and stature in California and abroad are evident in his being awarded the photographic concession of the Midwinter Fair of 1893-94 in San Francisco, his being sent to London in 1897 to photograph the pageant of the Queen Victoria Jubilee, and his commission to photograph King Edward VII. Taber's career ended in 1906 when his entire collection of glass plates, view negatives and portraits on glass were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and fire. He died February 22, 1912.

(Sources: Hart, James D.A Companion to California.New York:Oxford University Press, 1978, p.439; Murray, W. H.The Builders of a Great City: San Francisco's Representative Men.San Francisco:The Journal,1891, p.329-330 ; and Burdette, Robert J.American Biography and Genealogy.California edition. ( Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co., [191-]), p. 756-761. )

From the guide to the Isaiah West Taber Family Photographs, (The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley.)

Biographies

Isaiah West Taber

Isaiah West Taber was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts August 17, 1830. Taber went to sea at the age of fifteen and spent several years working on whaling ships in the North Pacific. He came to California in 1850, where he spent four years working first as a miner, then a farmer. Taber returned to New Bedford in 1854 where he studied dentistry and began a dental practice. An interest in amateur photography eventually became his life-work. He settled in Syracuse, New York, where he opened his first studio. In 1864 he returned to California at the inducement of the photographers Bradley and Rulofson, whom he worked for until 1871. Taber established the "Taber Gallery" at No. 12 Montgomery Street in 1871. His highly successful business was well-known for portraiture and a vast stock of California and Western views -many of which were the unacknowledged works of other photographers. Taber's success and stature in California and abroad are evident in his being awarded the photographic concession of the Midwinter Fair of 1893-94 in San Francisco, his being sent to London in 1897 to photograph the pageant of the Queen Victoria Jubilee, and his commission to photograph King Edward VII. Taber's career ended in 1906 when his entire collection of glass plates, view negatives and portraits on glass were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and fire. He died February 22, 1912.

(Sources: Hart, James D. A Companion to California . New York: Oxford University Press, 1978, p.439; Murray, W. H. The Builders of a Great City: San Francisco's Representative Men . San Francisco: The Journal, 1891, p.329-330; and Burdette, Robert J. American Biography and Genealogy . California edition. (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., [191-]), p. 756-761.)

Adolph Sutro

Adolph Sutro was born in 1830 in Prussia. He moved to San Francisco from Baltimore in 1851 and ran a tobacco store before going to Nevada, attracted by mining prospects. After making some money in mining, he built a tunnel under the Comstock Lode to allow better access to the mines and improve ventilation and drainage. The tunnel made a fortune for Sutro, and after selling it in 1879 he moved to San Francisco once again to invest in real estate, eventually owning one-twelfth of the city's property. He acquired 1,000 acres of land, known as Sutro Heights, on a spot facing the ocean beyond the Golden Gate. The acres housed his own mansion, the Cliff House restaurant, and the Sutro Baths (salt water swimming pools). Sutro was a Populist mayor of San Francisco from 1894-1896. Upon his death in 1898 Sutro Heights was willed to the city of San Francisco.

(Source: Hart, James D. A Companion to California . New York: Oxford University Press, 1978, pp. 434-5.)

From the guide to the Sutro Heights, San Francisco, California, photographed by I. W. Taber, 1886, (The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley.)