J. A. Pugh

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]

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)

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

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
  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. No. Vol. LXI No. 43. January 24, 1887. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  3. "Pugh studio ad". Georgia Telegraph. No. Vol XXX No. 49. July 15, 1856. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. "Fine Arts, letter to the editor". Georgia Telegraph. No. Vol XXXII No. 10. July 15, 1856. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  5. 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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