Biography/Background
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.)
The California Midwinter International Exposition
Held in San Francisco from January 1 to July 9, 1894, and inspired by the World's Columbia Exposition at Chicago the previous year, the California Midwinter International Exposition (C.M.I.E.) sought to promote California's mild, salubrious 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 C.M.I.E. invited other states and nations to exhibit wares and customs characteristic of their regions. The C.M.I.E. was the first of 3 world's fairs to take place in San Francisco. Attracting circa 2,500,000 visitors, the C.M.I.E. is considered to be the first event to publicize on an international scale the attractions of California as a favorable vacation area.
The C.M.I.E. was held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park despite the firm opposition of park superintendent John McLaren and others who wished to keep the park free of development. After the closing of the Exposition and the razing of most of the structures, the 200 acres originally cleared for the construction of the Exposition were restored as best as possible to their previous condition. Still remaining from the Exposition 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 guide to the Souvenir of the California Midwinter International Exposition, 1894, (The Bancroft Library.)
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 Miscellaneous Views of California Taken by I. W. Taber, ca. 1890-1899, (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 California Views Photographed by I.W. Taber, 1885-1890, (The Bancroft Library.)
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 Snow Blockade, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, March 13, 1890, (The Bancroft Library.)
