Gifford, Benjamin A.

Benjamin A. Gifford (1859-1936) was born in DuPage County, Illinois. After briefly attending Kansas Normal College, Benjamin worked for two years as an apprentice in a Ft. Scott, Kansas, photo gallery. He finished his apprenticeship in Sedalia, Missouri, under William LaTour, and then returned to Fort Scott to become a partner in a photo studio. Benjamin married Myrtle Peck in 1884; he and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1888 and by 1891 had started a photo studio across the street from the Hotel Portland. He was the first photographer in Portland to use electric lights for making enlargements. About 1895 Benjamin moved to The Dalles and operated a studio there for several years, though he maintained strong ties to the Portland area. Gifford returned to Portland in 1910. His son Ralph I. Gifford took over operation of the studio around 1920. After his first wife died in 1919, Benjamin married Rachel Morgan, who had worked in his photography studio for several years. They moved to Clark County, Washington, soon after turning over the photography business to Ralph and settled in a home they called "Wa-ne-Ka," named after his famous photograph, "Sunset on the Columbia." Benjamin died on March 5, 1936. Benjamin was well-known for his images of Native Americans, scenic views of the Columbia River and the Columbia River Highway, and views of central Oregon and Portland areas. He published Art Work of Oregon (1900), Art Work of the State of Oregon (1909), Art Work of Portland, Mt. Hood and the Columbia River (1912), and a view book titled Snap Shots on the Columbia (1902). In addition his work appeared in many promotional booklets issued by railroads, particularly the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company.

From the description of Benjamin A. Gifford photographs, ca. 1885 - ca. 1920 (bulk 1899-1919). (Eugene Public Library). WorldCat record id: 671788561

Benjamin A. Gifford (1859-1936) was born in Danville, Ill.. He attended Kansas Normal College and apprenticed in photography studios for two years in Fort Scott, Ks. Afterwards, he operated his own studios there and elsewhere in Kansas. In 1884, he married Myrtle Peck, and the couple moved to Portland, Or. circa 1890. Their only child, Ralph, was born in 1894.

Gifford operated a studio at Sixth and Morrison streets in Portland until the Panic of 1893 forced him to operate from his home on Corbett Street. Here he improved his techniques, becoming the first photographer to make enlargements using an electric bulb as a light source. In 1894, Gifford partnered with Herbert Hale in the Gifford & Hale Studio on SW Third between SW Alder and Morrison Streets. Hale's strong background in landscape photography and Gifford's enlargement set-up and printing mastery gave them a near monopoly for a brief period on locally-produced large-format prints and murals.

In partnership with Hale, Gifford turned to landscape work and within three years had transformed himself into one of Oregon's most respected landscape photographers. The partnership dissolved circa 1897, when Gifford moved to The Dalles, Or. He equipped himself with the best cameras and lenses available for landscape photography at the time and pursued many commercial possibilities for his art, including photogravure reproductions, sold as sets of loose prints and in books. He also sold a great deal of his work to various railroads, becoming a primary supplier of photomurals for train stations. Gifford outfitted a traveling wagon and tent studio and traveled around Oregon and Washington, offering his photography services to farmers and ranchers, as well as to many small communities. Gifford also became a favorite photographer for railroads, magazines, real estate developers, and communities who advertised the region's possibilities to the outside world. He began producing hand-colored murals, lithographed postcards, and photo-postcards. His work was also published as high-quality photogravures in large-format books, including one on Neahkahnie, Or., with support from developer Simeon G. Read, a second titled Art Work of the State of Oregon (1900), with text by William Reid, and a third entitled, Art Work of Portland, Mt. Hood and the Columbia River (1912), with text by Eva Emery Dye, as well as a view book entitled, Snap Shots of the Columbia (1902).

In 1910, Gifford sold his studio in The Dalles to Charles Lamb and moved back to Portland. He continued to manage a commercial studio and produced a series of photographs of the construction of the Columbia River Highway, which were exhibited at the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Benjamin took on another partner, Arthur M. Prentiss, circa 1916. The Gifford & Prentiss Studio was located on SW Washington between Twelfth and Thirteenth in downtown Portland and lasted until Gifford retired in 1920.

Benjamin Gifford's wife, Myrtle Peck Gifford, died in 1919, after nearly two decades as an invalid. Gifford then married Rachel Morgan, a former schoolteacher from The Dalles who had worked for him as a colorist, in October of that year. They made their home, called "Wa-ne-Ka," on Salmon Creek north of Vancouver, Wash.. Benjamin A. Gifford died on 1936 March 5.

Ralph I. Gifford (1894-1947), son of Benjamin A. Gifford, learned photography by working in his father's studio. After Benjamin's retirement in 1920, Ralph took over Gifford Studio Inc. at 444 Washington St. in Portland, Or., retaining control of most of his father's original negatives, which he often reprinted, sometimes under his own imprint. He operated his own studio at 515 Commonwealth Building from 1921-1922 and from his home at 1289 Fremont St. from 1923-1926. After selling his business in 1928, Ralph joined the still and motion picture photographers Heaton & Emery of Portland, Or. in 1930 and became partner of Heaton & Gifford the following year. In 1935, Ralph left Heaton & Gifford to operate his own studio out of his home at 4537 NE Fremont Street in Portland, a business he closed in 1936 when he became the first photographer for the Travel and Information Division in the Oregon State Highway Commission. Ralph Gifford married Wanda Muir Theobald, also a photographer, in 1918.

From the guide to the Gifford photographs collection, circa 1890-1947, (Oregon Historical Society Research Library)

Benjamin A. Gifford (1859-1936) was born in DuPage County, Illinois. After briefly attending Kansas Normal College, Benjamin worked for two years as an apprentice in a Ft. Scott, Kansas, photo gallery. He finished his apprenticeship in Sedalia, Missouri, under William LaTour, and then returned to Fort Scott to become a partner in a photo studio. Benjamin married Myrtle Peck in 1884; he and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1888 and by 1891 had started a photo studio across the street from the Hotel Portland. He was the first photographer in Portland to use electric lights for making enlargements.

About 1895 Benjamin moved to The Dalles and operated a studio there for several years, though he maintained strong ties to the Portland area. Gifford returned to Portland in 1910. His son Ralph I. Gifford took over operation of the studio around 1920. After his first wife died in 1919, Benjamin married Rachel Morgan, who had worked in his photography studio for several years. They moved to Clark County, Washington, soon after turning over the photography business to Ralph and settled in a home they called "Wa-ne-Ka," named after his famous photograph, "Sunset on the Columbia." Benjamin died on March 5, 1936.

Benjamin was well-known for his images of Native Americans, scenic views of the Columbia River and the Columbia River Highway, and views of central Oregon and Portland areas. He published Art Work of Oregon (1900), Art Work of the State of Oregon (1909), Art Work of Portland, Mt. Hood and the Columbia River (1912), and a view book titled Snap Shots on the Columbia (1902). In addition his work appeared in many promotional booklets issued by railroads, particularly the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company.

From the guide to the Benjamin A. Gifford Photographs, circa 1885 - circa 1920, 1899-1919, (Oregon State University Libraries)