Kanawha Hotel photograph   Save
Albert J. Ewing Collection
Description: This photograph showing a group of people outside the Kanawha Hotel was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. The Kanawha Hotel is now an historic landmark, located in Elizabeth, West Virginia. Its construction dates to about 1800, and it was in operation from 1812 through 1928 before being sold as a private residence. Like most of Ewing's work, the photograph was taken in southeastern Ohio or central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_b02_f170
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Portrait photography--United States--History; Hotels
Places: Elizabeth (West Virginia)