Cochran the Photographer - 1892
“A few
months ago, the Board of Education decided to beautify the walls of the
somewhat bare room in the City Hall, and hit upon the happy idea of securing
for a portrait of each gentleman who had been elected Chairman of the Board
during the past twenty-five years.”
“Fine Photographs :
Level-Headed Trustees Patronize a
First-Class Artist.” Hamilton Times.
March 23, 18921
When the members of the Hamilton Board
of Education decided that first-class portraits should be taken of the citizens
who had been elected board chairman during the previous twenty-five tears, it
was to noted photographer C. S. Cochran that they turned in order to have the
best work done.
C. S. Cochran, who in 1892 had his
studio at 161 King Street East, was certainly one of the finest practitioners
of the photographic art in 19th century Hamilton history.
The Hamilton Spectator, referring to Cochran’s
work, noted that “it may not be amiss to note that few photographers have
attained to and hold the high eminence which he continues to hold.”1
2 “Beautiful Pictures” Hamilton
Spectator March 22, 1892
When photographer Cochran completed his
commission of taking the portraits for the Board of Education, he decided to
exhibit the collection in the front picture window of his store window at the
corner of King and Mary streets before delivering them to the Board:
“Many a familiar face is to be seen among the
number; some of whom still continue to give their best care and attention to
the advancement of our education system, of which every citizen is justly
proud; others have long since retired from active service.”2
The portrait depicting David McClellan, who
had been chairman of the Hamilton Board of Education for the year 1883, and
later had been Mayor of Hamilton for the years 1890 and 1893, was draped in
black. McClellan, ‘Davy’ to those who knew him best, had died only the week
before Cochran placed the portraits in his window.
On March 23, a reporter for the Hamilton
Times described Cochran’s portraits as follows:
“The pictures are not enlargements, but
direct life-sized photographs, and are of a quality far in advance of any they
have ever shown in this city.
“Hamilton has just reason to feel proud of
possessing such a photographer as Mr. Cochran, whose work has brought credit to
the city upon more than one occasion, having received the gold medal and
diploma of honor at the Jamaica Exposition last year, and for the past two
years having been awarded the gold medal and first prize in Canadian
competition.”1
The exhibition of the Hamilton Board of
Education portraits in Cochran’s lasted for one week. In recommending that Hamiltonians
should not miss the opportunity of viewing the photographic portrait exhibition,
the Hamilton Times reporter suggested that the day-light hours were not the
best time to go:
“Evening light is preferable as there are
many reflections from the street in daytime that tend to hide them to a certain
extent.”1
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