Title; J. J. Gibson Collection, ca. 1880-1949
Storage: Box Lot (11 boxes, horizontal)
Accession number: G1982.143
This descriptive inventory includes:
1. Description of collection
2. Container list
3. Xeroxes of correspondence transferred to Manuscripts
Description of Collection
The Gibson Collection consists of photographs of the Gibson family, studio portraits taken by J.J. Gibson in Michigan, photographic portraits taken at the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893; and work done by J.J.s wife (May Clark Gibson) after her husband's death in 1902. There is a Xerox file on the 93ers' in the library.
J.J. Gibson was a portrait photographer in Michigan in the 1880's to 1893. J.J. Gibson married May Clark on May 18, 1889 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Clark's were from Ypsilanti and the Gibson's were from Canada via Ann Arbor, Michigan. J.J. and May Clark Gibson had one son, in 1893 to photograph at the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, Gibson was the official portrait photographer at the fair. The Gibson's stayed in Chicago after the fair and opened a photography studio, Gibson's Art Galleries. J.J. Gibson died at a young age, between 30-40 years old, of tuberculosis, on October 8th, 1902. May Clark Gibson took over the studio after J.J.s death and the studio eventually became the Montgomery Wards Portrait Studio. J.G. Gibson married Florence Powers after the death of both his parents. Florence Powers Gibson has no first hand knowledge of J.J. & May Clark Gibson.
Correspondence has been transferred to the Manuscripts Collection.
Postcards have been dispersed within the Prints and Photographs Collection.
Location: Box Lot
Postcard File
Inventory by: Jane Stevens, November 1984
Container List
Box 1
1. J.J. Gibson's family photographs
2. J.J. Gibson's funeral flower arrangement photos, 1902
3. Gibson family photographs
4. Gibson family photographs
5. Gibson family photographs
6. Gibson family photographs
Box 2
1. J.J. May Clark Gibson's family album
Box 3
1. J.G. Gibson's baby photographs album
2. J.G. Gibson photographs
3. Powers family carte-de-visites and photographs
4. J.J. Gibson family photographs
5. J.J. Gibson's family photographs
Box 4
1. W.C.E., 1893 - Costumed, group photographs
2. W.C.E., 1893 - Cabinet card portraits
3. W.C.E., 1893 book - "Pictorial History of Fair-Midway Types" includes photographs taken by J.J. Gibson
4. W.C.E., 1893 related material
Box 5
1. Bates family tintypes
2. Watercolored photographs
3. Identified Misc. photographs
4. Photo of Rothschild & Co. Photograph Dept., 1903
Box 6
1. Unidentified Misc. photographs
2. Identified Misc. photographs
3. Positive glass plate image
Box 7
1. Misc. cabinet cards (not Gibson studio)
2. Misc. unidentified photographs
3. Unidentified Misc. photographs
4. Unidentified Misc. photographs
Box 8
1. 1893'ers gatherings
2. 93'ers group photograph
3. 93'ers album
4. 93'ers photographs
Box 9
1. University of Michigan Yearbook, The Palladium, 1890
2. University of Michigan Yearbook, The Palladium, 1891
3. University of Michigan Yearbook, The Palladium, 1896
Box 10
1. Unidentified cabinet cards, Gibson Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2. Unidentified cabinet cards, Gibson Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan
3. Cabinet cards from Detroit Studio
4. Cabinet cards-Unidentified-Ypsilanti & Pentwater, Michigan Gibson studio
5. Building exteriors- unidentified
6. Cabinet cards of Blacks
Box 11 Xeroxes of correspondence
Postcards dispersed.