'The Study of Man'

'The Study of Man'


A cabinet card portrait of a young woman wearing a mortarboard and gown. She is holding a book to which the word 'MAN' has been added in large white letters.

Photographed by F. Tims of Welshpool, Montgomeryshire [Wales], identified by his backplate verso.

Frederick Hope Tims was born in Reading in Berkshire on 27 June 1860, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Tims. His father was a painter and his mother was a laundress (1861 census).

On 12 April 1884 at St Peter and St Paul, Aston, Birmingham, he married Ellen Baker daughter of printer Alfred Warren Baker. Frederick gave 'Gun finisher' as his profession.

Their son Frederick Rowland Tims, born on 2 January 1886, was baptised on 14 March 1886 at St Mary, Aston Brook, Birmingham. At that time, Tims père was a 'Gun finisher' living at 43 Portland Street.

The Montgomery County Times (10 April 1897) mentions him as 'Mr F. H. Tims, Truro, and late of Berriew Street, of this town.' Berriew Street is in Welshpool.

In 1901 he was a 'Gunmaker and Cutler' living with his family at Truro in Cornwall. On 12 December 1901 the Royal Cornwall Gazette reviewed an event at the local Photographic Club. ‘Mr F. H. Tims had a large collection of Frenas and Kodaks, and a novel camera, styled the “Al-Vista,” with a marvellous mechanism for taking a panoramic picture.’ Further on, the review mentions that ‘In the Art Lecture-room Mr F. H. Tims showed how an enlargement was produced.’

The family emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York on 18 April 1907 and settling in Burlington, Vermont. When Frederick was naturalised on 22 February 1910, he gave 'Photographer' as his profession. At the time of the 1910 census, he was a 'Photographer' living in Burlington.

His first wife was living with him at the time of the census but presumably died at some point within the next few years. On 5 May 1915 Frederick married, secondly, Susie Mary Pelland. At the time of his marriage, he was a 'Photographer' living on North Street in Burlington, Vermont. In 1920 he was still a photographer in Burlington. He died in 1931.

In addition to the photographer’s backplate, a wetstamp recto in the lower margin reads ‘Geo. G. Higham, Welshpool.’ Slater’s Directory, North and Mid-Wales (1895) indicates that George G. Higham was a gun maker with premises at 20 Berriew Street, Welshpool. George Garnett Higham (1855-1925) was presumably Frederick’s business partner during the few years he spent in Welshpool.

 


Code: 127004
© Paul Frecker 2024