Learning more about Chester County’s contribution to color photography is one more reason to visit the Chester County Historical Society this summer.

The CCHS, which is now exhibiting Chester County Clothing of the 1800s, also has the complete archives of the Solgram Color Photo Company, which chronicle the story of Downingtown resident William South.  South, born in Downingtown in 1872, was a successful commercial photographer and one of the pioneers of color photography.

South was fascinated with the pioneering work of Arthur Louis Ducos DuHauron, who created a color photograph in 1868.  South improved upon his idea, and patented a camera that took three identical images at once through orange, violet and green filters.  After printing with pigments, this created a watercolor-like photograph.

South patented his camera and process in 1904, naming it the Solgram Color Photograph.  He also built a factory on St. Joseph’s Alley in Downingtown to manufacture paper and chemicals.  Since Eastman Kodak did not allow their dealers to sell products by other makers, South found it difficult to market the process. He unsuccessfully sued Kodak long before the anti-trust laws put an end to the practice.  South also ran the Keystone School of Photography at the factory.

Thanks to Jim LaDrew, retired photo finisher and local historian, and Pamela Powell, photo archivist at CCHS, South’s story is also now posted on Wikipedia. According to Powell, “South was a Renaissance man who had many talents not only as an inventor, but also as an artist and musician. He changed and adapted according to the situation.”

The Wikipedia entry documenting the life of William South is here.

The complete archives of the Solgram Color Photo Company are in the collection of CCHS and a guide is available here.

The CCHS is a not-for-profit educational institution promoting county history. Its library has collected materials documenting the diversity of the county from the 1680s to the present.

Links:  ChesterCoHistorical.org.