Samuel D. Alschuler

American, ca. 1828-1882

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Samuel Alschuler operated a daguerrean gallery at the corner of Randolph and Canal Streets, Chicago in 1853. Craig's Daguerrean Registry notes that he had been an itenerant photographer before that. His brother was a daguerrean operator at a different address, and was not found in the directory in 1854. Neither brother was found in 1855, though they had partnered as Alschuler & Bro. in 1856. That studio was succeeded by Alschuler & Florence in 1858. He documented an excursion of seven railroad cars full of sightseers to Minnehaha in July, 1859. In 1860, he was alone at a new address and advertised as ambrotypes and photographs. After the first election of Abraham Lincoln as President, the city of Chicago presented him with gifts, among which were portraits of Lincoln and Hamlin by Alschuler; he would later document the Lincoln funeral procession as it passed through Chicago. He moved to new rooms on Randolph Street in March, 1863, where the following year he was a dealer of photographic materials with Hugo Pfitzner as Alschuler & Pfitzner. In 1866 he was partnered with Adolph Westphal as Alschuler & Westphal. He advertised the sale of a gallery at 145 Lake Street, "Cheap, for cash" in March, 1868. "Possession given immediately." He remained in business at 138 North Clark. No mention is found of the photographic business from 1869 to1871, when Alschuler worked with the family clothing business. The studio advertised instruction from Professor J. Haynes in retouching photographs in December, 1872. He operated a branch of the millinery store and a studio in Mattoon, Illinois from 1877 to 1879. When his clothing stock was bought out he remained as a photographer there until his death in 1882.