WThe New York Public Library  /  Photographers’ Identities Catalog
PIC ID: 7602

Francis Hamilton Bell

American, ca. 1809-1880

Male

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Francis H. Bell was a gun and locksmith in Washington, DC. and in 1860 employed his eldest son William Hamilton Bell in that trade. Another son, Nephi, then 17 years old, worked as an ambrotypist for Turner & Co. By 1862 Nephi had partnered with Thomas Henry Bell as Bell & Bro., who likely employed both William and Francis H. Bell. Nephi died in November of that year, and another son, James (or Jackson) W. Bell took his place in the partnership. In 1864, Francis is listed without an occupation, and Thomas alone was proprietor of Bell & Bro. Thomas died in 1866, and William had formed his own partnership with A. F. Hall as Bell & Hall. The following year, Francis and William continued the Bell & Bro. studio, though the partners were father and son. In 1868 and 1869, and intermittently thereafter, Francis alone operated the studio, though his youngest son Charles Milton Bell joined in 1870. The younger Bell soon established his own studio and Francis ran Bell & Bro. until about 1875. C. M. Bell's career had taken off and Francis likely worked for his son until his death in 1880.

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Locations

Francis Hamilton Bell has 6 locations.

Birth (ca. 1809)

NY
USA

Studio or Business (1862-1869)

480 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC
USA

Studio or Business (1870-1876)

319 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC
USA

Studio or Business (1877)

459 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC
USA

Studio or Business (1878-1880)

225 B Street Northwest
Washington, DC
USA

Death (October 9, 1880)

Washington, DC
USA