WThe New York Public Library  /  Photographers’ Identities Catalog
PIC ID: 7661

Rufus Morgan

American, 1846-1880

Male

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Born in Virginia in 1846, Rufus Morgan was a photographer in North Carolina by 1866. Largely itenerant throughout that state, his stereoviews of scenery, public buildings and private residences had garnered significant notice by the close of the decade. He was based in New Bern in 1869, where it was noted that he documented the total solar eclipse of August 7. He announced the closure of his studio there for the month of September, presumably to gather views elsewhere in North Carolina. He was still in New Berne for the census of 1870, which indicated that he could not read or write. If this was correct, it did not hamper his business or his fame throughout the state. He was regularly in Raleigh, though he did not settle there until late 1872, and was again based there in 1875. He was based in Morganton when he married Mary D. Clark, daughter of a prominent attorney and Superior Court Judge, on November 11, 1873. By 1876, Morgan was dividing his time between photography and bee keeping. establishing for some time in Goldsboro both an apiary and a photographic tent while his wife advertised the teaching of languages and music. In January of 1879 he decided to pursue bee keeping full time, and removed to a ranch outside of San Diego, California. His wife and two infant children intended to join him once established. In letters to friends published in the Goldsboro papers he wrote at length of bees, the beauty and lonliness of his new landscape, and the Mexican food- but make no mention of photography. His wife and children were still in New Bern when he died unexpectedly on April 5, 1880 after eating poisonous mushrooms.

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Locations

Rufus Morgan has 15 locations.

Birth (1846)

VA
USA

Active in (1866)

Tarboro, NC
USA

Active in (1869-1870)

New Berne, NC
USA

Active in (1872-1875)

Raleigh, NC
USA

Active in (1872-1873)

Warrenton, NC
USA

Active in (1873)

Morganton, NC
USA

Active in (1873)

Wilmington, NC
USA

Active in (1873-1874)

Charlotte, NC
USA

Active in (1874)

Saint Augustine, FL
USA

Active in (1874)

Oxford, NC
USA

Active in (1876)

Hickory, NC
USA

Active in (1877-1878)

Goldsboro, NC
USA

Active in (1877)

Old Fort, NC
USA

Active in (1879)

Rancho Bernardo, CA
USA

Death (April 5, 1880)

San Diego County, CA
USA