Utes crossing a stream near Los Pinos Indian Agency (present day Pagosa Springs).
HS. Poley photo.
“Be remembered for things that matter.”
_ Frank Sonnenberg, The Path to a Meaningful Life
Farmington to Shiprock stage. HS. Poley photo.
Horace Swartley Poley
Horace Swartley Poley, a Colorado Springs photographer, created a major collection of photographic images of Native Americans in the southwestern United States. During summer vacations Poley served as photographer with archaeological expeditions in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and southwest Colorado. He recorded landscapes, cityscapes, and events in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Poley was noted for his travelogue lectures employing his images in "magic lantern" shows, according to Denver Public Library
Two catastrophic fires in late April of 1896 nearly wiped out the fast-growing Colorado gold camp city of Cripple Creek — near the height of its ascendance. Reporting on event, and its consequences, took up much of next decade in the local, national, and literary and historical analysis.
In one of the more fascinating studies of before and after the fires, local photographer Horace Swartley Poley documented what the town had been and how it struggled to regain its position in the scheme of things.
Bull fight in Gillett. HS. Poley photo.
He previously documented other events in the Gold Camp such as his famous and exhaustive set of photos of the bull fights in Gillett in 1895. He completed fabulous work in his decades of documenting Southwestern archeology and Native American culture. His train and railroad photography rivals giants of the period, such as William Henry Jackson, Robert Richardson, and Otto Perry.
Poley, of course was famous for his work in the Pikes Peak region and throughout the West.
"Horace Swartley Poley created a major collection of photographic images of Native Americans in the southwestern United States. Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania in 1864, Poley moved to Colorado in the 1880s and was a resident of Colorado Springs for sixty-two years. Poley started a commercial photo studio in 1892 and remained an active photographer until 1935.
"Everyone has a photographic memory, some don't have film." _
_ Stephen Wright
My heroes have been cowboys and photographers
Farmington to Shiprock stage. HS. Poley photo.
By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com
For years now, I have marveled at early Colorado photographers and their life's work. Working sometimes as a "machine gunner" myself — shooting thousands of images of film, and then, SD cards full of frames for various newspaper gigs, I am surprised by their proficiency with glass plates, and mule packs. And can't get over how they knew a shot was going to live forever. Two amazing figures, from more than a 100 years ago in Colorado photography stand out. Horace Swartley Poley, and William Henry Jackson. Needless to say, they are my heroes. Still today, their images have relevance and reverence for the ages.
Horace Swartley Poley, a Colorado Springs photographer, created a major collection of photographic images of Native Americans in the southwestern United States. During summer vacations Poley served as photographer with archaeological expeditions in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and southwest Colorado. He recorded landscapes, cityscapes, and events in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Poley was noted for his travelogue lectures employing his images in "magic lantern" shows, according to Denver Public Library
Two catastrophic fires in late April of 1896 nearly wiped out the fast-growing Colorado gold camp city of Cripple Creek — near the height of its ascendance. Reporting on event, and its consequences, took up much of next decade in the local, national, and literary and historical analysis.
In one of the more fascinating studies of before and after the fires, local photographer Horace Swartley Poley documented what the town had been and how it struggled to regain its position in the scheme of things.
He previously documented other events in the Gold Camp such as his famous and exhaustive set of photos of the bull fights in Gillett in 1895. He completed fabulous work in his decades of documenting Southwestern archeology and Native American culture. His train and railroad photography rivals giants of the period, such as William Henry Jackson, Robert Richardson, and Otto Perry.
Poley, of course was famous for his work in the Pikes Peak region and throughout the West.
"Horace Swartley Poley created a major collection of photographic images of Native Americans in the southwestern United States. Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania in 1864, Poley moved to Colorado in the 1880s and was a resident of Colorado Springs for sixty-two years. Poley started a commercial photo studio in 1892 and remained an active photographer until 1935.
In addition to his photographic work, Poley served as head of the U.S. Postal registry department in Colorado Springs. During summer vacations, Poley served as photographer with archaeological expeditions in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and southwest Colorado. He recorded landscapes, cityscapes, and events in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado.
According to the Pioneer's Museum in Colorado Springs, "Horace Swartley Poley (August 1863 Norristown, PA – June 7, 1949 Colorado Springs) was a professional photographer and traveling lecturer.
But who is this character?
I can only give you what I know today. Perhaps, as is the way with digging in the history pile, I will know more tomorrow.
"Poley moved to Colorado in the 1880s and was a resident of Colorado Springs for sixty-two years. Poley started a commercial photo studio in 1892 and remained an active photographer until 1935. In addition to his photographic work, Poley served as head of the U.S. Postal registry department in Colorado Springs. Colorado Restless Native reached the important milestone of three quarters of a million page views.During summer vacations,
The Denver Public Library obtained the Poley collection in 1937.
But how about a photo of the photographer? What was he like? And his family? Let's try to personalize this.
I feel like I know the fellow a little better, even though it has been more than 100 years.
He complemented his lectures by projecting his photographs onto a screen by "magic lantern"—an early form of photo projector. He donated many of his photographs of native Americans, archaeological sites in Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, and life in the developing southwest to the Pioneer Museum in Colorado Springs.
As some of you know, or have guessed, I have great love for old photos. And in cases, I feel like I have come to know a few of these old shutterbugs from a hundred years ago, or at least their style and work. It is a fascinating bit of time travel for me. I have, of course, seen Poley's stuff before.
His train and railroad photography rivals giants of the period, such as William Henry Jackson, Robert Richardson, and Otto Perry.
But who is this character?
I can only give you what I know today. Perhaps, as is the way with digging in the history pile, I will know more tomorrow.
"Poley moved to Colorado in the 1880s and was a resident of Colorado Springs for sixty-two years. Poley started a commercial photo studio in 1892 and remained an active photographer until 1935. In addition to his photographic work, Poley served as head of the U.S. Postal registry department in Colorado Springs. Colorado Restless Native reached the important milestone of three quarters of a million page views.During summer vacations,
The Denver Public Library obtained the Poley collection in 1937.
But how about a photo of the photographer? What was he like? And his family? Let's try to personalize this.
Well, I got lucky and found the above photo with the following information.
Studio bust portrait of the Poley family. Margret Ferguson Poley has short bangs and wears a pince nez, a blouse and jacket with puffed sleeves and ruffled lace collar with a flower or heart charm. Frank Ferguson Poley has short hair and wears a shirt with probably a wide starched collar, Horace Swartley Poley has a mustache and wears a bow tie and jacket over a shirt with a straight, starched collar. Elizabeth Poley Schrader has short bangs and wears a dress with puffed sleeves and wide laced collar.
Margret Ferguson Poley, Frank Ferguson Poley, Horace Swartley Poley, Eliszabeth Schader and "about 1893" inked on verso.
Margret Ferguson Poley, Frank Ferguson Poley, Horace Swartley Poley, Eliszabeth Schader and "about 1893" inked on verso.
I feel like I know the fellow a little better, even though it has been more than 100 years.
Horace Swartley Poley (August 1863 Norristown, PA – June 7, 1949 Colorado Springs) was a professional photographer and traveling lecturer. He complemented his lectures by projecting his photographs onto a screen by "magic lantern"—an early form of photo projector.
He donated many of his photographs of native Americans, archaeological sites in Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, and life in the developing southwest to the Pioneer Museum in Colorado Springs. He also donated many native American artefacts to the Pioneer Museum, according Gary Alan Sinton. in reference to "Find a Grave."
Poley's family residence in Colorado Springs.
• Wife - Margaret Ferguson
• children
_ Elizabeth
_ Francis
• Buried: June 10, 1949, Source: City of Colo Springs cemetery data March, 20, 2009
• Wife - Margaret Ferguson
• children
_ Elizabeth
_ Francis
• Buried: June 10, 1949, Source: City of Colo Springs cemetery data March, 20, 2009
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