Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BILBROUGH, John E.
Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bilby-9&id=I2079
JOHN E. BILBROUGH. (Derby, England, Feb. 18, 1838--Kansas City, KS, July 20, 1921). Bilbrough received his education in Brentwood in Essex and Leeds, Yorkshire with a focus on the fine arts. He came to America in 1862 and lived in Toronto, Canada for fifteen months before moving to Wisconsin for three years. (1) He lived for a short time in Chicago, Illinois for a short time before settling in Dubuque in 1864. Bilbrough established his business on the corner Main and Eighth STREETS and had a home on Broadway. (2)
The 1880 Dubuque County history noted that his business was successful to the point that he had recently purchased, for taking cabinet and life-size portraits, two instruments made by J. H. Dalmeyer, of London--"the finest and best made in the world." (3)
In November 1895 the studio announced that a new "rich olive tone" tint called Aristo Platino was being offered along with a new line or backgrounds he had purchased on a trip east. (4)
The State Historical Society of Iowa has a collection of eight stereographs he produced including three views of a series of wreaths given by groups in Dubuque to Mrs. Garfield in sympathy following the death of her husband, the president. The other views entitled "Views of Dubuque & Vicinity," were of scenes around the City of Dubuque. (5)
The 1890-91 Dubuque City Directory listed the corner of 8th and Main.
The 1899-1900 Dubuque City Directory listed 797 Main.
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Source:
1. "Iowa Stereographs, Online: https://iowaculture.gov/sites/default/files/History%20-%20Research%20-%20Collections%20-%20Photograph%20and%20Audio-Visual%20-%20Stereo%20Photographers%20%28PDF%29.pdf
2. Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties. Chapman Publishing Company, 1894, p. 266
3. Palmquist, Peter E. and Kailbourn, Thomas R. Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2005, p. 110
4. "At Bilbrough's Studio," Dubuque Daily Herald, November 6, 1895, p. 7
5. "Iowa Stereographs..."
Oldt, Franklin. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western History Company, 1880, p. 767