Encyclopedia Dubuque
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RAGAN, H. H.
RAGAN, H. H. (Turin, Lewis County, New York, 1847--Atlanta, Georgia, October 11, 1895). Ragan graduated from Yale University in 1874 while receiving several literary honors. He then attended Columbia Law School. After graduation, he came to Dubuque where he had a cousin, B. M. Harger. He then formed a partnership in the law with Alphons MATTHEWS.
He began his illustrated lecture business accidentally. After a trip to Europe, he presented an illustrated talk in 1880 for the Sunday school at SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of which he was a member. It was so popular that he was convinced to repeat the talk in Dubuque and in surrounding cities.
The lecture series became so profitable that he carried it on full time when he was not traveling gathering new information. (1)
Upon his death, Charles Kirner, who had worked with Ragan for fifteen years took charge of the picture department for other lecturers. The program was continued for several more years and then copies of the pictures were sold in sets. (2) He was the author of Art Photographs of the World and the Columbian Exposition; an Album of Rare Photographs of the Wonders of the Universe.
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Source:
1. "H. H. Ragan Dead," The Dubuque Herald, October 12, 1895, p. 4
2. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald, June 19, 1896, p. 4