Photo-Era: The American Journal of Photography was an American magazine for amateur photographers published in Boston from 1898 to 1932.The magazine was published through March 1932. Vol. 68 No. 3 (March 1932) at archive.org
Publishers Published by Photo Era Co. 185 Franklin Street, Boston, at its launch in May 1898, the magazine was sold for 15c a copy or $1.50 annual subscription. It advertised itself as "The New Illustrated Monthly of Progress in the Science and Art of Photography. An up-to-date publication for Amateurs and Professionals" with illustrations in color, photogravure and heliotype.Advertisement, The Standard Union, Tuesday 05 Dec 1899, p.8 The magazine headquarters moved later to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.The News-Herald, Thursday, 08 Jan 1925, p.7
Contents The target audience was mainly the dedicated amateurReading Times, Friday 11 Apr 1924, p.8 for whom the magazine published such articles as "How Design Comes Into Photography", by Harvard lecturer Denman W. Ross in December 1899,The Buffalo Review Saturday 13 Jan 1900, p.4 and "Water Front Scenes" by William S. Davies, Bruce Keith's "A Home Made Adjustable Daylight Enlarger", and "Photography in the Tropics", written by H. C. Cornthwaite in its September 1915 number,Montpelier Evening Argus, Tuesday 07 Sep 1915, p.3 with instructions for successful photography in the opposite conditions in the snow in February 1900The Buffalo Review, Saturday, 10 Feb 1900, p.4 alongside an interview with the first man to be photographed in the United States, nonagenarian Dr. Charles E West.Bangor Daily News, Saturday, 10 Feb 1900, p.11 The magazine included regular sections including the results of its Beginner and Advanced competitions; 'The Crucible', which detailed photographic formulae; 'On the Groundglass', discussing individual images and series; and 'News Events'.
Editors In 1906 Wilfred A. French (1855–1928), formerly of photographic supply firm Benjamin French & Co. purchased the magazine and became managing editor, later selling it but remaining associate editor.The Boston Globe, Monday 06 Aug 1928, p.15 A. H. Beardsley was president of Photo Era Publishing Company and editor until the cessation of publication in 1931.Groton Times, Friday 03 Apr 1931, p.1Box Elder News-Journal, Friday 07 Sep 1928, p.1 Phil M. Riley was associate editor from 1904 to 1912,The Boston Globe, Tuesday 23 Feb 1926, p.4 and C. B. Neblette was associate editor from 1927.The Eagle, Saturday 25 Apr 1931, p.1 Capt. R. H. Ranger, inventor of the photoradiogram wireless photo transmitter-receiver, was also briefly associate editor.Dayton Daily News, Sunday 21 Dec 1924, p.78 Other editors were Juan C. Abel who was Manager from inception, and Thomas Harrison Cummings. J. W. Barber, Joseph Prince Loud, Henry Lewis Johnson, and George Jepson constituted an Advisory Board from the date of establishment.
Contributors Among prominent contributors were Sadakichi Hartmann, often writing under the name Sidney Allan;St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sunday 12 Apr 1936, p.81 and New Jersey professor of art Warren R. Laity.The Central New Jersey Home News, Tuesday 15 Sep 1936, p.13
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