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Burton Brothers (fl. 1868-1898) (photographers)

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: fl. 1868 - 1898

Biography

Alfred Henry Burton was born in England in 1834. In circa 1868 he joined his brother Walter Burton in Dunedin, New Zealand, where Walter had established a photographic business (Turner 1996, p.282). Walter advertised as being 'of the firm of John Burton and Sons, of Leicester, Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham, and Burton-upon-Trent, England, Artist and Photographer' in Mackay's Almanac for 1867 (Knight 1971, p.46). Trading under the name 'Burton Brothers', Alfred and Walter remained in business together until 1876, when their partnership was dissolved (Turner 1996, p.282). Initially the company seems to have been primarily involved in selling fancy goods, engraving and hiring out masonic regalia. They later became successful publishers of photographic views, employing photographers to take topographical views and photographs of special events and expeditions (Knight 1971, p.47). Walter died in 1880. However, Alfred continued to trade under the name 'Burton Bros' until 1898, apparently appointing Thomas M.B. Muir to take over the portrait work ( Knight 1971, p.51). In 1898 Alfred sold his remaining interests to Muir and Moodie. Alfred was most famous for his trip up the Wanganui River in April and May 1885. His photographs from this trip form one of the most important records of Maori life. He spent his last years teaching elocution at Knox College. Alfred died in 1914 (Turner 1996, p.282; Knight 1971, pp.46-52).

Publications:

Burton Brothers (1884), 'The Camera in the Coral Islands'.

Burton Brothers (1884), 'New Zealand through the Camera'.

Burton Brothers (1886), 'The Maori at home: a catalogue of a series of photographs illustrative of the scenery and of native life in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand', Dunedin: Burton Bros.

Burton Brothers (1889), 'Wintering on Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri'.

Sources:

Turner, Jane ed. (1996), 'The dictionary of art'. Volume 5. New York: Grove.

Knight, Hardwicke (1971), 'Photography in New Zealand. A social and technical history'. Dunedin: John McIndoe.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

 Fonds

New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3089D
Scope and Contents An album containing mounted prints, most measuring approximately 200 x 140 mm, depicting the landscape and people of New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa. All the prints except for ten are signed and captioned by Burton Brothers. The ten unsigned photographs, mainly of Maori warriors, are the work of American Photo Company, Auckland (Y3089/53-54) and Pulman Studio, Auckland (Y3089D/58-65). The album breaks down into geographical locations thus:65 prints of New Zealand10 prints of...
Dates: 1884 - 1885
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

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  • Subject: American Samoa (dependent state) X