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Harris, Robert, fl. 1880-1899 (photographer)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: fl. 1880 - 1894

Biography

Robert Harris was a commercial photographer active in South Africa. He had a studio at Donkin Street, Port Elizabeth, 1880-1890 (Bensusan 1963, p.236). He exhibited photographs at the Port Elizabeth Exhibition 1885 and the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London, 1886. From 1891 to 1894 Harris was in partnership with Thomas McKnaught (Bensusan 1963, p.236). Harris produced a number of photographically illustrated books.

Publications:

Cowan, Charles (1882), 'Southampton to South Africa'. [Contains photographs by Harris]

Harris, R. (c. 1876), 'Photographic views of Port Elizabeth and neighbourhood'.

Harris, R. (188?), 'Photographic album of South African scenery'.

Harris, R. (1888), 'South Africa illustrated'.

Sources:

Bensusan, A.D. (1963), '19th century photographers in South Africa'. 'Africana notes and news'. Volume 15, number 6, pp.219-252.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

 Item

Johannesburg, Witwatersrand, Transvaal, 1886 - 1887

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y305C/82
Scope and Contents

192 x 125 mm. Showing the city of Johannesburg in its early stages, with single-storey buildings and tents on the Witwatersrand ridge. A photograph probably taken in 1886-7 during the first year of the city's life. Surface gold was discovered on the Witwatersrand in 1884 but it was not officially declared an open mining area until 1886.

Dates: 1886 - 1887
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: 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).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / 'South Africa Illustrated by a series of one hundred and four permanent photographs', Port Elizabeth : R Harris, 1888
 Item

Witwatersrand Gold Mining Company, Knight's Battery, 1888

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y305C/84
Scope and Contents

193 x 124 mm. Showing the stamp battery buildings in the course of erection. William Knight came to the Witwatersrand in July 1886 and formed Knight's Witwatersrand Gold Mining Company which was registered on 8th January 1887. This was the first Rand Gold Mining Company to be registered in the Transvaal.

Dates: 1888
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: 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).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / 'South Africa Illustrated by a series of one hundred and four permanent photographs', Port Elizabeth : R Harris, 1888
 Item

Witwatersrand main reef workings, showing banket formation, 1888

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y305C/85
Scope and Contents

190 x 125 mm. Showing neatly excavated trenches on the Witwatersrand, with groups of miners digging in the background. Banket is rock containing pebbles and is associated with the presence of gold.

Dates: 1888
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: 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).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / 'South Africa Illustrated by a series of one hundred and four permanent photographs', Port Elizabeth : R Harris, 1888

Filtered By

  • Type: Archival Object X
  • Subject: Witwatersrand (general region) X

Additional filters:

Subject
Gauteng (province) 1
Johannesburg (inhabited place) 1
 

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