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Bruton, James Edward, 1838 -1918 (photographer)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1838 - 1918

Biography

James Edward Bruton (also known as Brunton) was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. His parents had settled in South Africa in 1820. He first opened a photographic studio in 1858, opposite the Lyceum in Port Elizabeth. In 1859 he moved to Jetty Street, Port Elizabeth, working as a photographer and tobacconist. Bruton married Mary Ann Woodman and eventually had five children. In 1874 he moved to Cape Town (Bull and Denfield 1970, pp.189-90). Between 1876 and 1897 he appears to have been located at 74 Adderley Street, Cape Town (Bensusan 1963, p.227). Bruton moved to Douglas, Isle of Man in the 1890s (Bull and Denfield 1970, pp.190).

Publications:

Several of Bruton's photographs were printed in: 'Cape Monthly Magazine', 'Eastern Province Magazine and Port Elizabeth Miscellany', 'Cape Farmers' Magazine' and 'Illustrated London News [May 26th 1866]'.

His images were also included in the jubilee publication 'On the landing of the British settlers of 1820 in Algoa Bay'.

Sources:

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

Bull, Marjorie and Joseph Denfield (1970) 'Secure the shadow : the story of Cape photography from its beginnings to the end of 1870 '. Cape Town: T. McNally.

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

 Item

[?Mrs E.J. Dunn], 1875 - 1879

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y305L/11
Scope and Contents 59 x 94 mm. A carte de visite three quarter length studio portrait of a woman standing beside a table, on which are a book and inkpots. This is most probably a portrait of Elizabeth Julie Dunn (nee Perchard, of Jersey), whom Dumm married in 1875. The backmark reads; 'From the photographic studio of James E. Bruton, photographer, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope. Cartes de visite enlarged to life size and finished in colours. Marion, Imp, Paris'. The photograph was probably taken in the...
Dates: 1875 - 1879
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 / Edward John Dunn Collection
 Fonds

Palmerston Hotel, Port Elizabeth

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3059K
Scope and Contents 177 x 146 mm. An albumen print mounted on card bearing the letterpress: 'J.E. Bruton, Photographer, Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope' (thus certainly dating the print to before 1874 when Bruton left Port Elizabeth to set up a studio in Cape Town). The print shows the front facade of the two- storied stone built hotel with a group of men and women posed on the verandah for the photographer. The name of the proprietor, James R. Rumsey, can be read above the entrance. The hotel, situated...
Dates: 1865
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).
Found in: Cambridge University Library
 Item

River scene by Makapan's Gat, Waterberg, Transvaal, 1880

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3059M/2
Scope and Contents

104 x 153 mm. For a similar river scene, by presumably the same (unidentified) artist, see Y3059M/1.

Dates: 1880
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 / Cartes-de-Visite of paintings of the Transvaal
 Item

Springbokflaatte, Waterberg, Transvaal, 1880

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3059M/1
Scope and Contents

103 x 150 mm. A photographic copy on a carte-de-visite mount of a painting of a river scene in the Springboks Flats area of the northern Transvaal. Artist unidentified.

Dates: 1880
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 / Cartes-de-Visite of paintings of the Transvaal
 Item

[Unidentified portrait], 1850 - 1930

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y305L/31
Scope and Contents

40 x 53 mm. (Vignetted oval). A carte de visite head and shoulders portrait of an unidentified bearded man. Pencilled on the reverse of the mount is the word 'Bredasdorp', a town 10 miles east-south-east of Cape Town. The backmark reads; 'From the photographic studio of James E. Bruton, photographer, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope. Cartes de visite enlarged to life size and finished in colours. Marion, Imp, Paris'.

Dates: 1850 - 1930
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 / Edward John Dunn Collection

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 4
Collection 1
 
Subject
Transvaal (general region) 2
Western Cape, Province of the (province) 2
Bredasdorp (inhabited place) 1
Cape Town (inhabited place) 1
Eastern Cape, Province of (province) 1
∨ more
Port Elizabeth (inhabited place) 1
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