Bruton, James Edward, 1838 -1918 (photographer)

Person

Staff Only

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 1 Collection or Record:

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

Filtered By

Subject: Eastern Cape, Province of (province) X