Dates

• Existence: fl. 1859 - 1879

Biography

Joseph Kirkman was a commercial photographer active in South Africa. In 1859 he opened a studio in Greenmarket Street, Cape Town. For a time he was in partnership with William Barclay. In 1860 Kirkman and Frederick York were employed by the Government and the Harbour Board to photograph the tilting of the first truck of stone off the Breakwater by Prince Alfred. In 1866 Kirkman disposed of his studio negatives to Lawrence and Selkirk. He set up a studio in George in 1867, but in December 1868 he returned to Cape Town with a studio at 2 Adderley Street. Kirkman's attempt to reestablish himself was not successful. He retired from professional photography in 1870 and left for New Zealand in 1879 (Bull and Denfield 1970, p.201).

Publications:

Saul Solomon and Co. (1861). 'The Progress of His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, through the Cape Colony, British Kaffraria, the Orange Free State, and Port Natal, in the year 1860 [also known as 'Prince Alfred's progress through South Africa']'. Cape Town: S. Solomon. [Includes photographs by Joseph Kirkman].

Some of Kirkman's photographs also appeared in the 'Cape Monthly Magazine'.

Sources:

Bull, Marjorie and Denfield, Joseph (1970), 'Secure the shadow: the story of Cape photography from its beginnings to the end of 1870'. Cape Town: Terence McNally.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records: