University Museums and Special Collections Service Dann-Lewis Photographic Collection P DX322 c.1880s - 1930s 46 boxes (c.1775 items) Accession number: c.1880s - 1930s Dann-Lewis Photographers, 1856 - c.1940, of Reading The history of the Dann-Lewis photograph studio, which remained a family firm until its closure in the 1940s, began in 1856 when Mrs Dann opened a shop at 35 Broad Street. This almost undoubtedly makes her Reading's first female professional photographer, and something of a pioneer. Fox Talbot had removed his business from the town less than a decade previously, and since then only Alfred Barber (a daguerrotypist) is known to have been operating in Reading. Indeed, social conventions dictated that Mrs Dann's husband Francis, a Great Western Railway worker, should give his name to the business. The studio was therefore registered as belonging to him, and his name appeared both over the door and in the local business directory. Although portraiture provided much of the early business, engagements also included local scenes and landmarks, pictures of outlying villages, important buildings, developing x-rays for the Hospital and regular visits to the Reading Police Station to photograph new prisoners. Further premises had been acquired at 744 Oxford Road by the late 19th century. On Mrs Dann's retirement, the business was taken over by her grand-daughter, who had grown up in the family business. Her marriage to Mr Henry Lewis (noted for his "Magic Lantern Shows") led to a combination of their names: the business became Dann-Lewis, and is listed as such in the 1903 local directory. By that time the business had moved from Broad Street to London Street. When Henry Lewis died, his son, Walter, ran the business, by then at 27 Argyle Street, until its closure some time after the Second World War. The Dann/Lewis collection was deposited in the Rural History Centre by Mr Henry Lewis of Swallowfield in April 1984 It consists of about 2000 glass plate negative, together with a few original prints and documentation (P DX322/P1-7) An accurate dating system is yet to be established, but it is thought that most were taken between the 1880s and the 1930s. All the negatives and prints within the collection have been digitised and attached to the catalogue (with the exception of the 16 x 20 glass plates [P DX322 PH1/DL9/1-23]) as part of the Reading Connections Project funded by Arts Council England (ACE), April 2013-April 2014. 1 University Museums and Special Collections Service System of The main series of Negatives (P DX322/DL1-1166) appear to be in Arrangement: their original order, while other items are arranged in nine supplementary series (from P DX322/DL1/1 to P DX322/DL9/23). P DX322/P1 Notebook of engagements P DX322/P1 Notebook of engagements P DX322/P2 Carte-de-visite P DX322/P3 Copy prints P DX322/P4 Prints originally bound in album P DX322/P5 Prints found loose in album P DX322 P4 P DX322/P6 Postcards P DX322/P7 Prints from glass negatives no longer available P DX322/DL1-1166 Negatives (half plate glass) P DX322/DL1/1-52 Negatives (12×10 glass / film) P DX322/DL2/1-59 Negatives (12×10 glass) P DX322/DL3/1-40 Negatives (12×10 glass) P DX322/DL4/1-131 Negatives (12×10 glass / film) P DX322/DL5/1-22 Negatives (whole plate / 10×8 / 9×6 glass) P DX322/DL6/1-154 Negatives (half / quarter plate glass / film) P DX322/DL7/185 Negatives (half / quarter plate glass / film) P DX322/DL8/1-41 Negatives (whole plate / 10×8 / 9×6 glass) P DX322/DL9/1-23 Negatives (16×20 glass) Conditions The University of Reading holds the copyright in this archive. The governing making of single copies for private study and non-commercial reproduction: research purposes may be permitted in accordance with our usual rules (http://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/using/sc- facilities.aspx). Enquiries regarding commercial reproduction should be directed to MERL in the first instance (http://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/collections/merl-imagelibrary.aspx) Date of April 2014 description: P DX322 P Prints and associated material [1880-1930s] sub-fonds 1 box (90 items) P DX322 P1 Notebook of engagements for Dann Lewis magic lantern shows 1888-1897 file 1 bound volume Noting the subject shown at each engagement 2 University Museums and Special Collections Service P DX322 P2 Carte-de-viste portraits, possibly of Dann family c.1880 series 17 items P DX322 P2/1 Carte-de-viste portrait of old woman, thought to be Mrs Dann c.1890 item 1 item P DX322 P2/2 Carte-de-viste portrait of a young child, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/3 Carte-de-viste portrait of a man and woman, possibly members of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/4 Carte-de-viste portrait of a man, woman and young child, possibly members of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/5 Carte-de-viste portrait of old woman thought to be Mrs Dann and old man c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/6 Carte-de-viste portrait of a young man with a banjo, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/7 Carte-de-viste portrait of a child, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 3 University Museums and Special Collections Service item 1 item P DX322 P2/8 Carte-de-viste portrait of a child, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/9 Carte-de-viste portrait of a young woman, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/10 Carte-de-viste portrait of a young child, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/11 Carte-de-viste portrait of a woman thought to be Mrs Lewis and young child c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/12 Carte-de-viste portrait of a man thought to be Mr Henry Lewis c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/13 Carte-de-viste portrait of a man throught to be Mr Henry Lewis c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/14 Carte-de-viste portrait of young child, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item 4 University Museums and Special Collections Service P DX322 P2/15 Carte-de-viste portrait of an old lady and young child thought to be Mrs Dann and a great-grandchild c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/16 Carte-de-viste portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P2/17 Carte-de-viste portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Dann family c.1880 item 1 item P DX322 P3 Copy prints made by the Rural History Centre from original prints showing the Dann family [1984] series 4 items Original date c1880 P DX322 P3/1 Black and white print of a young woman, possibly a member of the Dann family [1984] item 1 photographic print Original date c1880 P DX322 P3/2 Black and white print of a man holding a baby, possibly members of the Dann family [1984] item 1 photographic print Original date c1880 P DX322 P3/3 Black and white print of a boy playing a drum, possibly a member of the Dann family [1984] item 1 photographic print Original date c1880 P DX322 P3/4 Black and white print of a young girl, possibly a member of the Dann family 5 University Museums and Special Collections Service [1984] item 1 photographic print Original date c1880 P DX322 P4 Black and white photographic prints removed from album c.1930s series 27 prints P DX322 P4/1 Black and white photographic print of window display for 6 day white sale, Heelas, Broad Street, Reading c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/2 Black and white photographic print of window display, Heelas, Broad Street, Reading c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/3 Black and white photographic print of window display of shoes, Heelas, Broad Street, Reading c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/4 Black and white photographic print of window display for Columbia Records c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/5 Black and white photographic print of rugby or football team c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/6 Black and white photographic print of rugby or football team c.1930s item 1 print 6 University Museums and Special Collections Service P DX322 P4/7 Black and white print of working on the embankment at Simonds brewery, Bridge Street, Reading c.1930s item 1 print Main office in background P DX322 P4/8 Black and white print of working on the embankment at Simonds brewery, Bridge Street, Reading c.1930s item 1 print Main office in background P DX322 P4/9 Black and white photographic print of a Leyland solid tyred lorry belonging to Simonds brewery c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/10 Black and white photographic negative of a Charabanc motor coach c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/11 Black and white photographic print of poster of the auditorium at Vaudeville Theatre, Reading c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/12 Black and white print of Oxford Road looking west towards Tilehurst station c1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/13 Black and white photographic print of road improvements at Norcot Road, Tilehurst c1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/14 Black and white photographic print of road improvements at Norcot Road, Tilehurst 7 University Museums and Special Collections Service c1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/15 Black and white photographic print of road improvements at Norcot Road, Tilehurst c1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/16 Black and white photographic print of pumps made by Pulsometer Engineering Co, Reading c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/17 Black and white photographic print of pumps made by Pulsometer Engineering Co, Reading c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/18 Road improvements, Oxford Road/Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst [station on right] c.1930s item 1 print P DX322 P4/19 Black and white photographic print of painting by R H Carter entitled "Help" c.1930s item 1 print