history

THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOCIETY.

The first mention of a photographic society being formed in Manchester is to be found in the Minute Book of the former Liverpool Photographic Society. In his "History of the Liverpool Amateur Photographic Association " George Good, A.R.P.S., states

"At the meeting of the 5th June, 1855, a letter from Mr. Edward Knight, of Manchester, was read, and it stated that a number of photographic amateurs, being anxious to form a society on similar principles to the Liverpool Photographic Society, were desirous of being furnished with a copy of the rules. These had been sent with the best wishes for the success of the society. Thus the Manchester Photographic Society was founded, and has been in continuous existence ever since, unlike most of the other societies of that time, including Liverpool, which faded out for a period."

Here it seems is a mystery as deep as that of the "Man in the Iron Mask ". Who was Edward Knight? What became of him between the date of his letter and the inaugural meeting of the society on Friday, the 10th August, 1855? Did he die? Was he just not good enough? We can find no trace of him. He was not at the opening of the society, nor was he ever a member. Who were the amateurs who wished to form a society? We can trace a John T. Ankers, a Wilmot Holt of 6, Birch Polygon, Rusholme, and S. C. Bennett of 7, Greenheys Lane, all of whom keenly interested in amateur photography; but none of them became members. Were they just ordinary men who could not find a place in the distinguished company which formed the new society? That the members who formed The Manchester Photographic Society were indeed distinguished there can be no doubt.

Full details of the opening meeting of the society may be found in the press of the day-" The Manchester Guardian," "The Manchester Courier," "The Manchester Examiner and Times "-; we give here a short excerpt from the "Examiner & Times " of the 11th August, 1855.

"This society, the formation of which has been already announced, held an Inaugural conversazione yesterday evening, in the lecture theatre of the Royal Manchester Institution. About two hundred ladles and gentlemen, many of them members of the society, which, we understand, already numbers close upon 150, were present, and the Lord Bishop of Manchester presided. Among those present we noticed Rev. W. J. Reid and lady; Mr. John Proteus; Mr. Thos. D. Thorpe and lady; Mr. A. Kelham and lady; Mr. T. Haywood and lady; Mr. Wm. Taylor and lady; Mr. Thos. Agnew, jun. and lady; Mr. J. D. Travis and lady; Mr. J. Casartelli; Mr. Samuel Cottam; Mr. White and lady; Mr. G. Jackson and lady; Mr. D. Ashton and lady; Mr. Thos. Alcock and lady; Mr. B. Fothergill and lady; Professor F. C. Calvert and lady; Mr. A. Nield; Mr. R. M. Pankhurst; Mr. James Nasmyth and lady; Mr. J. Adshead; Mr. T. Clegg and lady; etc., etc.

His Lordship said that, when requested to preside, he had felt, as he ever did, it a duty he owed to the inhabitants of Manchester to contribute any assistance in his power to what he sincerely believed to be a good object. He spoke of the influence of associations such as this, having common pursuits and common objects, in promoting not only good feeling, but in advancing those pursuits, whatever they might be. Photography which, was still in Its Infancy, had already been applied to many most important objects in science. He alluded particularly to the discoveries of Mr. Brooke, by which philosophical instruments were made their own registers, and also to an engraving by Mr. Langhton, which was photographed, with the assistance of Mr. St. Vincent Beechey, on the wood on which the drawing was cut. His lordship concluded by saying, that he did not agree with those who thought that the study of photography would probably be Injurious to art. No such thing. On the contrary, high art, he believed, would materially be assisted by photography, and he thought that much had been said on this subject in misconception."

The Vice-Presidents of the society were all worthy men.

William Fairbairn was chairman of the executive committee of the Arts Exhibition in 1857; in 1867 he presented to the Manchester Corporation the Albert Memorial in Albert Square on behalf of the subscribers. He stated in 1870 that he had designed and built nearly 1,000 bridges in all parts of the world, among them being the tubular bridge over the Menai Strait. His reputation as an engineer and scholar was high. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

A. J. Scott, M.A., had been Professor of English Literature in University College, London, and on the formation of Owens' College in 1851 he became the Principal of the College.

James Nasmyth was a famous engineer. He started as a mechanical engineer in Dale Street, but had to leave these premises, one of his engines having driven through the floor, making a sad mess of a crockery shop beneath. When the directors of the Great Western Company were desirous of building a large steamer, the "Great Britain," they found that no forge in the country could undertake the forging of the paddle shaft, which was thirty inches in diameter, and the engineer wrote to Nasmyth in despair; "What am I to do? Do you think I might dare use cast-iron?

Nasmyth got out his "scheme-book" and in half-an-hour his sketch of a steam-hammer was complete, and he wrote back assuring his friend that the shaft could be forged at last.

Professor E. Frankland was professor of Chemistry at Owens' College.

It was said of Dr. James Prescott Joule, the great scientist, that he was of a retiring nature and it was hardly realised in Manchester how great a man he was. The outside scientific world knew him well. He received the Gold Medal of the Royal Society in 1852, the Copley Gold Medal in 1870, and the Albert Medal of the Society of Arts, from the hands of the Prince of Wales, in 1880.

Thomas Turner had founded the Manchester School of Medicine in 1822. It was the first medical school established in the provinces, and on account of its excellent equipment was allowed, in 1836, to attach the prefix "Royal " to its name. Dr. Turner lived for the greater part of his life in Mosley Street, and nevertheless attained a ripe old age.

Eminent men were also to be found on the Council of the society. W. C. Williamson, professor of Natural history at Owens' College, who later became a vice-president. Thus, of the five professors appointed to Owens' College, three were founder members of The Manchester Photographic Society. J. B. Dancer was a well-known optician and maker of lenses, and a successful worker of the daguerreotype process. He occupied premises at 43, Cross Street. Dancer played a large part in the application of the camera to the lantern, and he gave popular exhibitions with views of France and Egypt at the Mechanics' Institution. He was particularly interested in stereoscopic work, and secured the adoption of the proper distance apart of the lenses used in stereoscopic cameras.

Thomas Ransome had premises in Princess Street where the Town Hall now stands. He was a chemist but dealt in all kinds of photographic goods. J. J. Pyne was also a photographic chemist with premises at 63, Piccadilly nearly opposite Portland Street.

Another member of the Council was probably one of the most lovable of Manchester's sons, Oliver Heywood followed his father, Sir Benjamin Heywood in the management of Heywood's Bank in St. Ann's Square, which in 1876 became the Manchester and Salford Bank. He was also the first man to receive the honorary freedom of the City. He was greatly respected by all who knew him. His statue is to-day in Albert square. He died in 1892 at the age of 67 at his home, Claremont House, Pendleton.

These were the men who founded The Manchester Photographic Society.

THE SOCIETY'S PREMISES

The first meeting took place at the Royal Institution, Mosley Street, and the first Council meeting at he Diocesan Registry at the invitation of the Bishop.

Later meetings were held in the Mechanics' Institution, and in 1856 in the rooms of the Literary & Philosophical Society in George Street.

After the dissension in 1864, the 24 seceding members founded the photographic section of the Literary & Philosophical Society, while the remaining loyal members removed to 14, Ridgefield, John Dalton Street, and then to 8, John Dalton Street, in 1865, paying a rental of 12 guineas per annum. In 1866 the Society held a soiree in the newly completed Memorial Hall, Albert Square, and meetings were held there until 1881. The Technical School became the next meeting place. Throughout, the Society had difficulty in obtaining rooms, and their association with the Literary & Philosophical Society seems to have been most unfortunate. For example in 1855 the honorary secretary reported that there had been so much delay and disappointment with the George Street rooms, and that the terms and conditions put forward by the Literary and Philosophical Society were objectionable, he would propose that the Society should meet again in the Memorial Hall. He was instructed to make the necessary arrangements. Terms with the agents, Marshall, Gibbon & Co., were completed on the basis of £27 for 17 evenings, including the large room and the smaller room for Thursday evenings.

At the end of 1886 the question of rooms for the next year was considered, and strong opposition was taken by Alfred Brothers, later supported by E. Leader Williams, to continue in the Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall, said Brothers, was too large and was bad for hearing, and often cold and cheerless. The rooms at George Street were most suitable for scientific meetings. The younger members protested at the proposed removal. The older members, however, out-voted the more progressive minded members and the Society left the Memorial Hall once more for George Street. It is interesting to reflect that the Society from this time on lost members and gradually declined. Here is another Minute which shows the danger of allowing old (and perhaps influencial) members to rule a society; at the annual general meeting Alfred Brothers criticised the report presented to the Society by the Council, he questioned the propriety of making the meetings too popular, by placing pictures of an amusing character on the screen. Such a course was unworthy of the foremost society in the Kingdom, which, he said, should confine itself to the scientific side of photography. At a meeting held in George Street in 1887, Mr. Chadwick, the honorary secretary protested at the lack of interest shown by members, the unpopularity of outdoor meetings and the general stagnation in the Society. He also questioned the influence of professional photographic members. Brothers again carried the day against younger members. His reply makes interesting reading to-day " Mr. Brothers said he would like to tell the members that he commenced photography many, many years ago as an amateur with ordinary glass for a lens and a cigar box for a camera, he made progress and became a professional photographer but was now an amateur again, and that during the whole course of his professional career he had always been most willing to impart any information he possessed to members of the Society, except his starch processes for enlarging upon canvas, and that, though everybody did not know it, still the photographic world was indebted to him for many valuable inventions and ideas amongst others vignetting by tissue paper."!!!

The membership of the Society on leaving the Memorial Hall in 1886 had been 130; by 1890 it had dropped to 63 members. In a report published in the British Journal in March, 1890 it was stated that the meetings of late had been conspicuous in the lack of interest displayed, and although competitions might be better than nothing at all, it would be a pity to see that course adopted in this Society, a course which the members felt was beneath the dignity of what The Manchester Photographic Society ought to be.

Early in 1896 trouble again took place about the rooms at George Street. The Literary Society demanded more rent, declaring that the photographic society had used the rooms on extra occasions for which no payment was made and they insisted on all photographic members leaving the rooms by the time "the clock struck nine." Correspondence shows that each Society accused the other of unbecoming conduct, and finally new rooms were obtained in the premises of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, 44, Mosley Street, their Board Room and Anti-room being obtained for 30 meetings per annum for £25. The hours to be 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

By 1903 the membership of the Society had fallen to below 50 and it was no longer possible to continue in the Mosley street rooms. Arrangements were made with the new Municipal School of Technology in Sackville Street and the meetings were now held in the Photographic Laboratory there. The first lecture was by Mr. C. W. Gamble, head of the Photographic and Printing Crafts Department. No mention of any fee is made in the records, but a resolution was passed that the Society's Library be placed at the disposal of Mr. Gamble's students.

In 1905 the Society had entered its worst period. Meetings were now in the "Exeter Restaurant " 135 Deansgate, the average attendance being 11 members. They were held regularly here until 1920. In 1935 meetings were at 33, Seymour Grove, later in the Y.M.C.A. Peter Street, the Milton Hall, Deansgate, and finally at 2, Victoria Street.

It is sad to read in the Minutes of a Council meeting held in September, 1891, that a letter be sent to the Rev. Canon Beechey because he had not paid his subscription for two years. Canon Heechey, then 83 years of age, was a founder member, had paid his full subscription when he went to Norfolk (see page 24), had been a member for 36 years during ten of which he had been President. Apart from the fact that the Society owed its continuous existence to his action in 1864 when the Literary & Philosophical Society had attempted to absorb it. One wonders why such a mean action was done. Since it was at George Street that this resolution was passed might it be a last revenge by those who supported the Literary Society! It is kinder, however, to think that the Council who passed the resolution, not having the old Minute Books, had no knowledge of the great work done on behalf of the Manchester Photographic Society by Canon Beechey. The old man must have taken the matter very much to heart for he wrote a letter to Alfred Brothers which was not read to the Council and we find the following resolution "that it be a recommendation of the Council to the Members of the Society that Canon Beechey be elected an honorary member in recognition of his past services and long connection with the Society."

In May, 1892 we read that the meeting was terminated in order that the members could proceed to the Free Trade Hall to hear a lecture by a Mr. H. H. Ragan on Alaska, Illustrated by the optical lantern on a screen of very large dimensions.

In August, 1892 it was considered whether the Society should be represented at the Photographic Convention or taking part therein, but the conclusion arrived at was that there was very little to gain by so doing.

On Friday, the 14th February, 1896, S. L. Coulthurst gave a lecture "Street Life in Manchester " which proved of considerable interest.

Another lecture of great interest was a description of his two journeys in the Central Caucasus by Herman Woolley in February, 1897.

T. Morley Brook was a member 1897.

In 1898 Mr. S. L. Coulthurst had visited Italy, and he later gave a lantern lecture "Highways and Byways in Venetia." The print which we illustrate on page 55 is from a Carbon print made from a negative made on this visit to Italy.

The last year of the century saw the passing of two old members, Canon St. Vincent Beechey and J. Billcliff.

The Society had become more active since leaving the room in George Street and the lectures up-to-date. S. L. Coulthurst gave a lecture on Enlarged Negatives in 1899, and Harry Wade demonstrated Ozotype. Early in 1900 S. L. Coulthurst gave a talk on the Manchester Photographic Survey and illustrated his talk with lantern slides.

At another lecture three new films were demonstrated; Sandell, Secco and Wellington.

Alfred Brothers was elected an honorary member, October, 1900.

On the 7th January, 1910, there passed away W. G. Coote at the age of 82 years. He had been honorary treasurer of the Society for over 30 years, and had been a regular attending member for 42 years.

Source: Eshborn, C. (1955) One Hundred Years of Photography: The Centenary of the Manchester Photographic Society 1855-1955, Manchester: MPS.