History   Documents   Census Records    Genealogy    Maps    Gallery  Reunion 2007   Scrapbook Ship


Darrell Messer Family Album

Return to Photo Album Index Page

Photographs presented here were copied from multiple Messer Family albums in the possession of Darrel Messer of Harvey and contain images dating from about 1860 through to 1949. Darrell inherited these images from his father Ezra Messer who in turn inherited the earliest images from his father Allan Messer, who would have been a grandchild of the oldest Messer and Speedy photographs contained in the collection. The 19th century images are made up of variety of photograph types including tintypes, cabinet cards and carte-de-viste. Although some images are identified the majority are not. The ordering of images presented on these pages is the same as in the albums so it is likely that many groupings of photographs are of associated family members. The albums are interesting in that they trace the diaspora of this family from Harvey to New England and British Columbia although a large number of photographs, particularly early 20th century box camera images seem to have been taken on the family farm on the Frog Lake Road in Harvey.

Images were provided courtesy of Darrell Messer and copied by Tim Patterson 26 July 2007. Information on any persons illustrated, particularly the unknowns, would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Tim Patterson at: tim.patterson@carleton.ca.

Album Page 1, 2, 3, 4 << 5 >> 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

2990. Undated cabinet card (after 1897) of three children. Photographer: ISAAC ERB & SON 13 CHARLOTTE ST. ST. JOHN, N.B.* Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

*Isaac Erb was a professional photographer whose career spanned more than 50 years, from 1870 to 1924. In 1877 Erb set up his studio in a second floor location at 13 Charlotte Street in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Whether in the studio or on location, Erb's camera captured the many facets of contemporary Saint John, and his work led him also throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Maine. The composition of his portraits and commercial photographs showed the artistic temperament of this 19th century cameraman. His attention to detail and unique perspective on his subjects contributed in equal parts to his success in a business marked by transiency and brevity. By the end of his career he had produced more than 12,000 images, all of which he meticulously recorded in his logbook. The approximately 3,400 extant glass negatives make up the most comprehensive collection of its kind in the Maritimes, and one of the best in Canada" - Taken from booklet, "The Isaac Erb Collection" His only son, John Erb, joined the father’s business in (subsequently called Isaac Erb and Son). John subsequenly inherited the business upon Isaac’s death in 1924.


2993. Undated portrait photograph of male subject. Photographer: *Harvey, 164 Queen St. F'ton, N.B. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

* Probably the best known name in Fredericton for photography has been the Harvey Studio founded by John Harvey in 1883, following his two years of related studies in New York. The studio has been in operation on Queen Street, in the city’s downtown, for 115 years and is still going strong today. John Harvey ran the business until his death in 1901. His widow, Martha, carried on for another 16 years, with techical assistants Walter Lister, and later Jack DeMille. She installed a negative printing machine – a wonder of the day, and prospered until 1917. At that time the business was sold to photographer Frank Pridham who chose to keep the reputable Harvey name for his sole proprietorship for the next 40 years.

2996 .Undated cabinet card of unknown subject. Photographer: G.A. Burkhardt, Fredericton, N.B. Back of card shown in image 2997 below. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

 

2997. Back of undated cabinet card of unknown subject in image 2996. Photographer: G.A. Burkhardt, Fredericton, N.B. Back of card reads. From Burkhardt, 226 Queen Street, Fredericton, N.B. The negative is preserved for future use. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

2998. Undated cabinet card of unidentified couple. Fredericton, N.B. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

 

2999. Undated portrait photograph of two unknown male subjects. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3000.Portrait photograph of unknown couple. Caption on bottom reads St. John, N.B. Sept. 18th 1999. Based on clothing date probably should be 1899. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3001. Undated portrait photograph of two unidentified children. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3002. Undated portrait of unidentified man. Photographer: Gray, 1030 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass.Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3003. Undated portrait photograph of unidentified man. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

 

3004. Undated portrait photograph of two unidentified children. Sour.e: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

 

3005. Undated cabinet card of unidentified woman with bicycle standing on fur carpet in front of classic backdrop with fabric rolls overhead. Possibly a joke photograph unless finished version was to be heavily cropped? Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3006. Undated portrait of unidentified woman in unusual diamond shaped framing. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3007. Undated tintype of four unidentified women. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3008. Undated tin type of two unidentified women. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3009. Undated tin type of unidentified couple. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.E.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3010. Undated tintype of four unidentified women. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3011. Undated tintype of unidentified man. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3012. Undated portrait of Nellie Hay (identified on back of photograph - 3013 below), daughter of William" Billy" Hay and Sarah "Sally" Dorcas. Photographer: *Harvey, Fredericton. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

* Probably the best known name in Fredericton for photography has been the Harvey Studio founded by John Harvey in 1883, following his two years of related studies in New York. The studio has been in operation on Queen Street, in the city’s downtown, for 115 years and is still going strong today. John Harvey ran the business until his death in 1901. His widow, Martha, carried on for another 16 years, with techical assistants Walter Lister, and later Jack DeMille. She installed a negative printing machine – a wonder of the day, and prospered until 1917. At that time the business was sold to photographer Frank Pridham who chose to keep the reputable Harvey name for his sole proprietorship for the next 40 years.

3013. Back of undated portrait of Nellie Hay above - 3012, (identified here on back of photograph), daughter of William" Billy" Hay and Sarah "Sally" Dorcas. Photographer: *Harvey, Fredericton. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

 

3014. Undated carte-de-visite of two unidentified children. Photographer: G.A. Burkhardt (Fredericton, N.B.) Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing

3015. Undated portrait photograph of unidentified woman. Source: Darrell Messer, Harvey, Rephotographed by Tim Patterson. 26 Jul 2007.

Medium Sized
Pop-up Image

Full Sized
Pop-up Image
For Printing