Boston Harvey L. - Butler County: the Boston Studio collection

This book is the culmination of a desire to both preserve and to make available to others the artistic work of Butler County studio photographer Harvey L. Boston. At the same time, it is a desire to perpetuate the memory of the people who found themselves posing before Bostons camera.

It is easy to look at old photographs and be either amazed or amused at the clothing fashions of long ago. But beyond the costuming, it must be remembered that each Boston Studio portrait is otherwise a look at people who once lived and who wanted to make permanent an important moment in their lives so that others could share in their elation. Therefore, thanks is expressed to those who have given freely of their time and talent in order that the Boston Studio collection now can allow future generations to learn about past generations.

The following people made this book possible by their collaboration. Susan R. McLain readily agreed to serve as author and to provide her expertise on the subject of historic clothing. Jim Reisdorff originated the idea for the book and served as book editor.

Bonnie Luckey of the Boston Studio Project served as coordinator for the selection of images. Kenny Pohl, a Boston Studio Project volunteer, researched many of the details regarding the lives of the people depicted. Another volunteer, Jeanne Hain, also assisted with photographs. Other individuals or institutions were of assistance by their actions. The David City Area Foundation (now the Butler County Area Foundation) originally acquired the Boston negative collection from the McVay family and retained it for eventual preservation. Kay Schmid and the staff of the Hruska Memorial Public Library provided support leading to the housing of the Boston collection at the library. The board of the Thorpe, Inc., lent its support by assuming ownership of the collection. Tom Morgan made a monetary donation that provided initial funding for the Boston Studio Project. The Nebraska Committee for the Humanities, by its support of the author, has allowed her to expand her knowledge of former clothing fashions. As a blanket statement of thanks, assistance was provided by a number of persons who have donated clothing of historic value to the author in order to further enhance her understanding of vintage fashions. Similarly, a blanket statement of appreciation is extended to all those who have volunteered their time in preparing the Boston Studio negative collection for public use.

Every effort was made to correctly identify former customers of the Boston Studio as to their name and community (when available). However, insufficient or conflicting information was occasionally found when comparing Boston Studio records with other sources. In these instances, the most seemingly reliable source was used to identify the person (or persons). Any and all mistakes that may have occurred concerning the identity or personal details involving any person depicted in this book are the responsibility of the editor and the Boston Studio Project.

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One

HARVEY L. BOSTON THE PHOTOGRAPHER

The only known photograph that shows Harvey L. Boston at work in his studio is one that shows Boston photographing himself. This split image, taken and put together at an unknown date, shows Boston both ready to trip the camera shutter and also posing in front of one of the backdrops commonly used for close-up portraits. Backdrops could then be purchased from the Montgomery Ward mail-order catalog for between $4 and $8.

Harvey L. Boston (18711927) sat for his own portrait at an unknown date. He is wearing a three-button sack suit, typical business attire of the 1890s. The Boston Studio, originally located in a frame building near downtown David City, moved to a new brick building in June 1901. (This building is currently an attorneys office.) Over the years, Boston had several assistants in his studio. Some later went into the photography business for themselves in Nebraska and Kansas. Boston received many awards for excellent work at photography contests. He served for a time as vice president of the Nebraska State Photographic Association.

Margaret Boston (18701951) was a pioneer resident of David City. Born at Rock Bluffs, she was a member of the third David City High School graduating class. She married Harvey L. Boston on August 15, 1899. They had two daughters. Photographed by her husband, Margaret is wearing one of the big hats that were the fashion rage around 1907. An upstanding woman of the community, she was for years an active worker in the Womens Christian Temperance Union. Margaret continued to operate the Boston Studio after Harveys death.

Harvey L. Boston used the techniques learned from his studio business to document his own family as well. Here, around 1902, he is pictured with his two young daughters, Edith (left) and Floy. As daughters of the local photographer, many images of them as children are found in the Boston Studio collection.

Edith (right) and Floy Boston grew up before their fathers camera. Here they are wearing what was fashionable for little girls in 1909. Edith later assisted her father in the studio and following his death in 1927 assumed active management of the studio along with her mother. Edith married Anton Proskovec in 1941 and moved to Omaha but continued to commute to David City to operate the studio until Floy and her husband, A. C. Prof Hurlbert, took over the business in 1945.

Harvey L. Bostons portrait-taking skills were extended to his own family. John A. Boston (18311913) was Harveys father. Born in Pennsylvania, he served as a Union infantryman in the Civil War. He lived in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, and Rushville, Nebraska, before moving to David City in 1891. John farmed and ran a blacksmith shop while living in David City. From this 1901 portrait is noted a chain on which hung a pocket watch. Most men then had one.