Fort Collins Museum - Fort Collins: the Miller photographs

Miller could not have found better mentors than Harry C. Bradley (left) and Claude Patrick (below). Photographer Harry C. Bradley came to Fort Collins in 1899, setting up shop on North College Avenue and using poetry and bold advertising to bring in customers. He soon moved to South College Avenue and built the studio Miller later bought. Around 1908, Bradley fell in love with cars, brought in Patrick to help with his photography business, and became one of the first car dealers in town. Miller, working after school at the fix-it shop near the Bradley Studio, met Bradley and Patrick, and got interested in photography. In 1911, with Bradley selling cars, Patrick bought the studio, taking on Miller as his assistant. Miller never looked back. Patrick, Bradley, and Miller remained lifelong friends. (Left, FCM M06193; below, FCM M00668.)

In mid-1912, Miller opened his own business in Longmont, about 40 miles southwest of Fort Collins. In the early 20th century, photographers often set up their studios in their homes. Millers was probably in his home, the most feasible way for him to make a living taking picturesthe only career that held any interest for him. Millers children John and Beth are unsure how their father financed the studio, which he apparently purchased; he may have gotten a loan or gift from his father, Amos Miller, who always seemed to have money, according to Beth. As Miller helps a customer in his studio, his large studio camera is visible at right, set up in the room with the best light. His photographsmostly portraits, his bread and butterdecorate the outer room. (JCM.)

New Years Eve in 1913 was a special day for Mark Miller and his bride, Effie Hall. They met at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Longmont, but soon afterward, Effie left her job at a store called Noahs Ark to move to her brother Jamess farm near Berthoud because of his severe asthma. Mark rode his bicycle 15 miles to Jamess farm to court her. The photograph at left shows Effie in her wedding clothes. The caption called them her wedding trigs, an old word meaning sharp or neat. The photograph below is part of a series showing the happy couple in their first home. (Both, JCM.)

Effie perches on the porch of the Longmont house at 438 Collyer Street. Though there is a sidewalk in front of the house, it is likely the streets were unpaved. A shed at the back of the property may have held chickens; many town dwellers kept chickens and sometimes ducks, goats, or pigs. (JCM.)