Information and discussion on all aspects of British photographic history
Hello friends. I feel lucky to have stumbled on this group, as perhaps it will help me solve a mystery!
I am interested in seeing whether any work survives of a photographer living and working in London in 1948. His name was Tom Thomas (so, Thomas Thomas - full name Thomas Cyril Thomas) and he was in the Air Force during the Second World War and became a professional photographer afterwards.
I can't find any listings for him in public directories for the time, and nor does anything show up on Google.
I'd be very grateful if anyone could suggest how I might try to find any of his work!
Many thanks :)
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He may have been working for a company or as an employee which might explain why he isn't listed separately, It may be worth checking to see if he was a member of the Institute of British Photographers, now the British Institute of Professional Photographers (www.bipp.com)
Thank you for the suggestion Michael! I've contacted them, here's hoping... :)
Michael Pritchard said:
He may have been working for a company or as an employee which might explain why he isn't listed separately, It may be worth checking to see if he was a member of the Institute of British Photographers, now the British Institute of Professional Photographers (www.bipp.com)
I have the IBP Handbook for 1951 with full details of all members and there is no listing for Tom or Thomas Thomas. I have another photography source book from 1950 which doesn't include him. The Focal Press published a Who's Who of Photographers in about 1950. I don't have a copy but there is one in the British Library, might be worth a look.
Thank you Matthew, how kind of you to check for me. That's a great suggestion, I'll see if the BL can help me :)
Matthew Mawson said:
I have the IBP Handbook for 1951 with full details of all members and there is no listing for Tom or Thomas Thomas. I have another photography source book from 1950 which doesn't include him. The Focal Press published a Who's Who of Photographers in about 1950. I don't have a copy but there is one in the British Library, might be worth a look.
Philippa, many photographers became photographers without joining any photographic associations, maybe worked from home or leased a studio, so a search may be difficult, have you any photographs that you can show that are attributed to him. Many Air Force personnel were involved in photographic mapping & reconnaissance using large technical cameras which maybe would have led to a commercial style photography career after the war.
Thank you David, that's very useful information. I have no photos by Tom, but would love to find some. I'll keep searching!
David Martin Todd said:
Philippa, many photographers became photographers without joining any photographic associations, maybe worked from home or leased a studio, so a search may be difficult, have you any photographs that you can show that are attributed to him. Many Air Force personnel were involved in photographic mapping & reconnaissance using large technical cameras which maybe would have led to a commercial style photography career after the war.
Nothing from the BIPP yet....will give them a little while longer, all things considered! :)
Philippa Moore said:
Thank you Matthew, how kind of you to check for me. That's a great suggestion, I'll see if the BL can help me :)
Matthew Mawson said:I have the IBP Handbook for 1951 with full details of all members and there is no listing for Tom or Thomas Thomas. I have another photography source book from 1950 which doesn't include him. The Focal Press published a Who's Who of Photographers in about 1950. I don't have a copy but there is one in the British Library, might be worth a look.
Victoria and Albert Museum's photography collection
National Science and Media Museum
RPS Journal 1853-2012 online and searchable
Photographic History Research Centre, Leicester
Birkbeck History and Theory of Photography Research Centre
William Henry Fox Talbot Catalogue Raisonné
British Photography. The Hyman Collection
The Press Photo History Project Mapping the photo agencies and photographers of Fleet Street and the UK
The correspondence of William Henry Fox Talbot
Historic England Archive
UAL Photography and Photography and the Archive Research Centre
Royal Photographic Society's Historical Group
www.londonstereo.com London Stereoscopic Company / T. R. Williams
www.earlyphotography.co.uk British camera makers and companies
Fox Talbot Museum, Lacock.
National Portrait Gallery, London
http://www.freewebs.com/jb3d/
Alfred Seaman and the Photographic Convention
Frederick Scott Archer
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