Royal Commonwealth Society : Views in Newfoundland, 1899-1911

S H Parsons and Sons

Royal Commonwealth Society

<p style='text-align: justify;'>An album containing mounted prints, measuring approximately 200 x 150 mm. and with handwritten captions beneath the prints. An interesting collection, it shows scenes, industries and sports in Newfoundland around the turn of the century. The majority of the photographs appear, by comparison with pictures of a known date from printed sources, to have been taken nearer the earlier date assigned to the album. Prints which fall into the later category are plates 13, 19 and 53, taken in 1910, 1911 and 1911 respectively (Simeon Parsons died in 1908 and these photographs would have been taken while his son was running the business). The only photograph in the album not signed by Parsons is plate 52, taken before 1892. Plates 59-67 were removed before the album was donated to the Royal Commonwealth Society.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Simeon H. Parsons (1844-1908) was a commercial photographer born at Harbour Grace on Newfoundland Island. He established a photographic studio in 1871 and received a Silver Medal and Certificate of Honour at the Barcelona Exhibition of 1888. He had a studio and fine art emporium at 310 Water Street, St John's, Newfoundland.</p>