Hamilton Biscoe Hillyer
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Hamilton Biscoe Hillyer (August 14, 1835 - December 10, 1903) was a photographer in Texas. He had a studio in Austin. He was the official state photographer, and photographed state legislators, producing composites of members of the Texas House of Representatives.
Early life
[edit]He was born in Georgia to Rev. John Freeman Hillyer and Mary Adeline née Biscoe Hillyer. His family arrived in Galveston, Texas December 1, 1847 and moved to Goliad, Texas in 1848. His father established Hillyer Female College there before moving to Gonzales, Texas in 1852 and teaching at Gonzales College.[1]
Career
[edit]H. B. Hillyer worked as a cowhand on a large cattle ranch for five years.[1] He ordered an ambrotype kit from Anderson & Blessing in New Orleans in 1857. Hillyer had a studio in Austin and used tent studios to travel.[2] In addition to portraits, he also did Austin and events including a fire and flooding.
His photographs included daguerreotypes, ambrotypes,[1] carte de visites, stereoscopic images, and gelatin silver prints.[3]
He was vice president of the National Photographic Association in 1872, and published "technical articles" in The Philadelphia Photographer and Texas Farm and Ranch.[1]
He photographed architect Arthur M. C. Nixon of Nixon & Wilson, a partnership with William W. Wilson) at the corner of Congress Avenue and Bois d'Arc.
He worked with his son C. Ernest Hillyer, who also became a photographer.[4]
Later life
[edit]He married Mary Emma Storey and they had four children from 1858 until 1885. After she died he married fellow photographer Alice Danforth Turner in 1887 and they had two children.[citation needed]
Later in life he loved in Belton, Texas and then Bowie, Texas.[5]
He is buried at Bowie Cemetery.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Association, Texas State Historical. "Hamilton B. Hillyer: Pioneer Photographer of Texas". Texas State Historical Association.
- ^ "Hillyer, H. B., 1835 - 1903. (Artisan or Artist entry)". texasartisans.mfah.org.
- ^ "[Man with Mustache and Bow Tie]".
- ^ Hillyer, C. Ernest; Hillyer, Elizabeth (Betty); Hillyer, H. B. (Hamilton Biscoe); Hillyer, Hattie (Mrs C. Ernest Hillyer); Hillyer, John Freeman; Hillyer, Louise. "Hillyer Family: An Inventory of its Literary File Photography Collection at the Harry Ransom Center". norman.hrc.utexas.edu.
- ^ Palmquist, Peter E.; Kailbourn, Thomas R. (June 20, 2005). Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-4057-9 – via Google Books.