Introduction
 This photograph
album belonged to Hannah Rich of Delaware County,
New York. She was born in 1838 on Rich Hill near
South Kortright, New York, and was the daughter
of James Rich and Jane Southard, also of that
township.
The
album was given to Hannah Rich on the occasion of
her marriage in 1861 to William Blakely Peters of
Bloomville, NY. It contains thirty-eight
portraits taken by some of the pre-eminent
photographers of the day. On the reverse sides of
the photographs is information written in Hannah
Rich Peters' hand, as well as photographers’
trademarks and an occasional date, making the
backs of these photos almost as interesting as
the fronts.
In one
case it is possible to identify a group of
unknown people by trademarks and stamps. An
unidentified man, woman, and little boy went to
the identical photographer in New York City on
the identical day, the date indicated in the tax
stamps as September 6, 1865. What are the odds
three unrelated people would have taken an
unrelated child—in this case identified as
Belle Leonard—with them? It seems more
likely they are all members of the Leonard
family.
Also
included in this treasured album are the
portraits of John (J D) Gibson, D D, and his
wife. The Rev. Gibson performed weddings at the
United Presbyterian Church of Stamford at South
Kortright from 1845 to 1886, and his name appears
on countless Delaware County marriage licenses.
In 2005
this album came into the loving care of Hannah
Rich Peters’ and William Blakely
Peters’ great-granddaughter, Carolyn
Flanders McPherson, and is presented here for the
first time.
Patricia
and Carolyn have attempted to identify all
persons in the album and learn more about them
through research of various records. If you can
help us identify or add further information to
these photos, please contact
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