Williams Studio Glass Negatives Collection, ca. 1859-1920s

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Williams’ Studio

Title: Glass Negatives Collection, ca. 1859-1920s

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these photographs, contact the Collections Department.

Size of Collection: 3 boxes

Location Number:  994PC17

Finding aid created by: Hailey Brangers

Date finding aid created: 24 April 2026

Date finding aid last updated: 24 April 2026

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of three boxes of collodion wet plate and gelatin dry plate negatives taken by either John W. Williams or his son, Otho H. Williams, of Shelbyville, Kentucky. John and Otho were both professional photographers in Shelby County. Photographs in this collection are of their family and friends, different scenes around Shelby County, and views in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mississippi, where John’s sons, John and Wesley, lived respectively. Boxes are sorted by size and then subject. See full item list for more details about individual photographs.

Box 1 contains a mix of wet and dry plate (5″ x 7″) glass negatives of the following subjects: Williams family and their residences, miscellaneous groups and people of Shelbyville, Grove Hill Cemetery, New Orleans, and Pass Christian and Henderson Point, Mississippi.

Box 2 contains a mix of wet and dry half plate (4 1/2″ x 5 1/2″) glass negatives of the following subjects: Williams family and unidentified negatives.

Box 3 contains a mix of wet and dry quarter plate (3 1/4″ x 4 1/4″) glass negatives of the following subjects: miscellaneous views of Shelbyville, Grove Hill Cemetery, New Orleans, the Williams family, unidentified people, and a trip to Florence, Italy.

The collection has been fully digitized. Please speak to Filson staff about accessing the digital files to reduce handling of the physical glass negatives.

Items were box-level inventoried at some point by Otho H. Williams, and this original ledger is housed with the Williams Studio Glass Negatives Added Collection [024PC27].

Related collections:
Williams’ Studio Glass Negatives Added Collection [024PC27]
Williams’ Photography Studio. Ledgers, 1865-1929. 2 vols. [Mss. BB W726]

 

Biographical Note

John Wesley Williams (1821-1907) was born to Judge Wesley Williams (1792-1870) and Elizabeth Hughes Ayers Williams in Paris, Kentucky. In 1854, he married Ann Wilson (1834-1909) of Bloomfield in Shelby County, Kentucky. They had ten children together: Otho, Robert, Wesley, Mary, Susie, Samuel, Archibald, John, Thomas, and Henry. Archibald, Samuel, Mary, and Susie all died either in infancy or as young children. While most of the children stayed in Shelby County, John moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, and Wesley moved to Mississippi. John W. worked as an artist of miniature portraits in Shelbyville before starting his professional photography business in 1851, after the development of the daguerreotype photographic process. He continued photographing professionally until 1906, when he retired due to declining health.

Otho Hughes Williams (1855-1947) was born to John and Ann on October 9, 1855, in Shelby County. Like his father, Otho worked professionally as a photographer in Shelby County and later Mississippi while he lived with his brother Wesley. Otho remained unmarried throughout his life, moving back to Shelbyville and living with his brothers Tom and Henry on Frankfort Road (Route 60) as he got older. Based on his personal ledger, Otho continued taking photographs into his 80s. He died in Shelbyville in 1947 at the age of 91.

Robert “Bob” Wilson Williams (1857-1884) was born with a physical disability that required frequent bedrest. He was employed in the Adams Express office as an express messenger and baggage master on one of the trains until he was unable to continue physically. He died at the age of 26 from complications of his disability.

Wesley Williams (1862-1925) worked as a printer, possibly for the Williams photography company sometime around or before 1880. In 1886, he married Georgiana Margaret Foreman (1863-1931) in Louisville. Wesley and Georgiana moved to Louisville sometime between 1886 and 1900, and there Wesley worked as a ticket broker. Wesley spent much of the 1890s traveling throughout the western United States and abroad. The family moved to Pass Christian, Mississippi, where Wesley began working as a real estate agent and later as a cashier at Jackson Runs Sundry Company. Wesley died in 1925. Georgiana married his brother Henry shortly after.

John Frazier Williams (1870-1945) married Letha Ragan (1873-1962) in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1888. John and Letha had one son, Horace W. Williams (1890-1953), before divorcing in 1899. John was remarried in New Orleans to Susie M. Stephens, with whom he had one son, Otho H. Williams (1902-1968). John worked as a printer in New Orleans, teaching Otho the trade. He eventually became the owner and manager of the Deluxe Press. He died in 1945 at the age of 75.

Henry Green William (1875-1962), Thomas’s twin, practiced as a dentist in Shelbyville before moving to Pass Christian, Mississippi. Henry worked as a real estate agent while living in Mississippi. He married Wesley’s widow, Georgiana Foreman Williams, shortly after Wesley’s death in 1925. Henry moved back to Shelby County some time before 1940 and continued working as a dentist. He died of cardiac asthma at the age of 86 in Shelbyville.

Thomas Duncan Williams (1875-1962), Henry’s twin, worked as an electrician to help put Henry through the Louisville College of Dentistry. Henry went into practice in 1900 and then helped finance Thomas’s tuition at the same institution. They opened a joint practice in 1903. Thomas married Margaret Caughey in Shelbyville on June 15, 1910. They had two children, Ann R. and John Travis Williams, who both died in infancy. Their daughter Margaret, also known as Peggy, is featured in the photographs. She married William A. Miller, a veteran of World War II.

 

 

Box List (click for full item list)

Box 1

994PC17.001 Studio portrait of a Williams family member, possibly Wesley or John.
994PC17.002 Stereoview of unidentified man, possibly a Williams brother.
994PC17.003 Tom (1875-1962), Henry (1875-1962), and Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909)
994PC17.004 Tom Williams (1875-1962) aged 8 years
994PC17.005 Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams
994PC17.006 Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams and unidentified boy
994PC17.007 Henry Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.008 Studio portrait of Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams sitting on stump with castle backdrop
994PC17.009 Studio portrait of Margaret ‘Peggy’ Williams Miller (1914-1994) sitting in a peach tree
994PC17.010 Maragret ‘Peggy’ Williams Miller (1914-1994)
994PC17.011 Maragret ‘Peggy’ Williams Miller (1914-1994)
994PC17.012 Maragret ‘Peggy’ Williams Miller (1914-1994)
994PC17.013 Group portrait at “Mrs. Abbot’s” of Aunt Mag, Susie, Otho H. Williams (1902-1968), and Tom Williams (1875-1962), August 1908
994PC17.014 Group portrait “at Wesley’s” of Ann Wilson (1834-1909), Tom (1875-1962), Henry (1875-1962), Wesley (1862-1925), John Frazier (1870-1945), George, and Otho H. Williams (1902-1968)
994PC17.015 Wesley Williams (1862-1925) in pine woods with a gun, Henderson pt.
994PC17.016 Otho H. Williams (1902-1968) on Tom Williams’ (1875-1962) back
994PC17.017 Group portrait at Mrs. Abbot’s (?) possibly of Aunt Mag, Susie, Otho Hughes (1855-1947), and Tom Williams (1875-1962), 1909
994PC17.018 Group portrait at Mrs. Abbot’s (?) possibly of Aunt Mary, Otho Hughes (1855-1947), Otho H. (1902-1968), and Tom Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.019 Studio portrait of unidentified toddler, possibly Robert Williams
994PC17.020 Studio portrait of unidentified toddler, possibly Robert Williams, standing on a chair
994PC17.021 Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909)
994PC17.022 Unidentified baby in stroller encircled by vine leaves
994PC17.023 Studio portrait of unidentified boy
994PC17.024 Two unidentified girls, likely relatives
994PC17.025 Group portrait of Williams and Caughey family
994PC17.026 Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) and Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909)
994PC17.027 Williams family meat house
994PC17.028 Unidentified Williams family residence
994PC17.029 Bleak House, Williams family residence
994PC17.030 Bleak House, Williams family residence
994PC17.031 “Goodnight Reunion” Group portrait of unidentified family, possibly Williams or Edmonson
994PC17.032 “Goodnight Group 8” Group portrait of unidentified family, possibly Williams
994PC17.033 Group portrait of unidentified family, possibly Hyter Tinsley family
994PC17.034 Studio portrait of unidentified man, possibly Will McGrath
994PC17.035 Group portrait of unidentified family, possibly Nathan Edmonson family
994PC17.036 Group photo of either “Goodnight Reunion” or Glensboro Christian Church group
994PC17.037 Stereoview of Old Shelbyville
994PC17.038 Detour bridge over Clear Creek or Old Guist Creek bridge
994PC17.039 Stereoview of Old Shelbyville
994PC17.040 Stereoview of Old Shelbyville
994PC17.041 Plot covered in flowers at Grove Hill Cemetery, possibly a Williams or “General Bell”
994PC17.042 Ann Wilson Williams’ (1834-1909) grave at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.043 Ann Wilson Williams’ (1834-1909) grave at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.044 Ann Wilson Williams’ (1834-1909) grave at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.045 Stereoview of an unidentified man next to Archie (1865-1867) and Samuel Williams’ graves at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.046 Archie (1865-1867) and Samuel Williams’ graves at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.047 Henry Williams (1875-1962) with Ann Wilson Williams’ (1834-1909) grave at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.048 Stereoview of the Caldwell monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.049 “Ours at Grove Hill”
994PC17.050 Caldwell monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.051 Confederate Soldiers Monument at Metairie Cemetery
994PC17.052 Unidentified man and diver standing in front of canal
994PC17.053 “Old Familiar Street”
994PC17.054 Unidentified house, possibly in New Orleans, maybe at 7th and Camp
994PC17.055 A man, possibly Henry Williams (1875-1967) with John Wesley Williams Jr.’s (1862-1925) grave
994PC17.056 A man, possibly Henry Williams (1875-1967) with John Wesley Williams Jr.’s (1862-1925) grave
994PC17.057 “Looking Along the Beach”
994PC17.058 Wooded path in Henderson Point
994PC17.059 Beachfront path, possibly Lover’s Lane
994PC17.060 Wooded marsh in Henderson Point
994PC17.061 Miss Dock’s cottage
994PC17.062 On the road to Pass Christian
994PC17.063 Ocean view at Henderson Point / Wesley’s
994PC17.064 Ocean view at Henderson Point / Wesley’s
994PC17.065 Ocean view at Henderson Point
994PC17.066 Ocean view at Henderson Point
994PC17.067 Pier with possible storm damage at Henderson Point
994PC17.068 Live oak avenue at Henderson Point
994PC17.069 Beach view at Henderson Point
994PC17.070 Studio portrait of John Wesley Williams (1821-1907)

Box 2

994PC17.071 Studio portrait of John Wesley Williams (1821-1907)
994PC17.072 Copy of a daguerreotype of John Wesley Williams (1821-1907)
994PC17.073 Studio portrait of John Wesley Williams (1821-1907)
994PC17.074 Studio portrait of Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909) and Henry Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.075 Studio portrait of John Wesley Williams (1821-1907)
994PC17.076 Group portrait of eight members of Williams family on top of a roof, possibly a college. Pictured are Henry (1875-1962), Tom (1875-1962), and possibly John, with four unidentified women and a young boy, possibly John’s son Otho or Horace.
994PC17.077 Group portrait of Williams family on steps, including John Wesley Williams (1821-1907), Ann Wilson Williams 91834-1909), Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams, Aunt Mary, Welby Dive
994PC17.078 Group portrait of Williams family on steps, including John Wesley Williams (1821-1907), Ann Wilson Williams 91834-1909), Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams, Aunt Mary, Welby Dive
994PC17.079 John Wesley Williams (1821-1907), Tom (1875-1967) and Henry Williams (1875-1967) standing outdoors
994PC17.080 Studio portrait of Henry Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.081 “Ma and Henry” Studio portrait of Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909) and Henry Green Williams (1875-1967)
994PC17.082 Otho H. Williams’s (1855-1947) photo setup with tent wrecked
994PC17.083 Otho H. Williams’s (1855-1947) photo setup with tent at Little Mt
994PC17.084 Studio portrait of Otho H. Williams (1855-1947) with his stereo camera
994PC17.085 Unidentified child, possibly Otho Williams (1902-1968) according to the ledger
994PC17.086 Studio portrait of Otho H. Williams (1855-1947), six years old
994PC17.087 Studio portrait of Otho H. Williams (1855-1947) bust near profile
994PC17.088 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962) at six years old, sitting on fringed chair
994PC17.089 Studio portrait of adolescent Tom Williams (1875-1962) sitting on fringed chair
994PC17.090 Studio portrait of a side view of Otho H. Williams (1855-1947)
994PC17.091 Creek with unidentified man and tripod photography setup, possibly Otho H. Williams (1855-1947)
994PC17.092 Studio portrait of Otho H. Williams (1855-1947), quarter side view
994PC17.093 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962) and “Will Hill”
994PC17.094 Tom (1875-1962), Otho (1902-1968), and John (1870-1945) Williams at Milneburg Pier
994PC17.095 Studio portrait of Henry Williams (1875-1962) and Aunt Mag at “Wayne Gallery”
994PC17.096 Studio portrait of Henry Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.097 Studio portrait of Henry Williams (1875-1962) at six years old sitting on fringed chair
994PC17.098 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962). Note on inventory reads, “Last one at New Freeman Gallery”
994PC17.099 Tom (1875-1962), Henry (1875-1962), and Ann Williams (1834-1909) sitting on a bench on their 21st birthday at the school yard
994PC17.100 Studio portrait of Henry (1875-1962) Williams in girls’ clothing; a bonnet and medallion
994PC17.101 Studio portrait of Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams
994PC17.102 Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams on their 20th birthday at the college
994PC17.103 Studio portrait of Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams as toddlers
994PC17.104 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962) and Betty
994PC17.105 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.106 Tom (1875-1962) and Henry (1875-1962) Williams sitting on bench
994PC17.107 Studio portrait of Henry Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.108 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.109 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962) and Betty
994PC17.110 Studio portrait of Tom Williams (1875-1962)
994PC17.111 Studio portrait of Robert “Bob” Williams (1857-1947)
994PC17.112 Studio portrait of an unidentified woman.
994PC17.113 Unidentified man in doorframe.
994PC17.114 Studio portrait of an unidentified older man, possibly “Grandpa Bob”
994PC17.115 Studio portrait, possibly of “Aunt Fanny”
994PC17.116 Studio portrait (bust) of “Aunt Mag,” Margaret Wilson
994PC17.117 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994) and Dorothy
994PC17.118 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994)
994PC17.119 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994)
994PC17.120 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994)
994PC17.121 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994)
994PC17.122 Unidentified young woman
994PC17.123 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994)
994PC17.124 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994)
994PC17.125 Margaret ‘Peggy’ Wilson Williams (1914-1994) holding a book
994PC17.126 Studio portrait of unidentified woman
994PC17.127 Studio portrait of unidentified woman
994PC17.128 Unidentified woman sitting on porch, possibly cousin Mag Davis
994PC17.129 Tintype of unidentified young man
994PC17.130 Studio portrait of unidentified woman, possibly “Cousin Bet Eades”
994PC17.131 Studio portrait of unidentified little girl, possibly Mary Elizabeth Williams
994PC17.132 Ambrotype of unidentified woman, possibly a copy of an earlier photograph
994PC17.133 Studio portrait of unidentified older man with beard
994PC17.134 Studio portrait of unidentified older man, possibly Dick Milton, Green Milton, or Dick Owen
994PC17.135 Studio portrait of unidentified older man, possibly Dick Milton, Green Milton, or Dick Owen
994PC17.136 Studio portrait of unidentified older man, possibly Dick Milton, Green Milton, or Dick Owen
994PC17.137 Studio portrait photograph of Wesley Williams (1862-1925)
994PC17.138 Studio portrait of Dr. Nuckols “Long-long-ago”
994PC17.139 Studio portrait of unidentified man with mustache

Box 3

994PC17.140 Two dogs standing on a porch. House street sign reads “College St.”
994PC17.141 Cows and a man standing in a pasture, possibly John Williams’s (1821-1907) residence
994PC17.142 Possibly fire damage at Baptist Church
994PC17.143 Men combing through construction site, possibly fire damage at Baptist Church
994PC17.144 Tree-lined country lane
994PC17.145 Clapboard house front view from street
994PC17.146 Unidentified building
994PC17.147 Unidentified street view, sign pictured “Alfred Montague Real Estate” and building in back identified as “Meader’s”
994PC17.148 Unidentified buildings with bridge
994PC17.149 Men standing in front of unidentified building with clock tower
994PC17.150 Unidentified bridge
994PC17.151 Building with clock tower
994PC17.152 Covered bridge
994PC17.153 Covered bridge
994PC17.154 Unidentified house and yard
994PC17.155 Farmhouse
994PC17.156 Man in swamp, identified as Tanglewood
994PC17.157 Scearce monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.158 Grove Hill Cemetery entrance
994PC17.159 Grove Hill Cemetery entrance
994PC17.160 Howell monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.161 Thomas and Sarah Miller monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.162 Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.163 Emma Armstrong monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.164 Theophilus ca. Davis monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.165 Mayes monument at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.166 Joyes and Karins mausoleum at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.167 Gravestones at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.168 Ann Wilson Williams’ (1834-1909) grave at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.169 Thomas Williams (1875-1962), Wesley Williams (1862-1925), and John Williams (1870-1945) sitting in the Williams’ lot at Grove Hill Cemetery
994PC17.170 St. Louis Cemetery
994PC17.171 City park canal bridge
994PC17.172 Studio portrait of Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909) with baby John in her lap, Wesley standing behind.
994PC17.173 Studio portrait of Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909) and Aunt Mag
994PC17.174 Copy photograph from an ambrotype of Anne Wilson Williams (1834-1909) as a young woman shortly after her marriage to John.
994PC17.175 Studio portrait of Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909)
994PC17.176 Copy photograph from a daguerreotype of Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909)
994PC17.177 Studio portrait of John Wilson Williams (1821-1907)
994PC17.178 Studio portrait of Archie Williams in a high chair with Ann Wilson Williams (1834-1909)
994PC17.179 Studio portrait of Mary Elizabeth Williams (1867-1876) sitting in a chair
994PC17.180 Studio portrait of Mary Elizabeth Williams (1867-1876)
994PC17.181 Studio portrait of Mary Elizabeth Williams (1867-1876)
994PC17.182 Studio portrait of an unidentified man
994PC17.183 Studio portrait of an unidentified man
994PC17.184 Studio portrait of a young Otho Williams (1855-1947) sitting on a wooden wagon
994PC17.185 Studio portrait of Otho H. Williams (1855-1947) sitting on throne chair
994PC17.186 Studio portrait of Samuel “Sammie” Thurston Williams sitting on a chair
994PC17.187 Studio portrait of Samuel “Sammie” Thurston Williams sitting on a chair. This photograph was used for Robert’s oil portrait of Sammie.
994PC17.188 Studio portrait of Margaret Wilson “Aunt Mag”
994PC17.189 Studio portrait of Margaret Wilson “Aunt Mag” as a young woman
994PC17.190 Studio portrait of Black woman identified as “Aunt Amy”
994PC17.191 Studio portrait of woman identified as “Mag Stone,” a cousin
994PC17.192 Copy photograph of an ambrotype of unidentified man
994PC17.193 Copy photograph from a daguerreotype or ambrotype of unidentified older woman, possibly Grandma, Aunt Sally, or Mrs. Grogean.
994PC17.194 Studio portrait of unidentified man
994PC17.195 Unidentified women standing in door frame next to shoe repair shop
994PC17.196 Studio portrait of an unidentified child, possibly Katie Burgin
994PC17.197 Studio portrait of an unidentified child, possibly Welby Burgin
994PC17.198 Studio portrait of an unidentified child
994PC17.199 Studio portrait of an unidentified older woman, possibly Grandma, Aunt Sally, or Mrs. Grogean
994PC17.200 Studio portrait of an unidentified older woman, possibly Grandma, Aunt Sally, or Mrs. Grogean
994PC17.201 St. Paul’s Cathedral interior
994PC17.202 “Head of Medusa” in Italy

Subject Headings

Cellini, Benvenuto, 1500-1571.
Cemeteries.
City Park (New Orleans, La.)
Grove Hill Cemetery (Shelbyville, Ky.)
Henderson Point (Miss.)
Italian art.
Metairie Cemetery (New Orleans, La.)
New Orleans (La.)
Pass Christian (Miss.)
Photographers.
Photography – Negatives.
Shelbyville (Ky.)
St. Louis Cemetery #1 (New Orleans, La.)
Williams, Ann Wilson, 1834-1909.
Williams, Archibald Eli, 1865-1867.
Williams, Henry Green, 1875-1962.
Williams, Horace Wesley, 1890-1953.
Williams, John Wesley, 1821-1907.
Williams, Mary Elizabeth, 1867-1876.
Williams, Otho H., 1855-1947.
Williams, Robert Wilson, 1857-1884.
Williams, Samuel Thurston, 1859-1864.
Williams, Thomas Duncan, 1875-1962.