1864 CDV by Photographer A. J. Fox

I wish I knew the story behind the man who sat for this photograph in 1864.  

The photographer, A. J. Fox was a man with a well known clientele and this young man has one of those faces I feel like I should recognize.

A. J. Fox was one of the earliest and most prolific photographers in St. Louis, Missouri. A daguerreotypist, ambrotypist, photographer and portrait painter, he was active in St. Louis from 1852 until sometime after 1887, and during those 35 years his studio occupied several locations, usually on or near North Fourth St., the most prestigious area for studios and galleries in St. Louis.

Fox’s studio changed location at least a dozen times over the years and the various addresses can be helpful in dating his photographs. I've put together a list of the dates and various addresses and included it below.  I’ll add corrections and additions as I find them.  I do realize 1863 needs some tweaking.  I don’t think even Mr. Fox could have operated that many studios at one time but I don't know what information is correct and what isn't, so for now, it all stays.

Fox was a talented artist.  At the 1867 St. Louis Fair, he won first prizes in the categories of life-size portraits in oil; photographs in oil; pastel or chalk on photographs; and best collection of photographs in imperial, cabinet or 4x4 size.  He won second prizes for cartes de viste and best collection of imperial card size photographs.  In addition Fox won a $50 “private premium” offered by W. H. Tilford in the category of “Best Imperial Card Photograph made in Missouri.”  The official report of the 1867 fair noted that Fox’s collection included a “beautifully done” portrait of the late artist-ambrotypist Carl Wimar.  A newspaper review of the 1868 St. Louis Fair singled out Fox’s exhibit as “brilliant.”  Fox received first prizes in the categories of miniatures on ivory, cartes de visite, photographic composition, photographs in oil, and imperial, cabinet, or 4x4 photographs.

In September 1870 A. J. Fox became president of the St. Louis Photographic Society.

Andrew Jackson Fox and his wife, Harriet A. Swett had 6 children; two daughters, Lillian Fox, the wife of Nat Roth, general business manager for the Schubert Family in New York and Della Fox, an actress, and four sons; Charles A., Frank D., William H., and Wymar F. Fox.

Andrew J. Fox, passed away at the age of 93, at his residence in St. Louis on April 21, 1919.  The cause of death was listed as an illness due to old age.   He was survived by four sons: Wymar F. and Charles A. of St. Louis; Frank D., of Philadelphia; and William H. of New York, and one daughter, Mrs. Lillian Roth of New York.  His wife Harriet and daughter Della both predeceased him.  

Below is the list of the dates and locations of A. J. Fox’s many studio addresses in St. Louis, MO.   Please leave a comment if you see something that needs to be added or corrected.

1852 - 57 North Fourth St.

1853 - 99 Fourth St. between Pine and Olive Sts.

1854 and 1855 - southwest corner of Chestnut and Fourth Sts.

1857 and 1858  - 43 North Twelfth St.

1858 - 35 North Fourth St.

1858 and 1859 - the corner of Fourth and Chestnut

1860 - Fox had two locations (1) 93 Washington Ave. and (2) at the southeast corner Fourth and Chestnut Sts..

1863 - One source says he had a studio at the southeast corner Fourth and Chestnut Streets
1863 - 1864 Another source gives Fox’s location as 66 North Fourth Street
and the St. Louis city directories list his studio at
1863 - the southwest corner of Fourth and Olive

1864 -  the corner of Fourth and Olive (this is the address on my cdv written: A. J. Fox, Artist, Cor. Fourth   and  Olive Sts., St. Louis Mo.)
           
1865 - 60 Olive Street

1866 - the southwest corner of Fourth and Olive

1867 and 1870 - 406 Olive St.

1868 - Fox operated 402 and 404 Olive, corner of Fourth, in 1868, during 1868 William M. Guay, formerly a New Orleans photographer became his assistant

1869-1871 -  406 Olive
1870-1871 -  408 Locust St,

1872-1879 - 205 North Fifth St, (known as the Ground Floor Gallery and Frame Store)
1880-1884 - 916 Olive St.
1884 - also 918 Olive St.
1886 - 215 North Fourth St.
1887 -  304 North Sixth St.

A. J. Fox and Sons
826 North Ninth St.  1892
301 North Ninth St.  1894 
110 North Eight St.  1900
401, 808 Olive St.  1910