Bill Wittingham adjusted with Topaz Photo AI
Toronto. When Ev Roseborough took over as editor of Photographic Canadiana, we entered a new era. Ev’s vast network of fellow professional photographers brought in many new members, some speakers, and a wealth of experience in the photographic industry.
This was aptly demonstrated in his article in issue 18-5 titled, “A Collection, and History, in a Basement”. which offers the tale of a Toronto studio run by Alexander Peake and William James Whittingham.
Ev begins, “Many years ago, 81 if you must be exact [written early in 1993], two gentlemen of English extraction set up a photographic studio on Adelaide St. West in the flourishing business district of Toronto.
“The two proprietors were Alexander Peake, a great tall man with very large hands and feet and, when I knew him, a trim gray moustache. He spoke in a low, raspy voice, as if it required great effort. Peake was a quiet careful worker of considerable ability. Strangely it has been impossible to find any details or a photograph of him.
“Of his partner, William James Whittingham (April 1887-Dec. 1941), more is known. Steve MacKinnon, archivist of the City of Toronto, located a reference in the City Directory of 1903 when Bill, as he was generally called, was employed by the Toronto Engraving company until 1912.
“That year finds Peake and Whittingham located at 26-28 Adelaide St. W. in Toronto. The studio then moved to number 50 and later number 64 Temperance St. …”
Well, good reader, you know the routine by now! PHSC members read the entire article either in hard copy or as a pdf file on the free ‘members-only’ DVD. Above and/or to the right are MEMBERSHIP instructions. Join today if you haven’t yet. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
