The advent of photography in the 1850s quickly led to many family portraits being taken. Families who could not afford portraits were often able to have their likeness taken by a photographer. At first photographs were primarily taken in studios and the technology did not lend itself to casual photographs. It was not until the advent of the Kodak in the early 20th century that the average Canadian family could take its own family photos.

The family photos from the Cameron family inlcude a picture of a portrait (CAM08) and one photograph which appears to be a reproduction of an earlier photo (CAM013). The others seem to be photos taken by the family except for the portrait of Lydia Trull Cameron.

The images of the family photos given here are the whole photo and the reverse side when there was anything on it. The digital image was adjusted for brightness and contrast only. For two of the photos, a retouched image is also provided. This demonstrates how old photographs which have actual damage, such as the white stain on the photo of St. John's Church, can be enhanced to minimize the effects of this.

Description of Photographs

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CAM08. Portrait, Henry Bates, n.p., c1840s.

A portrait of Henry Bates, first choir leader of St. John's Anglican Church, Port Whitby. Bates' daughter Elizabeth married Allan Cameron. He was born in 1800 in Devonshire, England, and died in Port Whitby in 1850.

CAM09. Cameron Photo, Clara Jane Cameron Lavis , North Oshawa, c1900s.

A photo of May Cameron, Clara Jane Cameron Lavis (daughter of James Allan Cameron and Elizabeth Bate Cameron), Roy, Allan and Donald Lavis, and Lily the servant girl. Taken in front of a farm in North Oshawa.

CAM010. Cameron Photo, Clara Jane Cameron Lavis , North Oshawa, c1900s.

A photo of Clara Jane Cameron Lavis (daughter of James Allan Cameron and Elizabeth Bate Cameron),her husband William George Lavis, and her sons, Donald, Roy and Allan Lavis. Taken at the family farm, 5 Points, North Oshawa.

CAM011. Cameron Photo, St. John's Anglican Church , Whitby, c1800s.

A photo of St. John's Anglican Church, established in 1846 and located in Whitby, Ontario. It was attended by many generations of Camerons.

CAM012. Cameron Photo, Cameron Relatives n.p., c1880s.

A photo of an unspecified Cameron family.

CAM013. Cameron Photo, Cameron Relatives, n.p., c1880s.

An unspecified Cameron family.

CAM014. Cameron Photo, Lydia Trull Cameron, n.p., c.1905.

A photo of Lydia Trull Cameron. Lydia Trull married Donald Grant Cameron on September 9, 1914. They lived at 1601 Brock Street, Whitby, Ontario.

CAM015. Cameron Photo, Cameron Relatives , Whitby, c1911.

A photo of James and Donald Cameron (brothers) and Bessie (Trull) Cameron. Taken in front of the Cameron home at 1601 Brock Street, Whitby, Ontario. Note the difference with the same home in 2003.