Alfred Stump facts for kids
Alfred Augustus Stump (born August 1860 – died 24 December 1925) was a talented photographer and businessman. He was born in Hobart, Tasmania, but became very well known for his work in Adelaide.
History of Alfred Stump
Alfred was born in Hobart. His father, Mark Stump, was a butcher, and his mother was Mary Anne Stump.
He trained as a photographer for four years. In 1883, he started a photography business in Hobart called Nicholas & Stump with R. J. Nicholas. However, he left Tasmania in 1884. He sold his business and moved to Adelaide. There, he worked as the main photographer for a company called Hammer & Co..
By 1887, Alfred had started his own company, Stump & Co. His studio was in the Gresham Arcade in Adelaide. This spot was very famous and became known as "Stump's Corner." It was a popular meeting place for people. Alfred was very good at advertising. His business was often in newspapers, and he shared news about his achievements. His photographers took many pictures of sports teams and famous people. These photos were often shown in shop windows.
One important employee was John Hood, who colored photos by hand. Stump & Co. won an award at the 1888 Melbourne Exhibition. Another employee, Ernest P. Howard, was known as Australia's fastest shorthand writer. Some employees even left to start their own photography businesses.
In June 1889, Stump opened a second studio on Rundle Street.
His King William Street studio was badly damaged by fire in July 1894. But it was quickly repaired. Then, in December 1900, the building was destroyed by another fire. This studio did not reopen, and Stump focused on his Rundle Street location.
Alfred was a key member of the South Australian Photographic Society. He often helped judge photography competitions. In 1908, he successfully experimented with making colored negatives. This allowed him to create colored slides, even though printing color photos on paper was not yet possible.
Around 1908, he moved back to Hobart with his family. For a short time, he partnered with Victor Lilley in a photography business called "Vandyck photographers." This partnership ended in January 1910.
Over time, photography changed a lot. Companies like Kodak made roll film and easy-to-use cameras. This meant more people could take their own photos. Studio photography became a job for smaller, specialized businesses. After the Rundle Street building was sold, Stump & Co. moved in September 1929. They moved to the Birks Pharmacy Building in Gawler Place. Around 1911, Stump & Co. also joined with Hammer & Co. to form Studios Limited. However, both studio names continued to operate separately.
Alfred Stump passed away at his home in Mitcham on 24 December 1925. He had been unwell for several years.
Famous Photographs
- The most well-known picture of Mary MacKillop was published by Stump & Co. around 1873.
Other Hobbies and Interests
- Alfred loved horses very much and owned several good ones. When he was younger, he was a skilled horse rider. He even owned a group of foxhounds and often rode with them. His horses won many awards in shows. He was a member of both the South Australian Jockey Club and the Adelaide Racing Club for almost 40 years. He owned some racehorses, but they did not win many races.
- He was the president of the Adelaide Drive Bowling Club from 1917 to 1920. His business partner, W. Hammer, was also a member.
- Alfred was also a member of a social and fraternal organization called the Freemasons. He rarely missed their meetings. He helped start the Holdfast Lodge and later became its leader.
- He was an active investor in the Hume Pipe Company.
Family Life
Alfred Stump was married twice. First, to Christina Mitchelmore in 1884. After she passed away, he married Rosa Ada Potter in 1889. They had several children, including:
- Kenelm Alfred Stump (born 1890) became a photographer. He moved to South America in 1919.
- Prof Claude Witherington Stump (born 1891 – died 1971) was a very smart student. He was a champion gymnast and sports captain at Kyre College (now Scotch College). He later became a professor of anatomy at Bangkok University.
- Stanley Witherington Stump (born 1893 – died 1984) was also a photographer. He started his own business called "Rembrandt Studios."
- Rosalind Olive Stump (born 1897) married Clifford Edwy Cornell in 1920.
The family lived in Malvern for some time. In their later years, they lived at "Coreega" in Mitcham. Alfred was buried in the Mitcham Cemetery.
Alfred had a brother named James F. Stump (died 1926). James was a headmaster at Scotch College, Launceston and also worked for the city of Hobart. He shared Alfred's interests in horse racing and the Freemasons. Another possible brother was Ernest A. Stump (died 1930), who managed a business in Hobart. He also enjoyed bowling and was a Freemason.
