B & W Fisk-Moore Ltd Photographers facts for kids

James and William Fisk-Moore were two brothers who became famous photographers in Kent, England, starting around 1911. They ran their photography business together under the name B&W Fisk-Moore Ltd. James even used a special name for his work: Beaufort James Fisk-Moore.

Their Early Lives

The brothers' mother was Louisa Fisk. She was born in 1839 in a town called St Albans in Hertfordshire. In 1862, she married John Moore in the same city.

Records from the 1911 Census show us more about James and William. James, whose full name was Beaufort J Fisk-Moore, was 34 years old, and William Fisk-Moore was 30. This means James was likely born in 1877 and William in 1881. Both brothers were born in Folkestone, Kent. At the time of the census, they were living as boarders in a house in Canterbury, Kent, and their job was listed as photographers.

Their Photography Business

The Fisk-Moore brothers' photography business had several locations in Canterbury. They worked from 4 St. Georges Gate, 7 St. George's Place, and 10c Burgate Street. After many years of working together, they decided to end their business partnership in 1942.

Their Lasting Legacy

The work of B&W Fisk-Moore is still important today and can be found in major art collections. A "legacy" means something valuable that someone leaves behind after they are gone.

The National Portrait Gallery in London has two old photographs by them. These pictures are of two bishops: Bishop Albert William Lee and Bishop Alfred Carey Wollaston Rose. The British Museum also has a postcard-sized photo by them. It shows Tanzanian women in a countryside setting. This photo might be a type called a gelatin silver print.

The names of Beaufort and William also appear in the papers of Hewlett Johnson, which are kept at the University of Kent.

The Courtauld Institute of Art has many photos by B&W Fisk-Moore in its Conway Library Collection. This collection includes old glass and film negatives, as well as prints. Most of these images are of buildings and architecture from different time periods. The Courtauld Institute is currently working to make these photos available online as part of a project called Courtauld Connects.