James C. Farley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James C. Farley
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Farley in 1887.
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| Born | August 10, 1854 |
| Occupation | Photographer |
James Conway Farley (born August 10, 1854) was a very important photographer. He lived and worked in Richmond, Virginia. From 1895 into the early 1900s, he owned his own business, the Jefferson Fine Arts Gallery. James Farley is famous for being the first African-American photographer to be recognized across the entire country.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
James Conway Farley was born on August 10, 1854. He was born into slavery in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Both of his parents were also enslaved. In 1861, when he was about seven years old, he moved to Richmond, Virginia. He moved there with his mother.
In Richmond, his mother worked at the Columbia Hotel. She was a store-room keeper. James helped by making candles. He also learned how to read, which was a big achievement at that time. Later, he started training to be a baker. However, he left that job. Instead, he began working for a photography company called C. R. Rees. He worked in their chemical department.
A Pioneering Photography Career
In May 1875, James Farley became a photographer for G. W. Davis. This was a challenging start. The four other employees, who were all white, did not want him there. But Mr. Davis supported James. He even fired the other four employees.
The company found it hard to hire other white workers. However, James Farley kept getting better at his photography skills. By 1879, he was in charge of the entire photography studio. James's work was shown in many places. He won a first prize at the Colored Industrial Fair in Richmond in 1884. His photos were also shown at the World Cotton Centennial in New Orleans in 1885.
In 1895, James Farley left the Davis Gallery. He decided to open his own business. He named it the Jefferson Fine Arts Gallery. James was also active in his community. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization. He was also a delegate at the Virginia Baptist State Convention in 1902. There, he spoke about supporting black-owned businesses.
Farley was also on the Board of Directors for the Mechanics Savings Bank of Richmond. This bank was led by John Mitchell Jr., who was the editor of the Richmond Planet newspaper. Many of James Farley's photographs were published in the Richmond Planet.
Personal Life and Community
James Farley married Rebecca P. Robinson on December 10, 1876. She was from Amelia County, Virginia. They had five children together. James was also a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Richmond. This shows his strong involvement in his church and community.
James Farley lived until at least 1910. At that time, he was living in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Lasting Legacy
James Conway Farley is remembered as a very important figure. He was the first black American to become widely known as a photographer. Not many of his original photographs still exist today. One of his remaining works is kept at the Valentine Museum in Richmond. His work helped pave the way for other African-American artists.
Gallery
- 1902 photographs in the ''Richmond Planet''
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Virginia Baptist State Convention in 1902
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Image of the Richmond Knights of Pythias in front of the Mechanics Savings Bank taken by Farley on May 20, 1902.
