William Vick facts for kids

William Vick's business card

William Vick (born in 1833, died in 1911) was a talented English photographer. He worked in Ipswich, a town in Suffolk, England, for many years. His photography business was active from 1868 into the 1890s.

William Vick's Early Life

William Vick was born in 1833 and grew up in Gloucestershire, England. His father was a millwright, someone who builds or repairs mills. William first worked as a teacher in Cainscross, Gloucestershire.

He married Joyce Webb in 1858, and they had three sons. After Joyce passed away, William married Mary Ann Aga in 1865.

Becoming a Photographer in Ipswich

In 1868, William Vick decided to change his career. He bought a photography business in Ipswich from another photographer named William Cobb. William Cobb had worked for a famous banker and early photographer, Richard Dykes Alexander.

After buying the business, William Vick and his family moved to London Road in Ipswich. This is where he started his new life as a professional photographer.

A "Photographic Artist"

William Vick was very proud of his work. In the 1871 and 1881 government surveys (called censuses), he described himself as a "photographic artist." This shows he saw photography as a true art form. Later, he simply called himself a "photographer."

Preserving History: Vick's Negatives

When William Vick retired in 1899, he had a huge collection of about 10,000 glass plate negatives. These negatives were like the original film for his photos. People in Ipswich raised money to buy them.

The negatives were then given to the Ipswich Museum. Later, in 1950, they were moved to the Ipswich and East Suffolk Records Office. This means William Vick's amazing photos are still kept safe today, helping us see what Ipswich looked like long ago.

Images for kids

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  Curson Lodge in 1890

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  Stoke Bridge and Stoke Mill, Ipswich in 1880