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Archival Collections
Photographs ➔ Archival Collection #031 - The Camera Shop Collection
Identifier:
178045Description:
This collection visually documents the Grand Rapids social and business community and environs in the first third of the 20th century. Included are street scenes, special events, leisure activities, company advertisements and business interiors and exteriors one documented portion of this collection consists of approximately 5400 microfilmed photographic images. Attributed to this collection is another circa 10,000 prints and circa 8000 film negatives.Established in 1908, Walter K. Schmidt operated the Camera Shop on Lower Monroe Avenue area in Grand Rapids, Michigan until around 1937 when Thomas Dempster, Jr. became owner. According to the Grand Rapid City Directories, Dempster manage the store until around 1942. The Camera Shop reappears in 1940 under new ownership and continues to operate at the same 22 N. Division Avenue address until around 1972. The Museum's camera shop collection is believed to be associated with Walter K. Schmidt proprietorship.
The majority of the images in the Grand Rapids Public Museum collection are believed to be part of the Camera Shop Collection, however, this is considered an attribution because the Museum, unfortunately, does not appear to have any formal donation exception records for this collection. Without this documentation the actual scope and content of the original camera shop collection are unclear and the collection is not stored together. Years ago it was disbursed into format and subject collections. The collection ranges from about the 1880s to circa 1933 though the full size of the collection is unknown.The Grand Rapids Public Library has another part of this collection.
A full listing of the contents of this collection can be found in the Finding Aid that is attached to the media section of this catalog entry.
Date:
1880 – 1933Current Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
GRPM CollectionRelated Entity:
Walter K. Schmidt (creator)Alternate names: Walter K Schmidt Company
The Camera Shop was formed in 1908 by Walter K. Schmidt (1865-1938) to provide photo supplies to the community. Schmidt, a Grand Rapids native, graduated from the University of Michigan as a registered pharmacist. He operated a drug store in Grand Rapids under his name and developed a reputation as a chemist and chemical analyst. An amateur photographer, Schmidt combined his chemical knowledge with his hobby, to operate the Camera Shop, in addition to his drug store. He retained ownership of the Camera Shop until 1936. At the time of original processing a Camera Shop still existed in Grand Rapids, serving the downtown area, but all of the known photographs which carry the Camera Shop markings come from the era of Schmidt’s ownership. (Source: Grand Rapids Public Library - http://grplpedia.grpl.org/wiki/images/1/11/073.pdf)