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Reed, James E.
American, 1864 - 1939
BiographyJames E. Reed was a significant Black photographer who worked in New Bedford at the turn of the century. He was born to free parents in Perquimans County, North Carolina on January 1, 1864. He grew up on his father’s farm and attended school sporadically. In 1878, Reed came north with his father and attended school in New Bedford for two years.
Reed began work as an errand boy for George F. Parlow in his photography business in 1880. He went on to become Parlow’s assistant and in 1888 formed a partnership with P.C. Headley Jr and together they bought Parlow’s business. In 1895 Reed bought out Headley and continued doing business on his own. In his studio, Reed produced portraits of Quakers, unions, aid societies, basketball teams, horses, dogs, and also cityscapes, in the form of cabinet cards, cyanotypes, silver gelatin prints, crayon portraits, passport photos, and enlargements.
Reed had three daughters with his wife Anna (Annie) Jourdain. Jourdain had studied art at the Swain School of Design and worked on lampshades at Pairpoint. Eventually, she worked touching up photographs in Reed’s studio.
In 1919 Reed was appointed the position of Photostat Operator at the State House in Boston, Massachusetts. According to his obituary it seems he continued in that position until he retired five years before his death in September 1939 at age 75.
Reed was also a founding member of the Union Baptist Church in New Bedford where he superintended the school.
Reed began work as an errand boy for George F. Parlow in his photography business in 1880. He went on to become Parlow’s assistant and in 1888 formed a partnership with P.C. Headley Jr and together they bought Parlow’s business. In 1895 Reed bought out Headley and continued doing business on his own. In his studio, Reed produced portraits of Quakers, unions, aid societies, basketball teams, horses, dogs, and also cityscapes, in the form of cabinet cards, cyanotypes, silver gelatin prints, crayon portraits, passport photos, and enlargements.
Reed had three daughters with his wife Anna (Annie) Jourdain. Jourdain had studied art at the Swain School of Design and worked on lampshades at Pairpoint. Eventually, she worked touching up photographs in Reed’s studio.
In 1919 Reed was appointed the position of Photostat Operator at the State House in Boston, Massachusetts. According to his obituary it seems he continued in that position until he retired five years before his death in September 1939 at age 75.
Reed was also a founding member of the Union Baptist Church in New Bedford where he superintended the school.
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