The 18th century in Europe had placed an emphasis on world traveling to further
educate the minds of the young upper class. The 19th century brought
this same idea to Americans and the “Grand Tour” as it was called became
an established part of upper class traditions and experience. Well
educated, wealthy young men would travel the world, later young women as
well, in order to honor and further understand their western cultural roots.
Over 500 views from the travels of Edmund Lyons and his wife, Carolyn Hamilton
Talcott, a prominent Rochester family during the late 19th - early 20th century
were acquired as a gift of their grandson, Eugene Van Voorhis. Edmund
Lyons, a well-educated young man, became involved with the deaf when close
friends asked for help in starting a school in Rochester for their daughter,
who was deaf. His family helped to establish the Western New York Institution
for the Deaf Mutes in Rochester. Carolyn Hamilton Talcott, who was
partially deaf, came to work at the same school. The two met and in
June of 1896 they were married.
Previously, during the 1880’s Carolyn Talcott had made several trips to England
in order to see family and friends and visit the sights, including Westminster
Abbey. While in London she visited schools for the deaf, also
learning their techniques for teaching. During one summer trip she
visited Paris, Switzerland, Heilderberg, Cologne, Brussels and Venice.
Edmund Lyon also traveled extensively before his marriage. He visited
the Holy Land with friends, traveling to places mentioned in the Old and
New Testaments as well as following the journey of St. Paul (including countries
like Greece, Turkey, and Palestine). Some time after their marriage,
they decided to have their East Avenue home remodeled and took a two-year
“Grand Tour” together from 1910-1912.
Edmund Lyons later became Director and President of the American Association
to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf. He even created the
Lyon Phonetic Manual to be used by the deaf. Carolyn Lyons served on
the Board of the Rochester School for the Deaf and was active with her church
and local hospital. Edmund and Carolyn had five children, two sons
who died as infants, and three daughters. The donor, Eugene Van Voorhis
is the son of one of these daughters, Linda Gale Lyons Van Voorhis.
Twenty-five views have been selected from a group of 513 in the Edmund and
Carolyn Lyons Collection. All are large-format albumen photographs
(approximately 28” x 22.5”) mounted individually on identical gray boards.
Views of the Middle East and the Holy Land predominate. These include
both landscape and portrait “types.” There are also significant numbers
of views of Italy and France.
Bibliography::
--From Remington, Carolyn Lyon, Vibrant Silence, Lawyers Co-operative
Pub. Co., 1965
.
Photographers Represented in the Van Voorhis
Collection of 19th Century Travel Views
Hippolyte Arnoux was active during the 1860s through the 1880s in Egypt.
He was known to work with the Zangaki Brothers at times.
Felix Bonfils (1831-1885), of Bonfils & Co., was a French photographer
active from about 1867-1885. He started photographing after a trip
to Lebanon in 1867. It was there he opened a photographic publishing
house, which published more prints of the Near East than any other studio.
Bosetti was active circa 1890s. Nothing more is known about him at
this time.
Giacomo Brogi and son Carlo were Italian photographers active from 1863-1896.
Carlo photographed in Egypt and Palestine during his career.
L. Fiorillo was an Italian photographer active from 1860-1890 in Aswan, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Palestine, and the Middle East.
Brothers Adelphi and Constantine Zangaki were Greek photographers active
from 1860-1880. They photographed throughout the Near East and often
times included themselves in their photos.
G. Lekegian & Co. was a French company active from 1860-1890 photographing
Paris, Egypt, Turkey, and North Africa.
Anotonio Nessi was an Italian photographer working in Italy during the 19th
century.
Giorgio Sommer (1843-1914) was active during the 1850s, born in Germany he
began his career in Switzerland, but moved to Rome with German photographer
Edmund Benies in 1860.
J.P. Sébah (1838-1890) was a Turkish photographer active starting
in 1860. The Sébah & Joallier firm operated out of Constantinople
and had a shop in Cairo at the same time.
Elizabeth M. Stauffer
George Eastman House Intern
January 30, 2003