The Howes Brothers Photograph Collection
Photographs of Northampton, Florence and Leeds taken between 1886-1902
The Howes Brothers were photographers who traveled from place to place taking photographs of people posed outside their residence at a time when few people owned cameras.  The Howes Brothers were in business from approximately 1886 to 1902.  They left a legacy of highly treasured photographs.
Search online among 737 images of Northampton, Florence and Leeds taken by the Howes Brothers.
Learn more about
the Howes Brothers Photographers
The Howes Brothers Photograph Collection at Historic Northampton includes approximately 737 glass plate negative photographs taken of people and sites in Northampton, Florence and Leeds.   The glass plate negatives were donated to Historic Northampton by the Ashfield Historical Society in the 1970s.  Volunteers made photographic prints from each glass plate negative and identified the street address of the houses depicted in the images.  In most cases, the people photographed are unidentified.
The Howes Brothers also photographed people at school and at work. Some photographs show children grouped in front of their schoolhouse, a blacksmith outside his blacksmith shop or a delivery man in his wagon.
39 Water Street, Leeds, Massachusetts
Photographed by The Howes Brothers
Reproduced from the original glass plate negative by Stan Sherer
This photograph shows employees of The Kingsbury Box Company on North Street in Northampton, MA.  The finished print was printed on photographic paper and mounted on a stiff card, measuring approximately 6 ½ x 4 ¼ inches.  Prints were generally offered three for a dollar.
On the backside of the card was the photographer’s imprint with a negative number for reorders: “A. W. Howes & Co., Photographers, Turners Falls, Mass.  Parties wanting more Photographs like this, please send number marked on this card.  Be sure to give the number right.” 
References:
Matthews, Richard, "Through the Eyes of the Howes Brothers," Hampshire Life, Daily Hampshire Gazette, July 24, 1992.

Newman, Alan B., New England Reflections, 1882-1907: Photographs by the Howes Brothers, New York: Pantheon Books, circa 1981.