Edward Weston Photographs - Early Years

EDWARD HENRY WESTON, 1886 - 1958

Compiled and Edited by Dick Rinehart 

1886 Edward Henry Weston is born March 24, in Highland Park, Illinois. Parents: Dr. Edward Burbank Weston (1846 - 1918) - Obstetrician, Alice Jeanette Brett(1851 - 1892) - Shakespearean Actress.

Edward Burbank Weston (1846-1918)
Edward Burbank Weston (1846-1918)
Edward Weston - Mary (May) Weston
Edward Weston - Mary (May) Weston

1892 January 25: Edward’s mother dies. Alice Jeanette’s dying wish is that Edward become a businessman and not an educator or doctor in the family tradition. He is raised by his sister, Mary "May" Jeanette Weston (1877 - 1952).

Edward Weston with his sister Mary (May)
Edward Weston with his sister Mary (May)
Edward B. Weston with Mary his daughter
Edward B. Weston with Mary his daughter

1902 August 20: Edward is given his first camera by his father while summering on his aunt’s farm in Michigan. Camera type: Kodak Bulls-Eye No. 2  3.5” x 3.5” format (12 exposures). Here is Kim Weston with his Bulls-Eye camera, like the one Edward Weston used.

Kim Weston - With Bulls-Eye Camera
Kim Weston - With Bulls-Eye Camera

1903 Edward drops out of school and never returns. He follows his mother’s wishes and works for three years as an errand boy and salesman for his uncle, Theodore Brett, at Marshall Field & Company in Chicago.

1904 Edward's sister, May, moves to Tropico, California.

1906 Edward's first photograph is published in the April issue of Camera and Darkroom. Photograph: “Spring, 1903.”

May 29: Edward arrives in Tropico, California to visit May. He decides to stay and California becomes his home for the rest of his life.

May's husband, John Seaman (1877 - 1961), arranges a job for Edward as a surveyor by the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad for $15 a week.

1907 Edward quits his railroad job to become an itinerant photographer, working door-to-door. Edward returns east to attend the Illinois College of Photography in Effington, Illinois. He completes the 9-month program in 6-months. Edward learns darkroom techniques he will use for the rest of his photographic life.

This early image can be seen in the book: "EDWARD WESTON LIFE WORK" Essays by Sarah M. Lowe and Dody Weston Thompson. Photographs from the Collection of Judith G Hochberg and Michael Mattis.

Edward Weston Landscape circa 1907
Edward Weston Landscape circa 1907

1908 Edward returns to California and works as a retoucher for George Steckel Portrait Studio in Los Angeles.

1909 January 30: Edward marries Flora May Chandler (1879 - 1965). Edward leaves George Strekel Studio and is hired by Louis A. Mojoiner Portrait Studio in Los Angeles, as a negative retoucher and photographer.

Edward and Flora Weston - Vacation Time
Edward and Flora Weston - Vacation Time
Edward Weston - Flora Chandler
Edward Weston - Flora Chandler

1910 April 26: Edward’s first son, Edward Chandler Weston (1910 - 1995), is born. He is called Chan.

1911 Edward builds his first photographic studio for $600 at 113 Brand Boulevard in Tropico, on land owned by Flora's parents. This will be Edward's base of operations for the next two decades.

Edward Weston's first studio
Edward Weston's first studio
Edward Weston, Los Angeles 1911
Edward Weston, Los Angeles 1911

December 16: Edward’s second son, Theodore Brett Weston (1911 - 1993), is born. He is called Brett.

Edward Weston - Early Bungalow
Edward Weston - Early Bungalow

©Center for Creative Photography Tucson Arizonawww.edward-weston.com (Several of the photographers are unknown)

Stay tuned for more family photos!