| Description | "Other People's" glass negatives, some of 6 ½ x 4 ½ inches and some of 4 ½ x 3 ¼ inches. These were given to South Lancashire Newspapers but the preceding provenance is unknown. They all appear to have been taken by or with thecamera of Walter A Jackson, son of Jabez W Jackson, Chemist of 32 Westfield Street, 107 Higher Parr Street and 71 Duke Street, St.Helens, mainly between about 1894 and 1901.
The photographs are of various subjects, many are of the Jackson family, who can be identified by notes on the original envelopes, probably in Walter's own hand (some of these were replaced by South Lancashire Newspapers, but recording the original notes. Other subjects appear to be neighbours, friends and probably customers, Walter acting as a semi-professional portrait photographer. There are, in addition,several photographs of buildings and other scenes, some of which can be easily identified. According to the numbering many negatives appear to have been missing at the time of deposition. |
| AdminHistory | According to the 1901 census, Jabez (age 58, born Acton, Cheshire) lived at 32 Westfield Street with Betsy his wife (age 59, born at Coppenhull, Cheshire), Beatrice their daughter (age 17, born at Crewe, Cheshire), Bertram W their grandson (age 16, born at Crewe, Cheshire) and Maud Woodward their general domestic servant. Slater's Directory of 1891 lists Jabez W Jackson, Chemist at 34 Westfield Street and 107 Higher Parr Street, but Kelly's Directory of 1901 lists him at 107 Higher Parr Street, 32 Westfield Street and 71 Duke Street. Jabez either moved next door from 34 to 32 Westfield Street, or the house number in Slater's Directory, 1891, is a mistake.
On the 1901 census, Walter A Jackson (age 29, born at Crewe, Cheshire), who appears to have taken most, if not all of the photographs at GE/8/1/19 - GE/8/1/433, is shown as 'Chemist's Assistant, worker', while Jabez is shown as 'Chemist, own account'. Walter is listed with Margaret his wife (age 27, born St.Helens, Lancs), their daughter Annie B (age 7, born in St.Helens) and son William A (age 4, born in St.Helens).
Also, on the 1901 census, 71 Duke Street is blank, which suggests it might have been the Chemist's shop, but the Back House at the same address lists Joseph Topping (age 36 joiner, worker, born at Haydock, Lancs) with his wife Mary Alice (age 32, born at Crewe, Cheshire) and their son William (age 2 months, born at St.Helens). It seems possible that Mary Alice was the daughter of Jabez W Jackson, having been born at Crewe, the same birthplace as Walter A, Beatrice B and Bertram W Jackson. |