We Lead, Others Follow

Matthew Brady. William Henry Jackson. Edward Steichen. Those names dominate the pictorial record of the turn of the 20th century. But what about Mrs. Franc Emma Luce Albright, Alabama Milner, and Ottilia Hanna? Tate Britain Curator Carol Jacobi noted in a 2016 article in The Guardian that when you look at the history of photography, “people are not expecting women to be there, so they don’t look for their work.”

Step into five Albuquerque studios:

• Mrs. Albright’s Art Parlor owned by Mrs. Franc Emma Luce Albright (1882–1912)
• Cobb Studio owned by William and Eddie Cobb (1889–1942)
• Potter Studio owned by Florence Potter (1901–1906)
• Hanna & Hanna owned by Milton and Ottilia Hanna (1914–1984)
• Milner Studio owned by Alabama Milner (1919–1958)

Here, women at the helm of photography studios were tenacious, exhibiting their work at World’s Fairs and being celebrated by photography organizations. They survived tumultuous decades when the economy was affected by world wars, depression, and disease. They made a good living, supporting their families through their photography and lasting longer in the business world than many of their male counterparts. They were determined to not only make their mark, but serve as a guiding light. They knew that their ultimate success relied upon the passing on of their experience and knowledge to other women.

They led in the hopes that others would follow.

Women To The Front: Photography Mentorship In Early Albuquerque

Albuquerque Museum’s Digital Archivist, Jill Hartke, introduces you to five women photographers from Albuquerque’s early years. Beginning in the 1880s, a chain of mentorship grew in Albuquerque among women who owned or co-owned photography studios. These women were savvy business owners whose studios outlasted many studios run by their male counterparts. This program took place on Zoom, Sunday, May 16, 2021.