The recent acquisition of three early stereographs of New Bern provides an opportunity to remember an artist whose career was tragically cut short.
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| Stereograph of Christ Episcopal Church, New Bern, by Rufus Morgan, c.1869-1870. |
by John B. Green III
Of all the photographers who have called New Bern home since the 1850s, one of the more interesting and unusual, was a young Virginian named Rufus Morgan. Just twenty-three years old when he opened his gallery in New Bern, he soon came to specialize in stereographs of local scenery. Stereographs were made by a camera with two lenses which simultaneously took two photographs of the subject from slightly different angles. The resulting double image, when observed through a special viewer called a stereoscope, caused the observer's left and right eyes to resolve the double image into a single image which appeared to be three-dimensional. Stereographs were extremely popular from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, with many homes having sets of stereo cards depicting world events, exotic locales, and natural wonders.
Rufus Morgan produced a set of thirteen views of New Bern and traveled about the state producing sets for Raleigh, Wilmington, Goldsboro, and western North Carolina. He also photographed in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and California.
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| Rufus Morgan advertisement, The Republic and Courier, New Bern, NC, 8 November 1873. |
Morgan married Mary D. Clarke, daughter of Mary Devereux Clarke and W.J. Clarke of New Bern, in 1873. With a daughter born in 1875 and a son in 1879, Morgan apparently came to the conclusion that his photography did not provide sufficient income for his growing family. He determined to go west to California and operate an apiary, a long time interest of his and a business in which he had previously engaged. Morgan planned to send for his wife and children once he was established in California. Unfortunately, on April 3, 1880, he prepared a meal of wild mushrooms, some of which were thought to have been poisonous, became very ill, and died two days later.
Rufus Morgan's five-year old daughter, Mary Bayard Morgan, would grow up to pursue her own career in photography. As Bayard Wootten, she would become one of North Carolina's most talented photographers of the 20th century.
The largest collection of Rufus Morgan's photographs survives at the North Carolina Collection of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We at the Kellenberger Room are pleased to add three of his New Bern views to our collection.
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| Stereograph of entrance gate to Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern, by Rufus Morgan, c. 1869-1870. |
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| Stereograph of the main avenue, Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern, by Rufus Morgan, c.1869-1870. |
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| Reverse of stereograph listing New Bern views available, c.1869-1870. |
