Lee Bailey

W. Gray · February 09, 2009, 10:20:04 AM

Does anyone know where Lee Bailey's (Moline photographer) stash of photographs might have wound up?

Does the Happy Librarian have any?

frawin · February 09, 2009, 10:58:56 AM

Waldo, I know in the case of our Winn Family picture , which was taken in 1947, Lee had a sale and my Family purchased several pictures and I think Lee may have given them some of them. I worked for the Perrin Studio in Howard, when I was in grade school and I don't remember, if I ever knew, what Mrs Perrin did with her files when she shut down.
Frank

W. Gray · February 09, 2009, 11:19:08 AM

Frank,
did he have to enlarge his studio to get the entire family in front of the lens?

frawin · February 09, 2009, 11:30:29 AM

Waldo, interestingly, all but one of my brothers and sisters were there for the photo which was taken December 26, 1947. My brother Dwight was in the Navy and could not be there so Lee left a slot on the end of one row and the next time Dwight came home on leave, Lee took his picture and put it in the slot. He done an amazing job and if you didn't know it was done that way you couldn't tell it. Lee was a really good country Photgrapher, and took a lot of pride in his work.

Wilma · February 09, 2009, 02:03:39 PM

A photographer did that with one of my uncles in 1944 or 45. He did a good job, but I knew the difference and can always see it. There were 14 kids in that family and all but one of them was there for the picture.

frawin · February 09, 2009, 02:07:04 PM

That is interesting, there were 15 kids in ours and all were there but 1. I can see the difference in Dwights picture but oonly because I knew it was done that way.

Wilma · February 09, 2009, 02:39:26 PM

I can do things like that now with the photo program I have, but I am sure that there wasn't anything like that available back then. I would say waaaaay back then, but I remember the day they took the picture.

Ole Granny · February 09, 2009, 02:40:59 PM

Lee was amazing. Believe his family donated most of his works, but not sure where. Someone else may know more.

W. Gray · February 09, 2009, 02:52:48 PM

I met Lee Bailey once at about the time he was retiring from the business.

Those old timers could doctor photos but it was a lot more difficult then than it is now.

Ema (I am wondering if that should not be Emma) Albright had the first photography studio in Elk Falls.

She was also the first in Howard because she and her husband moved to Howard after it became known Howard City would be designated the Elk County county seat in the Howard County division bill.

Mr. Albright was a tinware specialist.

jpbill · February 10, 2009, 06:34:03 AM

I believe Lee Bailey's archive of pictures, negatives, etc. were donated to the Kansas State Historical Museum in Topeka. Ole Granny and I were in the same class with his niece in the Moline school system for 12 years. Will ask her the next time I see her at the Moline Alumni Banquet.

Just Plain Bill