Photographer, London, Nelson and Auckland fl 1850s-1870s. Born London, England, 21 Sep 1837, son of William Henry Whitmore Davis (1812-1901) and Elizabeth Davis (née Mose). Worked with his father in a studio at 3 Bentinck Place, Portland Town, London, ca 1857-1858. Emigrated to New Zealand in 1858 and set up a studio in Mulgrave street, Wellington. Operated studios in Nelson 1860-ca 1872, then moved to Auckland, where he also practised as a photographer. He may also have practised as a photographer in New Plymouth. Married Jane Sclanders Burns, eldest daughter of John Burns, on 5 Aug 1861 (Colonist, 9 Aug 1861, p 2). Died by drowning 30 August 1875, after jumping from the ship Hawea in Manukau Harbour. [Sources: Christine O'Brien, personal communication; Directory of London photographers 1841-1908.]
Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875
Various creators: Photographs of early Wellington
Date: [ca 1858 to 1860s]
By: Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875; Davis, William Henry Whitmore, 1812-1901; Batt & Richards (Firm); Gourlay, Henry Thompson, 1842-1911
Reference: PAColl-10426
Description: 21 cartes-de-visites taken circa 1858 to circa 1860s. Some taken by William Henry Davis and/or his father William Henry Whitmore Davis. Others taken by Batt & Richards. Other photographers are possibly also represented. 19 show scenes in Wellington. The other two are copies, one of a painting, one of an illuminated address (this one by H T Gourlay, Christchurch). Some images have inscriptions in pencil on the reverse. Images include streets, buildings, people, horse and carts, harbour and wharf with ships. An envelope and a letter dated 1958, from the Alexander Turnbull Library to Mr M Davis of Wellington regarding the copying of 21 photographs, are included. Accompanying information - Envelope that held the cartes-de-visite, and an accompanying letter dated 22 August 1958, from C R H Taylor, Chief Librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library, to Mr M Davis of 9 Aruarua Street, Wellington. Title supplied by Library Quantity: 21 b&w original photographic print(s) (Cartes-de-viste).
Photograph album of family and other portraits
Date: [ca 1860s-ca 1880s]
From: Johnston, Henrietta Charlotte, 1814-1878: Photograph albums relating to the Johnston family
By: Bartlett, Robert Henry, 1842-1911; Bassano, Alexander, 1829-1913; Botterill, John, 1817-1881; Brown, Barnes and Bell (Firm); Clarke, William Henshaw, 1831-1910; Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875; Elliott & Fry (Firm); Freeman & Company; Hills & Saunders (Firm); Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Company; London School of Photography; London Stereoscopic Photographic Company; Newman, John Hubert, 1830-1916; Rodgers, Thomas, 1840-1933; Schourup, Peter, 1837-1887; Swan & Wrigglesworth (Firm); Vandyke & Brown (Firm); Wrigglesworth and Binns (Firm); Wrigglesworth, James Dacie, 1836-1906
Reference: PA1-q-1185
Description: Album of carte de viste and cabinet card portraits, including animal portraits, taken circa 1860s to circa 1870s by a range of photographers. The caption information appears to have been added at a later date and would appear to include names transcribed from inscriptions on the reverse of some of the mounts. Some attributions are uncertain and other subjects are not identified. Many of the family portraits relate to the Johnston, Inglis, Fitzherbert, and Grace families. Portraits include the following subjects: - Adelina Patti - Italo Campanini - Dame Emma Albani - Dr Morgan Stanislaus Grace Animal portraits include photograph of a light coloured dog, a long-haired dog posed on a chair, and a small dog posed on the lap of a seated person. Landscape photographs include building portraits of historic buildings most likely in the United Kingdom. Photographer and studio imprints include: - Elliott & Fry, 55 Baker Street, Portman Square, W [London]. - Wrigglesworth & Binns, 7 Willis Street, Wellington. - Freeman late Oswald Allen Photo, 360 George Street, Sydney. - P Schourup, Christchurch - Sinclair & Co, 412 & 70 Euston Road, N.W. [London]. - Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Co., 3 Bourke Street, East, Melbourne. - Ross & Thomson, 90 Princes Street, Edinburgh. - R H Bartlett, Auckland. - Emile Bondonneau, 173 Palais Royal, Paris. - Alexander Bassano, 72 Piccadilly, London. - Brown, Barnes & Bell, 31 Bold Street, 34 Castle St., 87 Lord St., Liverpool, and Durham Hall, Bootle. - William H Davis, [Wellington]. - J D Wrigglesworth, Wellington. - T Rodger, St Andrews [Scotland]. - W H Clarke, Lambton Quay, Wellington. - Ferranti, Bold Street, Liverpool. - Vandyke & Brown, 31 Bold Street, 34 Castle St., 87 Lord St., and South Hunter Street, Liverpool. - The London Stereoscopic & Photography Company, 110 & 108 Regent Street & 54 Cheapside, [London]. - James Irons, East Green, Anstruther, Fife. - Hills & Saunders, Cambridge & Oxford. - J Botterill, 19 Collins Street, East, Melbourne. - J H Newman, 12 South Head Road, Hyde Park, Sydney - C T Newcombe, 135 Fenchurch St, E.C. [London] - The London School of Photography, 103 Newgate Street, [London]. - G D Morse, Morse's Palace of Arts, 417 Montgomery St. San Francisco, California. - W Keith, 25 Hardman Street, Liverpool. Also includes printed baptismal certificate with hand colouring, for Eliza Fitzgerald. Quantity: 1 album(s) 73 photographic prints and a loose certificate. Physical Description: Album with ornate printed title page and 25 gilt-edged leaves, bound in embossed leather with gilt detailing and brass clasp, containing 67 cartes de visite, 5 cabinet cards, 1 mounted albumen print, and a baptismal certificate. Provenance: Donor is a descendant of Henrietta and John Johnston of Wellington.
Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875 :Portrait of Ellen Harris
Date: 1860s-1870s
By: Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875
Reference: PA2-0591
Description: Formal portrait of Ellen Harris of Nelson. She is leaning on the back of a chair with one hand resting on the chair, and the other she is holding to her face. Photograph taken by William Davis, probably in his studio, between 1860-1879. Inscriptions: Verso - For Kate and Alfred with Nellie's best love... Ellen Harris Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Thomas Brunner - Photograph taken by William Henry Davis, 1837-1875
Date: [ca 1871]
From: New Zealand Railways: Photographs
By: Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875
Reference: 1/2-023745-G
Description: Thomas Brunner, photographed circa 1871, by William Henry Davis, 1837-1875. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film copy negative
Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875 :Portrait of Henry Anthony Ingles, MHR 1840-1892
Date: 1873 - 1875
By: Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875
Reference: PA2-0592
Description: Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875 :Portrait of James De Pontus
Date: [c1866]
By: Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875
Reference: PA2-0590
Description: Carte de visite portrait of James De Pontus taken shortly before his murder in 1866. The photographer was William Davis of Nelson. Four prospectors, James de Pontus (or Pontius), Felix Mathieu, James Dudley and John Kempthorne, were murdered for the £300 in gold dust they were carrying on the Maungatapu track near Nelson in 1866. The murderers, Richard Burgess, Thomas Kelly, Philip Levy and Joseph Sullivan were caught and all except Sullivan, who turned Queen's evidence, were executed. Inscriptions: Backing board verso - top centre - Mr De Pontus a victim of Maungatapu - given to mother by himself before he left for Nelson) Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875: Portrait of unidentified woman
Date: 1860 - 1870
From: Haast family: Collection
By: Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875
Reference: PA2-0589
Description: Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Creator unknown: Photograph album mainly of Wellington residents and scenes
Date: [186-?]
By: Davis, William Henry, 1837-1875
Reference: PA1-o-1893
Description: Photograph album containing portraits of notable male residents of Wellington, together with scenes of Wellington and Nelson, probably taken circa 1860s. Photographers are unidentified, except for one image by William Henry Davis (who may have also taken others). Title `New Zealand historical photographs' is embossed on the album spine and listing of photograph subjects is tipped into the front. Compiler of album unknown. - Fourteen images show portraits of men who lived and worked in Wellington during the mid-1800s; all their names are indexed below, except for a Mr D'Oyley, who could not be precisely identified. There are two portraits each of Alexander Johnston and William Whitewood. Five portraits (pp 4, 5, 11, 12, and 14) include the same side table and tapestry throw, reversed in some cases. Some images are colour tinted. - Three small images show the rangatira Hoani Tunuiarangi, Hamiora Kaiwhakataka, and Hami Te Hau. These portraits appear to be part of a series of reproductions. They each include printed name, iwi affiliation, and location; and are numbered 5, 24, and 27 respectively. - Also images showing views of Nelson and notable buildings there, together with a view of hops cultivation, including stacked climbing poles. - Also images showing Wellington, including of the toll gate at Kaiwharawhara and nearby wreck of the ship Oliver Lang; and Cox drapers shop. View of Te Aro Flat shows Dransfield boat builders, Stuart Kinross and Company stores, and Te Aro pa. Three photographs showing Lambton Quay and Te Aro Flat are accompanied by hand-drawn keys. These identify many of the buildings shown and credit one image (p 22) to "W Davis", probably William Henry Davis, who may have also taken the next image (p 23). - Some images are dated to the 1847-1849 period, but are more likely to have been taken during the 1860s Source of title - Title supplied by Library Source of descriptive information - William Henry Davis has been identified as the probable photographer of image on p 23, from William Main's 'Wellington through a Victorian lens' (Wellington: Steele Roberts, 2010). Main includes an identical image on p 21 and infers it was taken by Davis. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Blue and green album measuring 22.5 x 32 cm, with gold embossed lettering and insignia on cover and spine Provenance: Donated by Parliamentary Library, Wellington, 2014 Transfers: From Book Collections - From New Zealand and Pacific Book Collections as part of a large ongoing donation of mainly published material.