Collection History
Columbia College, Forty Park Place New York
First Photograph
Columbia started its collection of Moore’s photographic works with an 1854 photograph of the original College Hall at 40 Park Place. According to the label attached to the work, Moore gave the photograph to the College Organist, Dr. W.H. Walker, who then transferred it to the College Library in 1887.Â
St. John's Park
Mrs. S.C. Jones
A set of Moore’s photographs came to the Columbiana Collection in 1924. According to the Columbia Alumni News, a Mrs. S.C. Jones of New York donated four prints: a view St. John’s Park from Hudson Street (right), the De Rham mansion on Fifth Avenue at Ninth Street, Clement Clarke Moore’s Chelsea House on West 23rd Street, and a self-portrait of the photographer (below). Mrs. Jones grew up across the street from the Clarke Moores and Nathaniel Fish Moore was a frequent dinner guest at her home. She recalled that the amateur photographer would wear cotton gloves to dinner “because his hands were stained with photographic chemicals.” As was the practice while Robert Arrowsmith was the Columbiana Curator, the images were mounted on cardstock.
De Rham House
Chelsea House
Nathaniel Fish Moore self-portrait
William Hodges
The last set of salt prints was donated to the Columbiana Collection in 1944 by William Hodges. He was the grandson of Sarah Ann Moore, who was the sister and frequent travel companion of the photographer, Nathaniel Fish Moore. The Moore family had for generations been very closely tied to Columbia, starting with the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, a graduate of King’s College Class of 1768 who later served as president of both King’s College (1775-1776) and Columbia College (1801-1811). Hodges incorrectly believed that the photographs were the work of William Moore and, because there were some of former Columbia President Moore, he sent the photographs to the Columbia Library. Below is the letter, the envelope and a transcription of the letter that accompanied the photos (an unsolicited gift) in August 1944. Columbiana Curator Milton Halsey Thomas recognized the earlier salt prints as part of Nathaniel Fish Moore’s work and so the images were added to the collection.
Letter from William Hodges to Columbia College Librarian, page 1
Hodges letter, page 2
Hodges letter, page 3
From Hodges' envelope when he mailed in the photographs, August 16, 1944
Letter from William Hodges to Columbia College Librarian, typed copy, September 10, 1944
Reply from Columbiana Curator Milton Halsey Thomas to William Hodges, October 3, 1944
About St. John's Park
Columbia Curator Milton Halsey Thomas, who received the photographs from William Hodges in September 1944 as seen above, set out to find out more about the subjects in the photos. Here is his correspondence with Edward P. Chrystie in 1945 with information about the photos featuring St. John's chapel and park.
Letter from Edward P. Chrystie to Columbiana Curator, August 2, 1945, page 1
Letter from Edward P. Chrystie to Columbiana Curator, August 2, 1945, page 2
Letter from Columbiana Curator to Edward P. Chrystie, August 9, 1945