Isaac West Taber

Isaac West Taber (August 17, 1830 – 1912) was an American photographer. In 1854, Taber opened a daguerrotype studio in the town, and with his brother Freeman Augustus Taber, subsequently ran a studio in Syracuse, New York, 1857–1864. Taber then moved to San Francisco, operating on behalf of Bradley & Ru- lofson until opening his own gallery in 1871. He took over Carleton Watkins Gallery in 1876. Taber exhibited prominently in the 1877 San Francisco Art Association show, and the Mechanics’ Institute Exhibition in 1880. In 1880, he published Photographic Album of Principal Business Houses, Residences and Persons, as a promotional venture, and photographed Kalakaua, King of Hawaii during a Pacific cruise. In 1885 Taber developed a method for enlarging and print- ing fingerprints, and opened a factory for dryplates. In 1894 Taber obtained exclusive rights to photograph within the grounds of the San Francisco Midwinter Fair, and in 1897 opened a branch of the Taber Bas Relief Photographic Syndicate in London. Taber’s studio was totally destroyed in the San Fran- cisco earthquake of 1906, including 80 tons of portrait negatives. He died at his home in San Francisco on February 22, 1912 [1].