Glenalvin Goodridge daguerreotypes on display at Underground Railroad museum in York

Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record
·2 min read

Homecoming: The Glenalvin Goodridge Collection at the William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum is a collection of photographs by the son of the elder Goodridge that will open this Saturday.

“The business sense is something that people rarely talk about when you talk about African American history,” director Kelly Summerford said. Summerford is the man you will hear when you come to see the dugout basement, just past a room filled with abolitionist portraits, during an Underground Railroad tour.

Kelly Summerford, left, director and living history interpreter and Alison Renner, curator of photography discuss the exhibit that will open September 9.
Kelly Summerford, left, director and living history interpreter and Alison Renner, curator of photography discuss the exhibit that will open September 9.

“The story of the Goodridge center starts with William’s father coming to York to do indentured work and later being set free and learning barbering,” Summerford said, adding that “business was pretty much everything that Goodridge did, as an entrepreneur, he had all types of businesses.”

A daguerreotype wedding portrait of Leah (Raab) Fitz from March of 1850 that was taken by Glenalvin Goodridge at the Goodridge house, now museum in York.
A daguerreotype wedding portrait of Leah (Raab) Fitz from March of 1850 that was taken by Glenalvin Goodridge at the Goodridge house, now museum in York.

According to Alison Renner, curator of photography, young Glenalvin Goodridge picked up the skills needed to create photographs by itinerant photographers traveling though his father’s store. Glenalvin was 18 years old in 1847.

At the time, William C. had the largest emporium in York, located on Continental Square. It was common for photographers to come into a town, make as much money as they could and move on. Renner added that William C. rented a room to a traveling photographer who offered classes.

A display of original faint daguerreotypes by Glenalvin Goodridge are displayed in the case below and enhanced and reproduced on the wall above.
A display of original faint daguerreotypes by Glenalvin Goodridge are displayed in the case below and enhanced and reproduced on the wall above.

Young Glenalvin was a quick study.

Renner said that Glenalvin probably had access to a well-known daguerre photographer in Philadelphia through a correspondence course and may have traveled there to meet him.

He had, “access, ability, and an understanding of chemistry,” she said.

More photos: Here are the 20 most photographed places in York County: Is your favorite spot on list?

One of the rooms that will be in display during the Homecoming exhibit at the Goodridge center until November 4.
One of the rooms that will be in display during the Homecoming exhibit at the Goodridge center until November 4.

Glenalvin Goodridge was born in 1829 and began creating daguerreotypes in 1847. He created photographs in York from 1847 until about 1864 when he moved to Saginaw, Michigan. He died in 1867.

The William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum on East Philadelphia St. in York on September 6, 2023.
The William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum on East Philadelphia St. in York on September 6, 2023.

The show opens Saturday, Sept. 9 and runs until Nov. 4. The best time to come visit the show is from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information visit goodridgefreedomcenter.org.

I have captured life through the lens since 1983, and am currently a visual journalist with the USA Today Network. You can reach me at pkuehnel@ydr.com

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Early Black York Pa. photographer on display at Goodridge Center