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Studio Portrait of Lewis H. Latimer by Mitchell, Lewisham, S.E. (1882)

Photograph
This black-and-white studio portrait features Lewis H. Latimer (1848–1928), an African American inventor, engineer, and draftsman. Latimer is wearing a formal double-breasted suit, vest, high-collared shirt, and patterned cravat, and he has a neatly groomed mustache and round glasses. The photographer’s name, "Mitchell," is inscribed in cursive at the bottom left, along with the studio's address: "133, High Street, Lewisham, S.E." A faint handwritten marking near the bottom reads "1882," suggesting the year the portrait was taken.
The image displays a formal portrait of Lewis Latimer in a suit, reflecting a historical setting.
Survey #31 - DSC_7238; A sepia-toned portrait depicts Lewis Latimer in a suit with glasses, against a plain studio background

Lewis H. Latimer was a pioneering inventor and patent draftsman who played a crucial role in the development of electric lighting technology. His contributions include improving the carbon filament for incandescent light bulbs, which significantly increased the longevity and efficiency of electric lighting. Latimer worked with Alexander Graham Bell, helping draft the patent for the telephone, and later with Thomas Edison, making him one of the few African Americans directly involved in the early electrical industry. His work extended to the United States Electric Light Co., Imperial Electric Lighting Co., and Mather Electric Light Co., as documented in historical records. This portrait from 1882 captures Latimer during a period of professional advancement when he was actively involved in the emerging electrical industry. The presence of a London-based photography studio suggests that the portrait may have been taken while Latimer was engaged in international work or visiting England.

The Lewis H. Latimer Papers (1870-1929, 1972) [QPL Subgroup]Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]

Transcription or Marks "Mitchell" (Photographer’s name, bottom left) "133, High Street, Lewisham, S.E." (Photography studio address) "1882" (Handwritten date near the bottom)