Sarah Louise Judd (June 26, 1802 – October 11, 1881) was the first commercial photographer in Minnesota.[1] She also established the first schools in the area of Stillwater, Minnesota.

Sarah Louise Judd
Born(1802-06-29)June 29, 1802 June 26, 1802
Farmington, Connecticut
DiedOctober 11, 1881(1881-10-11) (aged 79)
Stillwater, Minnesota
Resting placeFairview Cemetery, Stillwater[1]
NationalityAmerican
Known forPhotography
Spouse
Ariel Eldridge
(m. 1849)

Biography

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Born in Farmington, Connecticut on June 26, 1802.[1] In 1838 became her family became stockholders in a new company located in Maine Mills in 1844. she moved first to Marine, Illinois, (c. 1832) before settling in Stillwater, Minnesota in 1845. She founded the first schools at Point Douglas, Minnesota (1845) and Stillwater (1846). She was the first teacher in and Washington County. Mrs. Judd is known for starting to produce daguerrotypes in the spring of 1848 and continued in Stillwater two years.[2] This is the earliest recorded production of photography in Minnesota. In January 1849 she married Ariel Eldridge (1816–1896). She also taught at the first school in Marine Mills, Minnesota in 1849. She was an entrepreneur that aided in her husband's bookstore and active in the local First Presbyterian Church. She died in her home in Stillwater. Sources list her death date as either October 11, 1881[3] or October 10, 1886[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Peterson, Brent - March 24, 2015. "Minnesota's First Commercial Photographer". Washington County Historical Society. Retrieved 9 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley. North Star Publishing Company. 1881. p. 507.
  3. ^ Peterson, Brent - May 3, 2013 (3 May 2013). "Sarah Louise Judd: Minnesota's first photographer". St. Croix Area Lowdown. Press Publications. Retrieved 9 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72927568/sarah-louise-eldridge : accessed 23 April 2019), memorial page for Sarah Louise Judd Eldridge (unknown–10 Oct 1886), Find A Grave Memorial no. 72927568, citing Fairview Cemetery, Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota, USA ; Maintained by PPR (contributor 47262153) .