James Presley Ball

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Noted Black Photographer James Presley Ball Recognized in Greenbrier Historical Society ArchivesHuntington News
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Noted Black Photographer James Presley Ball Recognized in Greenbrier Historical Society Archives
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The Greenbrier Historical Society and the North House Museum would like to recognize the legacy of James Presley Ball, 1825-1904, an African-American abolitionist, free black man, photographer and businessman.

Ball was born in 1825 in the Virginias and spent his early years in Ohio, learning the art of daguerreotype from black Boston photographer John B. Bailey.
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back of photo, James Presley Ball

In 1845, Ball opened a one-room studio in Cincinnati, but according to historical documents, did not find success right away.The names and status of those pictured in Ball's photographs remain unknown today.

In 1846, Ball returned to the Virginias and rented a studio near the state capitol of Richmond and started climbing the ladder to success.