J.C. Strauss
- BORN
-
July 25, 1857
Cleveland, Ohio
- DIED
-
August 9, 1924
Saint Louis, Missouri
Julius.C. Strauss was a professional photographer who worked in St. Louis for over 40 years at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries. At the height of his career, he was the leading photographer in St. Louis and was nationally and internationally recognized for his work.
J.C. Strauss was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 25, 1857. In 1876, he moved to St. Louis, and was apprenticed to a photographer at a studio on Fourth Street in St. Louis. He first opened his own studio at 1245 Franklin Avenue in 1879. In 1897 Strauss built a new studio building, in the style of a French chateau at 3514 Franklin Avenue, where he spent the rest of his career. This studio had a room where Strauss entertained his friends and fellow artists, which included panel paintings by St. Louis artists including Paul Haney, Louis Mullgardt, W.H Howe, I. Goodlove, Frederick L. Stoddard, and Oscar E. Berninghaus. In 1900 this studio was partially destroyed by a fire but Strauss rebuilt it and reopened the studio in 1901.
Throughout his career, Strauss was mainly a portrait photographer, making almost 200,000 images of the people of St. Louis and as photographer for society events like the Veiled Prophet Ball, which was held throughout the 1910s. His work was known for attempting to record the personality of the subject. Strauss was involved in organizing the photography exhibition for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis in 1904. In 1901, he advocated to have photography exhibited in its own pavilion, with the goal of the medium being recognized as a fine art, but photography was exhibited in the Fine Arts building with the other visual arts. During the Fair, Strauss was recognized by the French Academy for his photographs, which would continue to be celebrated and shared with a national and international audience through inclusion in major exhibitions such as the Philadelphia Photographic Salon and the Royal Photographic Society Salon in London.
Strauss was not only an accomplished photographer, but also a supporter of St. Louis’s artistic community. He employed and mentored other artists in St. Louis including the noted portrait painter Simeon D. Rogers, a portrait painter, and both his brother Ben R. Strauss and his son, Louis R. Strauss, who ran Strauss’s studio after his death in 1924.
J.C. Strauss, D. E. Garrison, Jr., 1912.
Photograph.
St. Louis Public Library, J.C. Strauss Portrait Collection, D06135.
Public domain
J.C. Strauss, Man with baby, 1892.
Photograph, collodion silver print, 5 1/2 x 3 7/8 in.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, P2019.12.
Public domain
St. Louis Exposition
Organized by St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Organized by St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Royal Photographic Society Salon, London
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Royal Photographic Society Salon, London
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Organized by Louisiana Purchase Exposition Corporation
Organized by Louisiana Purchase Exposition Corporation
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
St. Louis Art League Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Art League, St. Louis Public Library
Organized by St. Louis Art League, St. Louis Public Library
Award, Photographers Association of American Exhibition, Chicago
Award, World's Columbian Exposition
Award, Photographer’s Association of Missouri Convention
Award, Photographers Association of America Convention
Award, Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Award, Photographer’s Association of America Convention
Award, National Exhibit of American Photographers
Awards & Exhibitions 18
St. Louis Exposition
Organized by St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Organized by St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Royal Photographic Society Salon, London
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Royal Photographic Society Salon, London
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
Organized by Royal Photographic Society
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Organized by Louisiana Purchase Exposition Corporation
Organized by Louisiana Purchase Exposition Corporation
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
St. Louis Art League Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Art League, St. Louis Public Library
Organized by St. Louis Art League, St. Louis Public Library
Award, Photographers Association of American Exhibition, Chicago
Award, World's Columbian Exposition
Award, Photographer’s Association of Missouri Convention
Award, Photographers Association of America Convention
Award, Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Award, Photographer’s Association of America Convention
Award, National Exhibit of American Photographers
References
Artist clippings file is available at:
“J.C. Strauss: Artist File,” Spencer Art Reference Library, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
Bibliography
Select Sources
Bonnie Wright, “Julius Strauss and the Art of Photography,” Missouri Historical Review, LXXIII, no. 4 (July 1979): 451-462.
“Uses Autochrome to Make Pictures: J.C. Strauss, St. Louis Artist, Brings Newest Photography Machine Here,” Columbia Missourian, May 17, 1912, 4.
“To Be Inaugurated March 4: Strauss’ New Art Studio, Franklin Avenue, Near Grand,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 21, 1897, 18.
“The Strauss Studio Tradition Minus ‘The Old Growlery’s’ Glory Still Carries On,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat Sunday Magazine, June 12, 1927, 3, 14.
“Strauss’ Gallery Burned: Ornamental Studio on Franklin Avenue Destroyed by Fire Last Night,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, February 1, 1900, 9.
“Strauss Leads the Photographers,” The Jewish Free Press, October 8, 1886, 8.
“Simeon D. Rogers, A Portrait Painter, Was Born and has Lived in the Atmosphere of Art,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 3, 1930, 7, 14.
“Julius Strauss,” The Mirror, XI, no. 11 (May 9, 1912).
“Julius C. Strauss, Photographer of Famous Men, Dies,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 10, 1924, 3.
“Julius C. Strauss,” Missouri Digital Heritage, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1973, Certificate No: 24570, accessed July 15, 2024, https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1924/1924_00026953.PDF
“J.C. Strauss, St. Louis Photographer for 48 Years, Dies at Age of 67,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 10, 1924, 1, 6.
“J.C. Strauss Dies of Heart Trouble: Photographer Who Began Business Career Here as Youth Had Wide Acquaintance,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 9, 1924, 11.
Sarah E. Greenough, “Alfred Stieglitz and the Opponents of the Photo-Secession,” New Mexico Studies in the Fine Arts, II, (1977): 14-15.
“French Academy Honors St. Louis Photographer,” St. Louis Republic, June 16, 1904. 10.
“Fine Artists Urge St. Louis Fair to Make Photography a Fine Art,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 23, 1902, 44.
“The Famous Strauss Growlery,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat Sunday Magazine, January 28, 1934, 6.
Andrew H. Eskind, Greg Drake, Kirsti Ringger, and Lynne Rumney, eds., Index to American Photographic Collections: Compiled at the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House (Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1995), 973.
Keith F. Davis, An American Century of Photography: From Dry-Plate to Digital: The Hallmark Photographic Collection (New York: Hallmark Cards in association with Harry N. Abrams, 1999), 48-49, 68.
“Classifying Exhibits: World’s Fair Committee at Work on the Lists,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 16, 1901, 14.
Julie K. Brown, Contesting Images: Photography and the World’s Columbian Exposition (Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1994), 11, 23, 133.
Core Reference Sources
Image Credits
Artwork
J.C. Strauss, D. E. Garrison, Jr., 1912.
Photograph.
St. Louis Public Library, J.C. Strauss Portrait Collection, D06135.
Public domain
J.C. Strauss, Man with baby, 1892.
Photograph, collodion silver print, 5 1/2 x 3 7/8 in.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, P2019.12.
Public domain
Portrait of Artist
Unknown, Portrait of J.C. Strauss, 1900.
Photograph.
Cox, James, 1849-1901, ed. Notable St. Louisans in 1900; a portrait gallery of men whose energy and ability have contributed largely towards making St. Louis the commercial and financial metropolis of the West, Southwest and South. St. Louis, MO: The Benesch Art Publishing Co., 1900, 184.
Public domain
Contributors
Roberta Wagener, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Artist Record Published
Published on April 29, 2025
Learn more
References
Artist clippings file is available at:
“J.C. Strauss: Artist File,” Spencer Art Reference Library, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
Bibliography
Select Sources
Bonnie Wright, “Julius Strauss and the Art of Photography,” Missouri Historical Review, LXXIII, no. 4 (July 1979): 451-462.
“Uses Autochrome to Make Pictures: J.C. Strauss, St. Louis Artist, Brings Newest Photography Machine Here,” Columbia Missourian, May 17, 1912, 4.
“To Be Inaugurated March 4: Strauss’ New Art Studio, Franklin Avenue, Near Grand,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 21, 1897, 18.
“The Strauss Studio Tradition Minus ‘The Old Growlery’s’ Glory Still Carries On,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat Sunday Magazine, June 12, 1927, 3, 14.
“Strauss’ Gallery Burned: Ornamental Studio on Franklin Avenue Destroyed by Fire Last Night,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, February 1, 1900, 9.
“Strauss Leads the Photographers,” The Jewish Free Press, October 8, 1886, 8.
“Simeon D. Rogers, A Portrait Painter, Was Born and has Lived in the Atmosphere of Art,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 3, 1930, 7, 14.
“Julius Strauss,” The Mirror, XI, no. 11 (May 9, 1912).
“Julius C. Strauss, Photographer of Famous Men, Dies,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 10, 1924, 3.
“Julius C. Strauss,” Missouri Digital Heritage, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1973, Certificate No: 24570, accessed July 15, 2024, https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1924/1924_00026953.PDF
“J.C. Strauss, St. Louis Photographer for 48 Years, Dies at Age of 67,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 10, 1924, 1, 6.
“J.C. Strauss Dies of Heart Trouble: Photographer Who Began Business Career Here as Youth Had Wide Acquaintance,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 9, 1924, 11.
Sarah E. Greenough, “Alfred Stieglitz and the Opponents of the Photo-Secession,” New Mexico Studies in the Fine Arts, II, (1977): 14-15.
“French Academy Honors St. Louis Photographer,” St. Louis Republic, June 16, 1904. 10.
“Fine Artists Urge St. Louis Fair to Make Photography a Fine Art,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 23, 1902, 44.
“The Famous Strauss Growlery,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat Sunday Magazine, January 28, 1934, 6.
Andrew H. Eskind, Greg Drake, Kirsti Ringger, and Lynne Rumney, eds., Index to American Photographic Collections: Compiled at the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House (Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1995), 973.
Keith F. Davis, An American Century of Photography: From Dry-Plate to Digital: The Hallmark Photographic Collection (New York: Hallmark Cards in association with Harry N. Abrams, 1999), 48-49, 68.
“Classifying Exhibits: World’s Fair Committee at Work on the Lists,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 16, 1901, 14.
Julie K. Brown, Contesting Images: Photography and the World’s Columbian Exposition (Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1994), 11, 23, 133.
Core Reference Sources
Contributors
Roberta Wagener, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Artist Record Published
Published on April 29, 2025
Updated on None
