Root, Samuel

Root, Samuel

Samuel Root and his older brother Marcus Aurelius were early pioneers in American photography.  Samuel Root lived over 30 years in Dubuque.  Root is known for taking famous photographs of P.T. Barnum with General Tom Thumb, Senator Henry Clay, Vice President George Dallas, Presidential-candidate Millard Fillmore, actor Edwin Forrest, poet Bayard Taylor, Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, orator Frederick Douglass, and Bishop Matthew Simpson. Douglass and Simpson were photographed by Root in his Dubuque studios.

Root was also an early landscape/cityscape photographer, helping mature the art through his stereoview images.

The foundation for the John T. Pregler collection of Samuel Root images comes from The Cliff & Michele Krainik Collection, including over 100 stereoviews of Dubuque and surrounding area. John T. Pregler has added substantially to the collection.

(C) WARNING: All images used on this website are RESTRICTED-USE digital images taken with a camera by John T. Pregler since 2017 of artifacts he owns, unless cited otherwise. Older images in the “public domain” are represented by modern digital photographs that are covered by copyright law and are the exclusive property of John T. Pregler for use on The Lens of History and may not be copied, reproduced, or used for any reason without the expressed written consent of John T. Pregler. For permission to use images from this website, please send a written request via email to [email protected]. 

Daguerreotype

LJTP 100.145 – M.A. Root – Matriarch – c. 1847

LJTP 100.146 – M.A. & Samuel Root – Lady in Morning – c.1848

LJTP 100.147 – Samuel Root – Daguerreotype of Woman – c. 1852

LJTP 100.148 – Samuel Root – Daguerreotype of Young Woman – c. 1852

LJTP 100.149 – M.A. and Samuel Root – Daguerreotype of Young Lady – c. 1848

LJTP 100.150 – Samuel Root – Daguerreotype of Young Woman and Child – circa 1850

Carte de Visite (cdv)

LJTP 100.151 – Samuel Root – Lady – c1860

LJTP 100.152 – Samuel Root – Older Couple – c1860

LJTP 100.153 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1861

LJTP 100.154 – Samuel Root – Seated Gentleman – c1861

LJTP 100.155 – Samuel Root – Little Girl – c1861

LJTP 100.156 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1862

LJTP 100.157 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1861

LJTP 100.158 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1861

LJTP 100.159 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1861

LJTP 100.160 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1861

LJTP 100.161 – Samuel Root – Woman and Son – c1865

LJTP 100.162 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1865

LJTP 100.163 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1865

LJTP 100.164 – Samuel Root – Old Couple – c1865

LJTP 100.165 – Samuel Root – Young Woman – c1865

LJTP 100.166 – Samuel Root – Older Woman – c1867

LJTP 100.167 – Samuel Root – Gentleman with Cane – c1867

LJTP 100.168 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1870

LJTP 100.169 – Samuel Root – Baby Girl – 1875

LJTP 100.170 – Samuel Root – Young Woman – c1875

LJTP 100.171 – Samuel Root – Young Lady – c1880

LJTP 100.172 – Samuel Root – Brother and Sister – c1880

LJTP 100.173 – Samuel Root – Woman – c1885

LJTP 100.174 – Samuel Root – Brother and Sister – c1885

LJTP 100.175 – Samuel Root – Young Man – c1885

LJTP 100.176 – Samuel Root – Woman – c1885

LJTP 100.177 – Samuel Root – Young Lady – c1887

LJTP 100.178 – Samuel Root – Gus Christman – c1887

LJTP 100.179 – Samuel Root – Little Child – c1887

LJTP 100.180 – Root Gallery – Charles Cohill – c1860

LJTP 100.181 – Samuel Root – Dog – c1862

LJTP 100.182 – Native American Boy by S. Root – c.1860

LJTP 100.183 – Francis Jay Herron by S. Root – c.1862

LJTP 100.184 – S. Root Playing chess by S. Root – c.1862

LJTP 100.185 – S. Roots Dog Dean – c.1865

LJTP 100.186.001 – Carnegie Railroad Bridge – c.1870

LJTP 100.210 – Samuel Root – Husband and Wife – c1880

LJTP 100.377 – Samuel Root – Gentleman – c1861

LJTP 100.378 – Samuel Root – Mr & Mrs Brown – Feb 10 1867

LJTP 100.379 – Samuel Root – Lady – c1861

LJTP 100.380 – Samuel Root – Young Man – c 1886

LJTP 100.429 – S. Root – cdv African American Woman – circa 1875

Stereoview

Samuel Root produced several collectable series including Views of Dubuque and Vicinity (VDV), Scenery on the Mississippi & Tributaries (SMT), Scenery in and Around Dubuque (SAD), Iowa Falls Scenery (IFS), and Panoramic View of Dubuque (PAN). Each stereoview from one of the series includes a label on the back identifying the series. Each stereoview that includes a VDV, SMT, SAD, IFS, or PAN after S. Root indicates that stereoview is from that corresponding series. Please click on each image to enlarge the image. Click on the image a second time to go back to this page.

LJTP 100.211 – S. Root – 8th & Main – Maiden trip of Street Car – July 12, 1877

LJTP 100.212 – S. Root – Root & Cutter at 8th & Main – 1867

LJTP 100.213 – S. Root VDV – Eagle Point – 1867

LJTP 100.214 – S. Root – Eagle Point – 1867

LJTP 100.215 – S. Root – Eagle Point – 1867

LJTP 100.216 – S. Root SMT – St. Mary’s Church – c1868

LJTP 100.217 – S. Root SMT – St. Mary’s House – c1868

LJTP 100.218 – S. Root SMT – Eastside of City Hall – c1868

LJTP 100.219 – S. Root SMT – Westside of City Hall – c1868

LJTP 100.220 – S. Root SMT – Unknown Building – c1867

LJTP 100.221 – S. Root SMT – Dunleith Dubuque RR Bridge – c1869

LJTP 100.222 – S. Root SMT – Main St. Looking South – c1869

LJTP 100.223 – S. Root SMT- Mound at Thompson’s Mill – c1870

LJTP 100.224 – S. Root SMT – Mound at Thompson’s Mill – c1870

LJTP 100.225 – S. Root SMT – Maquoketa River – c1870

LJTP 100.226 – S. Root SMT – Maquoketa River – c1870

LJTP 100.227 – S. Root SMT – Maquoketa River – c1870

LJTP 100.228 – S. Root SMT – Morris Lumber Mill – c1870

LJTP 100.229 – S. Root SMT – Lumber Yard – c1870

LJTP 100.230 – S. Root SMT – Mineral Street – c1870

LJTP 100.231 – S. Root SMT – Seminary Bluff – c1870

LJTP 100.232 – S. Root SMT – Unknown Location – c1870

LJTP 100.233 – S. Root SMT – Bluff Near City – c1870

LJTP 100.234 – S. Root – Near Thompson’s Mill – c1870

LJTP 100.235 – S. Root – Rockdale Flood – 1876

LJTP 100.236 – S. Root – Near Dubuque – c1875

LJTP 100.237 – S. Root – Dunleith & Dubuque RR Bridge – 1868

LJTP 100.238 – S. Root – Dunleith & Dubuque RR Bridge – 1868

LJTP 100.239 – S. Root – Dunleith & Dubuque RR Bridge – 1869

LJTP 100.240 – S. Root – Dunleith & Dubuque RR Bridge – 1869

LJTP 100.241 – S. Root – Train Tunnel West – c1869

LJTP 100.242 – S. Root – Dunleith & Dubuque RR Bridge – 1869

LJTP 100.243 – S. Root – Railroad Bridge Approach – c1870

LJTP 100.244 – S. Root – Railroad Rock Cut Dubuque – c1870

LJTP 100.245 – S. Root – Railroad Tracks South of Dubuque – c1870

LJTP 100.246 – S. Root – New Town Clock – 1873

LJTP 100.247 – S. Root – New Town Clock – 1873

LJTP 100.248 – S. Root – New Town Clock – c1873

LJTP 100.249 – S. Root – Bishop Matthew Simpson – Sept 16 1868

LJTP 100.250 – S. Root SAD – Road to Eagle Point – c1875

LJTP 100.251 – S. Root SAD – Dunleith & Dubuque RR Bridge – c1875

LJTP 100.252 – S. Root SAD – Dunleith & Dubuque RR Bridge – c1875

LJTP 100.253 – S. Root SAD – Potter Hill looking North – c1870

LJTP 100.254 – S. Root – Potter Hill looking North – c1870

LJTP 100.255 – S. Root – Potter Hill looking North with Dog – c1870

LJTP 100.256 – S. Root SAD – 8th & Main St looking West – c1870

LJTP 100.257 – S. Root SAD – 12th Street Hill – c1870

LJTP 100.258 – S. Root SAD – Locust St at 7th Street looking North – c1870

LJTP 100.259 – S. Root SAD – Studio hunt seen – c1870

LJTP 100.260 – S. Root SAR – Picture Rock north of Dubuque – c1870

LJTP 100.261 – S. Root SAR – Picture Rock north of Dubuque – c1870

LJTP 100.262 – S. Root SAD – Mineral Street – c1870

LJTP 100.263 – S. Root SAD – Mineral Street – c1870

LJTP 100.264 – S. Root – Dunleith Ferry Boat – c1875

LJTP 100.265 – S. Root – Lumber Yard – c1875

LJTP 100.266 – S. Root SAD – Catfish Creek – c1875

LJTP 100.267 – S. Root SAD – Catfish Creek – c1875

LJTP 100.268 – S. Root SAD – Catfish Creek – c1875

LJTP 100.269 – S. Root – Catfish Creek – c1875

LJTP 100.270 – S. Root SAD – Gentleman surveying Catfish Creek – c1875

LJTP 100.271 – S. Root – Julien Dubuque Grave at Catfish Creek – c1875

LJTP 100.272 – S. Root – Catfish Creek Bridge – c1875

LJTP 100.273 – S. Root – On the Maquoketa River – c1875

LJTP 100.274 – S. Root – Near Maquoketa River – c1875

LJTP 100.275 – S. Root – Unknown River – c1875

LJTP 100.276 – S. Root – Terrace Hill – Jun 26 1875

LJTP 100.277 – S. Root – W.H. Peabody Home – 1875

LJTP 100.278 – S. Root – W.H. Peabody Home – 1875

LJTP 100.279 – S. Root – W.H. Peabody Home – 1875

LJTP 100.280 – S. Root IFS – Mill and Railroad Bridge at Iowa Falls – c1875

LJTP 100.281 – S. Root IFS – Old Rock River Bridge – c1875

LJTP 100.282 – S. Root – Old Rock River Bridge – c1875

LJTP 100.283 – S. Root IFS – Iowa River – c1875

LJTP 100.284 – S. Root – Train on Bridge at Iowa Falls – c1875

LJTP 100.285 – S. Root – Tower Rock near Iowa Falls – c1875

LJTP 100.285 – S. Root – Samuel Root Home – 1869

LJTP 100.286 – S. Root – Samuel Root Home – 1870

LJTP 100.287 – S. Root – Samuel Root Home – 1870

LJTP 100.288 – S. Root – 17th & Main St from Seminary Hill – c1875

LJTP 100.289 – S. Root – 17th & Main St from Seminary Hill – c1875

LJTP 100.290 – S. Root – Dubuque Custom House – c1875

LJTP 100.291 – S. Root – Third Ward School – c1875

LJTP 100.292 – S. Root – SE corner of 8th & Main St – c1870

LJTP 100.293 – S. Root – 8th & Main St looking North – c1875

LJTP 100.294 – S. Root – 5th Street looking West – c1875

LJTP 100.295 – S. Root – Julien Avenue looking West – c1875

LJTP 100.296 – S. Root – AY McDonald House – NW corner 11th & Locust – c1875

LJTP 100.297 – S. Root – Dean the Dog in Street – c1875

LJTP 100.298 – S. Root – Looking south from Seminary Hill – c1880

LJTP 100.299 – S. Root – Grove Terrace looking at Custom House – c1880

LJTP 100.300 – S. Root – Grove Terrace looking at Westminster Presbyterian Church – c1880

LJTP 100.301 – Westminster Presbyterian Church – 13th & Locust – c1880

LJTP 100.302 – St. Mary’s Church from Seminary Hill – c1880

LJTP 100.303 – St. Mary’s Church from Seminary Hill – c1880

LJTP 100.304 – S. Root PAN 1 – 11th Street looking North – c1880

LJTP 100.305 – S. Root – From Panaramic series No 1 – c1880

LJTP 100.306 – S. Root PAN 2 – 11th Street looking North – c1880

LJTP 100.307 – S. Root PAN 3 – 11th Street looking East – c1880

LJTP 100.308 – S. Root PAN 7 – 11th Street looking South – c1880

LJTP 100.309 – S. Root – From Panaramic series No 7 – c1880

LJTP 100.310 – S. Root – From Panoramic series No 2 – c1880

LJTP 100.311 – S. Root – From Panoramic series No 3 – c1880

LJTP 100.312 – S. Root – From Panoramic series No 4 – c1880

LJTP 100.313 – S. Root – From Panoramic series No 5 – First Congregational Church – c1880

LJTP 100.314 – S. Root – From Panoramic series No 6 – Custom House – c1880

LJTP 100.315 – S. Root – From Panoramic series looking North – c1880

LJTP 100.316 – S. Root – Kelly’s Bluff looking Southeast – c1880

LJTP 100.317 – S. Root – Julien Theater from 4th Street Bluff – c1880

LJTP 100.318 – S. Root – Dodge Street cistern from Cleveland Park – c1880

LJTP 100.319 – S. Root – Dodge Street cistern from Cleveland Park – c1880

LJTP 100.320 – S. Root – Hail Stones – Jun 16 1882

LJTP 100.321 – S. Root – Eggs – Jun 1882

LJTP 100.322 – S. Root – National Military Encampment – Dubuque – Jun 1884

LJTP 100.347 – S. Root – Dunleith & Dubuque Railroad Bridge

LJTP 100.348 – S. Root – Iowa Falls Bridge & Dam – c1875

Others

LJTP 100.031 – Henry Clay by Samuel Root

LJTP 100.187 – Dubuque Town Clock by S. Root – c.1870

LJTP 100.188 – Samuel and M.A. Root – The Daguerreotypist – 1850

LJTP 100.350 – S. Root – Former 1859 DBQ Mayor John Hodgdon – c1880

LJTP 100.368 – Engraving Henry Clay from Root Image – c1880

Misc. Artifacts

LJTP 700.017 – Root & Co Advertising Token – c.1850

LJTP 700.017 – Root & Co Advertising Token – c.1850