James E Reed

African-Americans played a prominent role in New Bedford, Massachusetts growth, progression and history. There is hardly a facet of society, high or low, that they did not participate in. From menial jobs like custodian, cook and lamplighter to ship building, medicine, and law. One of those professions, photography, was beginning to take off in America in 1880s. One particular New Bedford citizen saw the merit and potential revenue that could be generated by someone who had a keen eye and attention to detail. That man was James E. Reed, who was one of the first African American photographers in New Bedford’s history.

By 1895 James E. Reed was bringing in enough revenue to open his own studio, which he did with his partner white Phineas C. Headley. Headley & Reed were the premier studio at 5 Purchase Street in New Bedford and ran a successful business from 1890-1896. For unknown reasons Headley left the business in 1896, however, Reed continued on until 1914.

James married Anna Jourdain. His wife studied at the Swain School of Design and used the skills she learned there to embellish her husband’s photos by coloring and tinting them. This breathed life into the otherwise black and white photos and surely contributed to the popularity of Headley & Reed and especially Reed when he struck out on his own. His wife also worked on Tiffany style lampshades for the famous Pairpoint Company of New Bedford.

It seemed at this point in Reed’s life perhaps his passion for photography – as a business anyhow – had waned as he moved on and became the first Photostat Operator for the Massachusetts State Archives, a position he held until he retired.

James E Reed left an abundance of photos behind capturing the city and region for three decades giving us a window to the past. So many photos that the Newbedford Whaling Museum had an exhibition in 1991 titled, 'James E. Reed: Pioneer Black Photographer.'

Source: newbedfordguide.comwritten by Joe Silvia