Rare photos of John Jay’s youngest son William Jay and his descendants plus 18th and 19th century captures of distinguished members of the Pierrepont/Moffat branches of the Jay family were added to JHC’s portrait archives this year and are currently being cleaned, conserved, scanned and cataloged.
The earliest photo in the group dates to 1844. At least one of the photos was taken by one of America’s earliest and most renowned photographers, Matthew Brady, a student of Samuel F. B. Morse. Morse, a friend and colleague of Peter Augustus Jay, introduced the innovative daguerreotype process in the United States upon his return from France.
More to come about these meaningful gifts of exquisite daguerreotypes and hand drawn pastels.