| The
Diamond Years of Texas Photography |
| Equal
Before the Lens: Jno. Trlica's Photographs of Granger, Texas |
| | | |
Hallettsville
Photographer
Left a Legacy of Memories HENRY
JACOB BRAUNIGby
Murray Montgomery | 
|
Some
people just use an old shoebox, while others use store-bought albums, but no matter
how we choose to save them, old photographs are sure to provide precious memories
of the past.
And we are indeed fortunate that there have always been individuals
who have dedicated their lives to recording our history through the art of photography.
Today, as in yesteryear, professional photographers can be found in nearly every
town – large or small. Many years ago, Hallettsville had one of the best of these
image-makers. His name was Henry Jacob Braunig.
Braunig
was born April 1, 1861, on a farm near Old Meyersville in DeWitt County. His mother
and father came to Texas in the 1840s. When he was
2 years old, his father was killed in the Civil War. His mother remarried a man
named Nau and young Braunig was raised and went to school in Yorktown. He was
in school there for about seven years – according to Braunig, that was all the
education being offered at the time. |
| In
her book The Diamond Years of Texas Photography, Ava Crofford includes
an autobiography which was written by Braunig in 1937. In it he gives a brief
summary of his life claiming only to have written it “so [his children] might
know of some of the happenings of their Dad’s earlier life.” | |
At
the age of 14, young Henry Braunig became restless and decided it was time to
leave the farm and seek a new life. “In 1875 I left home on horseback to make
my way in the world, Cuero,
Texas, was my destination,” he wrote. His first job was with Graves Brothers Drygoods
Co. – although he made good money at that job Braunig was not happy with his living
conditions and decided to move on.
He was working as a clerk in Cuero
when he met Pius Fey, the man who would become his future partner. Fey was a traveling
photographer who made his headquarters in Cuero.
Braunig was not in good health when he met Fey and the photographer suggested
that he accompany him, as his assistant, on his next trip to the mountains in
the spring of 1875. “My acceptance led to an almost lifelong partnership, for
it continued from 1878 to 1909 – 31 years – and today we are as good friends as
were ever called by that name,” wrote Braunig.
The
new partnership operated under the name of Fey & Braunig and together the two
men formed one of the most respected photography businesses in Texas. Fey operated
a studio in Cuero while
Braunig was located in ../TOWNS/Hallettsville/Hallettsville.htm. In 1888 Braunig
built a new home and married Mary A. Lindenberg. They raised five children here
and were together until her death in 1912. After the passing of his “beloved Mary,”
he continued to be quite active in community affairs – serving as alderman for
eight years and as chief of the local fire department for nearly a quarter of
a century. One of his fondest memories was that of having been elected as president
of the State Fireman’s Association. |
| | In
1895 the photography firm of Fey & Braunig designed and built this building specifically
for use as a photography studio. The studio was on the second floor, with a stationery
and bookstore downstairs. Today the building is home to Hallettsville Florist
and Gifts.
Photo by Murray Montgomery |
In
1895 Fey and Braunig built a new two-story building designed especially for use
as a photography studio with the upper floor having large windows and skylights
to take advantage of natural light. The partners operated a stationery and bookstore
downstairs. By all accounts this was the first building west of the Mississippi
that was built purposely for use as a photography studio. That unique building,
standing on the south side of the square, is still in use today and is home to
Hallettsville Florist and Gifts.
The affiliation of Fey and Braunig lasted
for some 31 years and even after they ended the partnership in 1909, the two men
continued to be the best of friends. |
According to many,
Henry Braunig was an outstanding photographer of his era. He used an Emil Busch,
8x10 lens for all his portraits. That specific lens was one of the best available
at the time. In the years 1913 and 1914 he served as president of the Texas Professional
Photographers Association. He also trained others who would go on to become highly-respected
photographers, including Dr. John Matthias Kuehne, longtime Professor of Physics
at the University of Texas.
In
1940 Braunig planned to retire but with America on the brink of war, many new
military enlistees and their families began to come to him for portraits. He put
off retirement saying, “How could I retire now, who would take these boy’s pictures?”
Sadly, after putting off retirement to serve others, Braunig’s studio was a victim
of the 1940 flood and many of his photographic plates, dating from the beginning
of his career, were destroyed.
Henry Jacob Braunig died in December 1945
at the age of 84 – he was still working in the studio just days before his death.
On Dec. 11, 1945, The Lavaca County Tribune included the following: “Not
even he knew how many newly married couples came to him in his long career of
67 years as photographer to have their event eternalized. To many of them, the
wedding was not complete without a picture from Braunig.”
Some 13 years
later, in January 1958, The Lavaca County Tribune ran a small article about
Braunig. It stated, “All of the negatives that Mr. Henry J. Braunig had at the
time of his death are being displayed on a counter at the Hallettsville Hardware
Company. If you find negatives of favorite loved ones you may take it home free
of any charge whatsoever as a courtesy of Thomas Keith Hill who bought the equipment
of Mr. Braunig thinking he would continue the business.” The story indicated that
there were thousands of negatives on display.
Chances are that many families
in this area have old pictures in their possession with the name “Fey & Braunig”
imprinted on them – if you have one of these, take into account the love and dedication
that went into the creation of that image.
It was reported that as death
was approaching and he was surrounded by his children Braunig remarked, “If I
had an opportunity to live my life over, I would want it exactly as it was.”
© Murray Montgomery
Lone
Star Diary November 18, 2005 Column
Related Topics: People
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