Vintage bromide photograph signed by Wilbur E. Taylor in 1933. This photograph is of two wooden dinosaurs in a wooden forest. The photo is 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches matted on a 16x20 inch piece of cardboard.

******Each photograph is shipped carefully wrapped in plastic, then again in cardboard. 

The last photographs are some articles and photographs of Wilbur from newspapers.  (NOT INCLUDED IN SALE, FOR REFERENCE ONLY, BUT THEY CAN BE PRINTED)

PICTORIAL & INDUSTRIAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Wilbur Everett Taylor

Born: January 19, 1893

Died: November 23, 1958

Address: 6789 Vinewood Detroit Michigan 5269 Harvard Rd Detroit Michigan

Parents: John and Martha Millie Warriner Taylor

Brother: Walter J. 1873 - 1932

Sister: Edith Jessie Barrie 1875 - 1949

Sister: Jennie 1871 -

Brother: Charles Frederic 1882 - 1959 General Manager then President of Raynor & Taylor Printers

Wilbur’s love of print and photography was generational. Wilbur’s father, John, who was born in Ontario Canada, was one of the co-owners (with Albert E. Raynor) of Raynor & Taylor Printing established in 1876.

John learned the printer’s trade, was a Mason (32 o ), Knight Templar, Shriner and sportsman. Albert Raynor died January, 1898 and left his ½ of Raynor & Taylor to his oldest son, to continue the business. If Taylor didn’t agree, then he was going to force the business to be sold.

William Raynor, his son filed suit against John Taylor which was settled shortly after so that the business could continue as Raynor & Taylor. The business continued through 1907 at which time the Bookbinders Union went on strike.

Wilbur’s older brother Charles and brother Walter were both employed at Raynor & Taylor, 92 W. Congress, Detroit Michigan.

In 1911, John Taylor almost had to sell his business because of a federal lawsuit against him. He has complications from a prostate removal and died in 1915. Charles and Walter took over his share in the business. Wilbur’s mother Martha died in 1918.

Wilbur grew up with photos, printing, magazines, books and other printed material by working for his father and taking photographs. By age 16, he was working alongside his family. In 1917, while living on Vinewood in Detroit, he was drafted into the military. He had poor eyesight, but that did not disqualify him. He served from September 20, 1917 to July 9, 1919 as a Sgt for Headquarter Det ASC Base Sec #6

After he returned from service and by 1920 Wilbur was living with his brother Walter who was 20 years older than him. Walter was still a salesman and Wilbur got a job as a clerk for one of the auto factories in Detroit. It was already well known that Raynor & Taylor was on the decline. It was during the next 10 years that his interest in photography rose.

He was a member of the Detroit Camera Club. Raynor & Taylor Printers dissolved in around 1925. By 1926, he was already exhibiting in the Annual Exhibition of Pictorial Guild. The portrait that was in the newspaper was one he did of Thayer Roberts, an actor. In 1930 Wilbur was still living with Walter. Wilbur, who by now was 37 years old was now an Engineer for the city of Detroit. He was also by this time becoming a more advanced photographer. His pictorial photographs were now on exhibition at the state library.

His work as a pictorialist had now won international recognition. Just a year later, in 1931, he was giving lectures to other Camera Clubs. Not only lecturing, he became a Show Judge. In 1932, Wilbur, already well known, gave an interview “Photo Show Judge tells Contestants How to Prepare Prints for Exhibition” (article for you to read in the listing). Wilbur and Norman Dewes started a two-man show in these exhibitions and salons.

Wilbur lived with his brother Walter after his stint in the army. This year, on July 31, 1932, Walter died, at the young age of 59. Wilbur kept busy through his grief and was still exhibiting and judging. This year he was a judge for the Detroit Salon of Industrial & Pictorial Photography. In addition to being a judge, he also submitted photographs all over the country in different salon’s and exhibitions. Wilbur had the distinction of being in the “Who’s Who in Photography”. He had a dual distinction of being in the Pictorial Salon group and the Industrial Salon group of Who’s Who’.

Wilbur had been a single man until he was 40. In 1934 he met Martha. Wilbur and Martha Linneman Reich married August 14, 1934, she was 35 (her 2nd marriage). He was still an engineer for the city in addition to being a photographer. In 1937, Wilbur, who was passionate about photography, started teaching classes at the Y.M.C.A. He did this for the next 11 years until 1948.

In around 1938 Wilbur (45) and Martha (37) had their only child, a son, James WIlbur Taylor . By 1940, Wilbur (47), Martha (39), James (1) lived on Harvard Street in Detroit. He was still an engineer and a land appraiser for the city. Through 1950, he was still at the same city job and Wilbur, Martha and James still lived on Harvard Street.

Wilbur died November 23, 1958 at a young age of 66. It is unknown at this time what the cause was. However, the obituary was asking for donations for the American Cancer Society and no flowers. Martha died in 1995 age 96