Aerials of Rochester 1919
The Spirit Room
139 State St.
Apr 4, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Capture by Albert R. Stone
Curated by Glenn R. Galbraith

Albert R. Stone (b.1867 – d.1934) was Rochester’s first newspaper staff photographer (1903-1934) at The Rochester Herald soon after, merging into the Democrat & Chronicle. He was born in Utica, NY trying his hands in metalsmithing, woodworking, shoe making, glass blowing and photography. Until his death, “Stoney” as he was called by all who knew him, immersed himself in city life and the mechanics of photography. Along the way, he apprenticed his son, Daniel J. Stone, into his trade.

Together they amassed nearly 15,000 glass plate negatives now preserved at the Rochester Museum & Science Center; donated in 1940 by Daniel’s daughter Helen Stone Reinhard, a Rochester Change Maker. The camera used for these images is a Kodak Aero-Camera Model A1. designed for aerial reconnaissance during WWI and is attached with a Hawkeye Aerial F4.5 lens, a single-slit, variable tension shutter utilizing a magazine that held multiple plates. The design was useful in taking photos over the side of an open-cockpit aircraft.

The pilot of the aircraft was Earl F. Beers, instrumental in creating the air field that would become the Rochester International Airport. Stoney would tap Beers’ shoulder before opening the shutter to insure clarity of image capture. The plane would silently glide for a moment, the image would be captured and Beers would be tapped on the shoulder again, start the engine and fly to the next location over the City of Rochester.