And when you’re gone, Who remembers your name? Who keeps your flame? Who tells your story? — Hamilton: An American Musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda
From a glass-plate negative. Photos collected by Ben B. Wilson (1889–1972). Donations and digital donations by Steven and Misty O’Malley.
University of Washington, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
He was born in Jackson, Michigan. By 1900 he had moved with his family to Chattanooga.
Newspaper articles noted his singing talent.
At age 25, in 1903, Will set off for New York to tour in the first of several comic-opera company performances, including A Girl from Dixie.
Amazingly, Will appears in a surviving photograph from a 1904 performance at the Grand Opera House in Seattle.
Other performances between 1906 and 1916 included Sybil, The Girl from Utah, The Count of Luxembourg, and My Lady’s Maid.
“Mr. Will Hobart leaves Friday for New York City to join the ‘Girl from Dixie’ company.”
“Will Hobart is another Chattanoogan boy who has made his way up near the top of the comic opera musical comedy ladder. He is now with ‘The Red Feather,’ and before joining this company was a member of the cast of ‘The Strollers.’”
1874–1948
Fred H. Phillips Jr. had an impressive and varied career. He is seen in many glass-plate negatives from multiple sources. Capt. Phillips served in Company H of the U.S. Volunteers and 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. In 1898 he was stationed at Camp Dewey in Nashville and at Camp George H. Thomas at Chickamauga Park.
In 1905, Phillips was Vice-Principal of Chattanooga High School. By 1917 he was a Brigadier General and Secretary of the National Rifle Association.
1876–1900
Evidence points to this being Frank T. Phillips, brother of Fred Phillips. Frank died December 19, 1900, at age 24 of a lifelong chronic condition.
His obituary states the funeral was held at his residence, with pallbearers including Will Hobart and Charles G. Walline, the likely photographer. Other evidence places the photograph at the Phillips residence at 704 East 3rd Street. It may even have been taken on the day of the funeral.
1878–1950
Born in Jackson, Michigan, Hobart moved with his family to Chattanooga by 1894. As early as 1895, newspaper articles described him as a well-known tenor.
1861–1929
Dr. Cooper Holtzclaw was one of Chattanooga’s most popular physicians, practicing here for 45 years. He was instrumental in establishing Erlanger Hospital. Cator Street was renamed Holtzclaw Avenue by a public vote of area residents in 1920.
Tap or click any photograph below to explore it in high resolution.
Photos collected by Ben B. Wilson (1889–1972). Donations and digital donations by Steven and Misty O’Malley.
Far too often, history is lost in the settlement of estates or thrown away by well-meaning family members. Many public institutions and organizations are set up to archive and garner donations rather than to share.
No-charge photo and negative scanning is available for qualifying materials such as true photographic prints, negatives, glass-plate negatives, and 35mm slides.
I started this website in 2014 with the goal of sharing high-resolution historic photographs from this region. I invested in professional digital scanners and other tools to ensure donated or loaned photographs are quickly digitized. Originals and digital copies are provided back to you.
You or the original photographer, if known, are fully credited.
If you have qualifying historical photographs to digitize and share, use the contact form for a quick response.
