Stafford Photographic Society



	Stafford Photographic Society was formed in 1895, two years after the Royal Photographic Society which was founded in 1853 received its Royal Charter. Charles Fowke was primarily responsible for the formation of the society. Charles had a passion for photography and at the time the Society was formed, a camera that cost him 5/- ( which in 2008 would be the equivalent of £116. 95 if worked using an average earnings calculator). At this time box cameras were in common use and if you are interesting in looking at the type of cameras that Charles and his founder club members would probably have used you can follow the link for more details.						This picture of Society members was taken on their summer outing of 1907 when W.Kirkham to them to Alton. The photograph was taken by S.T.Davies.

	Despite Charles Fowke being instrumental in the formation of the society it would appear from the 1912 minute book that Henry Cliff was the Societies first president. The Society originally met in the local YMCA in Gaol Road but in 1903 moved their meeting place to the old Police barracks in Austin Friars. The club’s name at this time reflected its original meeting place, the Y.M.C.A. Amateur Photographic Society, though in 1898 the word amateur was dropped from the title. The clubs original logo, a windmill, was probably inspired by the Broad Eye windmill in Stafford, a well known nineteenth century Stafford landmark. This logo was used by the society until 1968.

	Charles eventually became professional photographer with a studio in Victoria Road and when he became president of the Society in 1906 its meetings were held in his studio in order to give members access to cameras and a darkroom. Minutes from the early nineteenth century meetings show that they focused on technical aspects of photography with members giving talks and demonstration on such things as bromide and gaslight prints; lantern slide making (download a copy of John Hodges 1905 book) and portrait lighting using magnesium ribbon. The First World War brought a temporary halt to club meetings. They resumed inl 1921 when they were held in S.T. Davies studio in Foregate Street. A years membership to the society then cost 5/-. In 1925 with a view to increasing membership it was suggested that the club be renamed the Stafford Camera Club, however this change was not agreed. In 1924 B. Sinkinsons name first appears in the minutes, he was president of the society from 1931-1936 during which time he wrote and directed a film made by the members called The Beginners Success. He went on to become nationally famous and eventually President of the Royal Society. In the 1930’s summer outings were popular in the 1920 and in 1924 ten Saturday, three Wednesday and one Sunday outings tool place. Picnics were included in 1925. Society meetings continued throughout the Second World War, but were held once a fortnight and annual exhibitions were cancelled and replaced with and honours competition. The Societies 50th anniversary was celebrated with a jubilee exhibition of two hundred and fifty prints and a supper that cost 10/- per head. In 1946 a cine group was formed within the club to cater for this growing area of interest and in 1949 a second night was booked for activities as the club grew in size, totalling 124 members in 1959. The club were lucky enough to have a talk given to them on 18 December 1970 by Lord Lichfield about his life as a professional photographer. Although membership has dropped from its 1959 numbers the club continues to have success in local and nationwide competitions; to maintain a high standard of photography and to recruit talented and dedicated members. More information on the history of the society is available from Jones, G. (1995) Stafford Photographic Society: a history of the society. Stafford: Stafford Photographic Society from which content for this page has been taken.