The mystery of the photographer E. C. SWAIN

E. C. Swain was a photographer in Malden, Massachusetts within the county of Middlesex. Born in 1835 in Maine, he is shown in the 1870 Massachusetts census as being 35 years old and married to a 22 year old woman whose name begins with an “M” whom I believe to be Mary, also born in Maine. There are no children listed. He is listed as a photographer.

In the 1880 census there is a Mary A. Swain listed in Malden, Massachusetts as being 32 years old, with her occupation as “keeping house.” There are two sons listed, Fred A., age 9, and a name that begins with an “H” which I cannot read, age 6. E. C. is not in the census.

What became of E. C. between the years of the 1870 and 1880 census? Did he die? Did they separate? And what actually was his name? What did the “E” and “C” stand for? I cannot find any written biographical information about him.

There is a book, Malden, published by the Malden Historical Society, that contains many landscape shots taken by Swain. The photo below, from the book, shows his fascinating photography studio in Malden. Of his photos in the book, the dates vary from the mid-1860s to 1875.

You can see more images from the book here, and the book is available for sale at Amazon.

In 1868 a quote by Swain is shown in a book entitled The American Carbon Manual: The Production of Photographic Prints in Permanent Pigmenets. He supplied a testimonial for a journal called The Philadelpha Photographer.

Searching for photos taken by him I find that most of the shots are landscapes, many stereographic cards. I have found very few portraits.

The portrait, to the left, is currently available on eBay which means this link may not work in the future.

Here you’ll find a photo taken by Swain in 1870 of a cemetery in Boston.

Here you’ll find a stereographic card showing the “Coliseum.”

Here you’ll find the back of one of his cabinet card advertisements, which you'll note is different than the photo I show below which is in my collection.

Here is another image for sale on eBay, another landscape, this time of Saugus, Massachusetts.

And finally, what began my research for this post is the photo below given to me by my friend Bert. Other than knowing Swain took this shot, I have no other information.


Click on image to see it larger.



Perhaps sometime in the future someone will be able to identify this body of water with the waterfall and buildings in the background. For now let it be the beginning of the “Who was E. C. Swain?” mystery.

UPDATE: I knew someone would come along and add some pieces to the puzzle. Thank you AnyJazz@!

How odd that he appears nowhere in the 1880 census. There are references to him before and after. He seems still living with Mary, Fred and Herbert in the census of 1900 and with Mary and Herbert (then 36) in the census of 1910. Perhaps he was traveling in 1880 and when enumerated, the census taker fouled up the name so badly that the index search does not pick him up. He could have been “on location” for a scenic shoot.

I can clear up the names I think.

Edwin Chandler Swain (1835-1911)

Mary Alden Lovejoy (Swain) (1847-1933)

Son-Fred Allen Swain (1871-1963)

Son-Herbert (Burton) Smith Swain (1873-1922)

UPDATE: The following images are provided by reader Chris who has this for sale on ebay as of 5/23/14. Thanks Chris!

UPDATE: The latest from a reader:

Some of his photos are on file at the Wayland Historical Society files..We figured out today that they were likely taken between 1878 and 1882 due to the fact that there was a firehouse in one of them located in a specific spot. It was built in 1878 and moved in 1882. Thus, he was in Massachusetts during the time that you mentioned.

UPDATE: 10.28.2020 

I received the following image of a house on Appleton Street in Malden, MA from collector Andrew Cook. The framed image shows "Photo by E.C. Swain" on the back. It's a grand house with a very beautiful yard and fence. As so often happens over time the house is no longer quite so grand. I believe the color image below shows the house today as seen on Google Street View. The extensive lawn is gone, the fence, and much of the architectural decorations—such as the shutters—are now gone. But if you pay attention to the roof you'll see that the iron work at the top and the two chimneys are still there. Where once this house stood on a corner, it is now simply another lovely house on a street filled with old lovely houses. It also goes to show how putting power lines underground would improve the overall look of the neighborhood. Those damnable black cables running here and there really do distract.

If anyone has anything to add about this house Mr. Cook would be most grateful for any information. Should you wish to contact him direct: andyc222@hotmail.com.

 Click on images to see them larger.