Trenton, New Jersey photographer, Francis Joseph “Frank” Walsh (1845 – 1919)

If you’re looking for photos online by F. J. Walsh, you’ll find mostly miniatures, such as the ones on display in our two prior posts. Why would that be? A newspaper article, circa 1922, reveals the answer. From this we learn that Walsh had developed a process of taking a cabinet-size photo and from it, producing fifteen miniatures onto one plate; selling a dozen for only 25 cents. (Was that a typo and supposed to read made twelve/sold twelve or made fifteen/sold fifteen? Anyway, we get the idea.) These mini photos became extremely popular, especially within schools (students and teachers exchanging photos) and Walsh ended up doing so well with it that he was filling orders as far away as Australia and Japan

Here are the clippings from the 1922 article. They were found, unsourced, on an Ancestry.com tree. At the time of this post, I’m not finding the article at Newspapers.com or the info potentially duplicated via Google books. (If it were a pressing issue, I’d try Genealogybank.com – another good source for historical newspapers. Unfortunately, I don’t have a subscription for Gene-bank at the moment.) From the layout it looks like these were clippings that a descendant had saved to a scrapbook, which explains the lack of source info. The bottom of the longer part was evidently cut off. )

Since I’d slogged through city directories to get a general time-line for Walsh in NJ, I’ll include the directory findings below. And the article mentions that the photographer was in New York prior to moving to NJ. No directories were found in New York but the 1870 Federal Census for Brooklyn does show him as “photographist,” age twenty-two, living in the household of Kate Campbell (his mother) and Ellen and William Walsh (siblings).

From Trenton, NJ directories:

1886 – 1887    31 Centre and 353 Perry

1888 – 31 and 33 Centre and 353 Perry

1889 – 33 Centre and 353 Perry

1890 – 120 Perry

1893 – 1894    353 Perry

1896 – 1897    353 Perry

1899 – 1900   120 Perry

1903 – 1904    120 Perry

1905 – 148 E State and 120 Perry

1908 – 1909   shows home address only

Other information via census records

The 1900 Federal Census for Trenton shows, Frank J., born Ireland, October 1844; year of immigration 1870; occupation photographer; wife Margaret; and children Helen, William, Francis, Theodosia (census taker wrote daughter, but also indicated male) and Josephine. Address 54 Model Avenue, renting. Also in the household are a maid, groom and servant.

1905 New Jersey State Census shows Frank, born October 1848. Occupation photographer. Wife Margaret. Address 54 Model Avenue; they owned the home outright. Children:  Helen, William, Francis, Theodore and Josephine.

By the 1910 Federal Census he’s retired…..This census states he emigrated in 1852.

The Trenton Evening Times obituary:

Frank J. Walsh’s Find A Grave entry.

Sources:  “Francis Joseph Henery Walsh.” Hutchison/Cahill tree. (ancestry.com.) Accessed May 1, 2025.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Brooklyn Ward 10, Kings, New York; Roll: M593_951; Page: 569A. (Ancestry.com).

Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Trenton Ward 1, Mercer, New Jersey; Roll: 982; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0058. (Ancestry.com).

New Jersey State Archive; Trenton, NJ, USA; State Census of New Jersey, 1905; Reference Number: L-06; Film Number: 28. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Trenton Ward 1, Mercer, New Jersey; Roll: T624_896; Page: 14a; Enumeration District: 0048; FHL microfilm: 1374909. (Ancestry.com).

“Walsh Funeral To Be On Wednesday.” Trenton Evening Times, July 26, 1919. Saturday, p. 5. (Newspapers.com).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69956912/frank_j-walsh: accessed April 18, 2025), memorial page for Frank J. Walsh (1845–Jul 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 69956912, citing Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA; Maintained by: Find a Grave.