Scarce Albumin Print of a Mine by Thors, San Francisco

This is a scarce image of a California mine c. 1870 from the Thors studio in San Francisco. The period mount measures 10.5 x 13, the print is 7.5 x 9.5.

THORS, GERTRUDE M. (MRS.)
Born in California, 1867. Second wife of photographer Louis Thors, married 1891, and active in San Francisco, c. 1891-1910. Part owner of the Thors Gallery at 14 Grant Street, San Francisco, c. 1891-98. Gallery located in the Phelan Building, 1899-1900. Operated a branch gallery in Palo Alto, 1895-98. Also listed as Mrs. Louis Thors.

THORS, KATHERINE
Born in Ohio, 1853. First wife of Louis Thors. Worked in gallery at various locations on Larkin Street, 1879-90. By 1891, she had either died or was divorced from Louis.

THORS, LOUIS
Born in Holland, 1845. Educated in France where he served in the Merchant Marine. Came to California from the East Indies,1876; set up his photographic studio in San Francisco by 1880. Gallery at 1023 and 1025 Larkin Street, 1880-89 or later; operated Thors Photographic Company, 14 Grant Street, 1895-1900+. He used the "Nadar process," which gave a soft tone to photographic portraits through an application of photogravure, and won the Bronze Medal in the 1889 Paris Exposition.