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Abraham Lincoln Ensley (1865-1948) was one of the earliest commercial photographers in western North Carolina. He made images, mostly portraits, on 5” x 7” glass plates that he developed on his farm in Jackson County. Like most native residents, Ensley was also a farmer and, perhaps, made pictures during the agricultural off season. Married to Laura Louisa Sherrill of Dillsboro, the couple raised their family in the Cope Creek section of the county. Through marriage, Ensley was related to George Sherrill, who learned, and perhaps assisted, in Ensley’s photography studio. Sherrill went on to open his own studio in nearby Waynesville in 1902.

Abraham Lincoln Ensley (1865-1948) was one of the earliest commercial photographers in western North Carolina. He made images, mostly portraits, on 5” x 7” glass plates that he developed on his farm in Jackson County. Like most native residents, Ensley was also a farmer and, perhaps, made pictures during the agricultural off season. Married to Laura Louisa Sherrill of Dillsboro, the couple raised their family in the Cope Creek section of the county. Through marriage, Ensley was related to George Sherrill, who learned, and perhaps assisted, in Ensley’s photography studio. Sherrill went on to open his own studio in nearby Waynesville in 1902.

This 1951 photograph shows a group riding in a carriage in the Jackson County Centennial parade in Sylva. The parade was part of the Jackson County Centennial week’s festivities held on September 3, 1951 celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Jackson County, North Carolina. The parade featured floats, local businesses, community organizations, and individuals of all ages.

This 1951 photograph shows men and a child riding in a carriage in the Jackson County Centennial parade in Sylva. The parade was part of the Jackson County Centennial week’s festivities held on September 3, 1951 celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Jackson County, North Carolina. The parade featured floats, local businesses, community organizations, and individuals of all ages.

This 1951 photograph shows Hale's carriage in the Jackson County Centennial parade in Sylva. The parade was part of the Jackson County Centennial week’s festivities held on September 3, 1951 celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Jackson County, North Carolina. The parade featured floats, local businesses, community organizations, and individuals of all ages.

This 1951 photograph shows men riding in a carriage in the Jackson County Centennial parade in Sylva. The parade was part of the Jackson County Centennial week’s festivities held on September 3, 1951 celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Jackson County, North Carolina. The parade featured floats, local businesses, community organizations, and individuals of all ages.

This 1951 photograph shows men riding in a carriage in the Jackson County Centennial parade in Sylva. The parade was part of the Jackson County Centennial week’s festivities held on September 3, 1951 celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Jackson County, North Carolina. The parade featured floats, local businesses, community organizations, and individuals of all ages.

Reinfried Armstrong Romanes (April 4, 1896-1978), more often known as R. A. Romanes or simply as Romanes, was born and raised in Europe. In 1919, he emigrated to America and, through family and political connections, settled in Alto, Georgia, where he remained for the rest of his life. It wasn’t until 1925 that Romanes became interested in photography, but after that time, photography became his passion. He made pictures of farming families in and around his adopted hometown in northeast Georgia and took landscape shots in Georgia, South Carolina, and western North Carolina. Most of the photographs in this collection were made in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s and many are labeled as to where they were taken.

This mountain scene, showing a horse drawn cart travelling away from the Welch Farm along the Old Asheville Highway, is part of the Sherrill Studio Collection. George Dexter Sherrill (1879–1931) opened the first photography studio in Haywood County on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville in 1902. In 1906 his studio became the first Eastman Kodak franchise west of Asheville and the third in North Carolina. Sherrill’s photography roots began in Jackson County where he learned the art from his brother-in-law, A. L. Ensley. Beulah Eloise Ashe Ensley (1899-1991) apprenticed with Sherrill in 1917 and worked in the studio with her husband, Sherrill’s nephew, Ralph Ensley (1894-1975) until Ralph’s death. The Ensley’s demolished the original studio in 1943, dug the site to street level, and built an International style building.

This photograph is from film that was brought to Sherrill’s Studio for developing, but the prints were never picked up. The name written on the unclaimed envelope is Mr. Sentelle. George Dexter Sherrill (1879–1931) opened the first photography studio in Haywood County on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville in 1902. In 1906 his studio became the first Eastman Kodak franchise west of Asheville and the third in North Carolina. Sherrill’s photography roots began in Jackson County where he learned the art from his brother-in-law, A. L. Ensley. Beulah Eloise Ashe Ensley (1899-1991) apprenticed with Sherrill in 1917 and worked in the studio with her husband, Sherrill’s nephew, Ralph Ensley (1894-1975) until Ralph’s death. The Ensley’s demolished the original studio in 1943, dug the site to street level, and built an International style building.

This photograph is from film that was brought to Sherrill’s Studio for developing, but the prints were never picked up. The name written on the unclaimed envelope is Alwayne Phillips. George Dexter Sherrill (1879–1931) opened the first photography studio in Haywood County on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville in 1902. In 1906 his studio became the first Eastman Kodak franchise west of Asheville and the third in North Carolina. Sherrill’s photography roots began in Jackson County where he learned the art from his brother-in-law, A. L. Ensley. Beulah Eloise Ashe Ensley (1899-1991) apprenticed with Sherrill in 1917 and worked in the studio with her husband, Sherrill’s nephew, Ralph Ensley (1894-1975) until Ralph’s death. The Ensley’s demolished the original studio in 1943, dug the site to street level, and built an International style building.

This image showing horses in the 1939 Labor Day Parade that went down Main Street in Waynesville and continued on to Hazelwood is part of the Sherrill Studio Collection. George Dexter Sherrill (1879–1931) opened the first photography studio in Haywood County on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville in 1902. In 1906 his studio became the first Eastman Kodak franchise west of Asheville and the third in North Carolina. Sherrill’s photography roots began in Jackson County where he learned the art from his brother-in-law, A. L. Ensley. Beulah Eloise Ashe Ensley (1899-1991) apprenticed with Sherrill in 1917 and worked in the studio with her husband, Sherrill’s nephew, Ralph Ensley (1894-1975) until Ralph’s death. The Ensley’s demolished the original studio in 1943, dug the site to street level, and built an International style building.

This undated image showing Beulah Ensley (1899-1991) on a horse drawn cart at her Thomas Park home is part of the Sherrill Studio Collection. George Dexter Sherrill (1879–1931) opened the first photography studio in Haywood County on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville in 1902. In 1906 his studio became the first Eastman Kodak franchise west of Asheville and the third in North Carolina. Sherrill’s photography roots began in Jackson County where he learned the art from his brother-in-law, A. L. Ensley. Beulah Eloise Ashe Ensley (1899-1991) apprenticed with Sherrill in 1917 and worked in the studio with her husband, Sherrill’s nephew, Ralph Ensley (1894-1975) until Ralph’s death. The Ensley’s demolished the original studio in 1943, dug the site to street level, and built an International style building.

This undated image showing a boy holding a dog is part of the Sherrill Studio Collection. George Dexter Sherrill (1879–1931) opened the first photography studio in Haywood County on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville in 1902. In 1906 his studio became the first Eastman Kodak franchise west of Asheville and the third in North Carolina. Sherrill’s photography roots began in Jackson County where he learned the art from his brother-in-law, A. L. Ensley. Beulah Eloise Ashe Ensley (1899-1991) apprenticed with Sherrill in 1917 and worked in the studio with her husband, Sherrill’s nephew, Ralph Ensley (1894-1975) until Ralph’s death. The Ensley’s demolished the original studio in 1943, dug the site to street level, and built an International style building.

This undated image showing a man on a horse drawn cart is part of the Sherrill Studio Collection. George Dexter Sherrill (1879–1931) opened the first photography studio in Haywood County on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville in 1902. In 1906 his studio became the first Eastman Kodak franchise west of Asheville and the third in North Carolina. Sherrill’s photography roots began in Jackson County where he learned the art from his brother-in-law, A. L. Ensley. Beulah Eloise Ashe Ensley (1899-1991) apprenticed with Sherrill in 1917 and worked in the studio with her husband, Sherrill’s nephew, Ralph Ensley (1894-1975) until Ralph’s death. The Ensley’s demolished the original studio in 1943, dug the site to street level, and built an International style building.