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Theodore M. Schleier (April 20, 1832 – December 13, 1908) was a Prussian-born American photographer, inventor, and diplomat, active primarily in the southeastern United States in the latter half of the 19th century. While operating from a studio in Nashville, Tennessee, he helped document life in the city during the Civil War. He later moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he captured some of the city's earliest photographs. His inventions include an early artificial lighting system for photography studios. Schleier was a delegate to the 1872 Republican National Convention, and served as U.S. Consul to Amsterdam from 1890 to 1893. ==Life== After immigrating to the United States from his native Prussia,〔 Schleier initially settled in New York, where he presumably learned the burgeoning photography trade.〔 By the late 1850s, he had moved to New Orleans, where he operated a studio on Chartres Street. In 1857, Schleier filed a complaint against rival New Orleans photographer James Andrews (1829–1863), stating that Andrews had busted open the door to his studio, ejected him from the studio with a fireplace poker, and destroyed his photographic equipment "with a view of preventing him from pursuing his regular business."〔Peter Palmquist, "(James Andrews )," ''Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide'' (Stanford University Press, 2005), p. 76.〕 In spite of this attack, Schleier had opened a new ambrotype studio on Camp Street by the Summer of 1857.〔Peter Palmquist, "(Theodore M. Schleier )," ''Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide'' (Stanford University Press, 2005), p. 535.〕 In 1859, Schleier moved to Nashville to work in the Southern Photographic Temple of Fine Arts, a studio and gallery on Deaderick Street operated by fellow Prussian immigrant Carl Giers (1828–1877).〔''(The Nashville Patriot )'', 12 July 1859, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕〔Dave Price, "(Thuss, Koellein, & Giers )," ''Civic Scope'', 13 January 2010. Retrieved: 21 February 2014.〕 An ad for the studio described Schleier as "one of the best Photographers and practical Chemists in the country."〔 By 1863, Schleier was running his own studio at the corner of Cherry and Union streets, in addition to the Giers location. This studio specialized in cartes de visite, and advertised to the soldiers of the Union forces occupying the city.〔''(Nashville Daily Union )'', 1 September 1863, p. 3. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 In April 1862, Schleier married Catherine Knaffl, a daughter of prominent Austrian-born physician Rudolph Knaffl, who was serving as a surgeon in the Union Army.〔〔''(Knoxville Weekly Chronicle )'', 8 January 1873, p. 5. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 Schleier opened a branch gallery in Knoxville, Tennessee, in early 1864.〔''(Knoxville Whig and Rebel Ventilator )'', 9 January 1964, p. 3. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 In 1867, he relocated to the city and established a large studio and gallery on Gay Street. This gallery opened to great fanfare in June 1867, with music provided by the Knoxville Brass Band, and ice cream and drinks served by prominent German-American baker Peter Kern.〔''(Knoxville Whig )'', 19 June 1967, p. 3. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 A popular figure in the city, Schleier swept the photography prizes at the city's Eastern Division Fair in October 1871,〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 17 October 1871, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 and won an award for "best comic mask" at a German-American masquerade ball in February 1872.〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 28 February 1872, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 In 1870, Schleier was indicted for ignoring a new state law requiring photographers to obtain a license and pay an annual privilege tax. Schleier's attorney, German immigrant and future North Knoxville mayor Louis Gratz, argued the law was unconstitutional because it discriminated against photographers living in larger cities by charging them a higher tax. While the circuit court agreed and threw out the charges, the Tennessee Supreme Court overturned this decision and reinstated the indictment. The court reasoned that photographers living in larger cities were free to move to smaller to cities to avoid the higher tax, and therefore the law was not discriminatory.〔Joseph Brown Heiskell (ed.), "(The State v. T.M. Schleier )," ''Reports of Cases Relating to Revenue Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee'' (Jones, Purvis, 1872), pp. 281-286.〕 Schleier received several patents for various inventions in the 1870s. He and his father-in-law, Rudolph Knaffl, patented a fan for rocking chairs in 1870.〔''(Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1870 )'' (Government Printing Office, 1871), p. 135. Patent number: 109,744.〕 Schleier received a patent for a new type of camera stand in 1872, and for a new type of mustard pot the following year.〔M.D. Leggett, ''(Index of Patents Issued From the United States Patent Office )'' (1874), pp. 955, 1037. Patent numbers: 128,915 and 135,595.〕 In late 1872, Schleier was awarded a patent for a brick cleaning machine,〔''(Memphis Public Ledger )'', 6 January 1873, p. 2. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014. Patent number: 133,893.〕 which he had exhibited at Knoxville's Eastern Division Fair that October.〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 16 October 1972, p. 1. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 He toured the Eastern United States giving demonstrations of this machine in November and December 1872,〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 14 November 1872, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 and spent the early part of 1873 in Boston trying to arrange for the machine's manufacture and distribution.〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 27 February 1873, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 In 1871, Schleier ran unsuccessfully for a seat on Knoxville's Board of Aldermen, campaigning primarily as an advocate for the establishment of free schools.〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 6 January 1871, p. 1. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 Though nominally non-partisan, Schleier was endorsed by the ''Knoxville Chronicle'', the city's primary Republican mouthpiece.〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 7 January 1871, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 Schleier was a member of the Tennessee delegation at the 1872 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia,〔''(Official Proceedings of the National Republican Conventions of 1868, 1872, 1876 and 1880 )'' (Charles W. Johnson, 1903), p. 202.〕 and the Knox County delegation at the 1872 Tennessee Republican Party convention in Nashville.〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 3 September 1872, p. 1. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 During this same period, he helped establish Knoxville's Board of Trade.〔''(Knoxville Daily Chronicle )'', 24 May 1872, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 Schleier was elected to Knoxville's Board of Aldermen in 1877, though he served just one term.〔Lucile Deaderick (ed.), ''Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee'' (East Tennessee Historical Society, 1976), p. 641.〕 Schleier moved back to Nashville in 1880,〔''(The Milan (TN) Exchange )'', 22 April 1880, p. 4. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 and would operate from a studio on North Cherry Street for the remainder of the decade.〔''(McMinnville Southern Standard )'', 2 June 1888, p. 5. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014.〕 At the Photographers Association of America's second annual convention in 1881, Schleier was elected one of the convention's vice presidents, and chaired the Committee on Dry Plates.〔''(The Photographic Times and American Photographer )'', Vol. XI, No. 128 (August 1881), pp. 298, 307.〕 The September 27, 1890, issue of ''Anthony's Photographic Bulletin'' described Schleier as "one of the veteran photographers of the United States."〔''(Anthony's Photographic Bulletin )'', Vol. XXI, No. 18 (September 27, 1890), p. 547.〕 In September 1890, Schleier was appointed United States Consul to Amsterdam by President Benjamin Harrison.〔''(Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States )'', Vol. 27 (1901), p. 744.〕 Among his various reports, Schleier noted relatively low numbers of vagrants in the Netherlands due to social programs established by the government, church and private charities.〔"(Report by Consul Schleier of Amsterdam ), 23 May 1892," ''Special Consular Reports'' (Government Printing Office, 1892), p. 351.〕 He advised against building factories in the country due to high taxes and a lack of natural resources.〔T.M. Schleier, "(Manufacturing in Holland )," ''Reports from the Consuls of the United States'', Vol. 41 (Government Printing Office, 1893), pp. 433-444. Report dated 14 November 1892.〕 Following Harrison's defeat in the 1892 presidential election, Schleier was recalled by the new Democratic administration.〔''(Journal of the United States Senate )'' (M. Glazier, 1909), p. 22.〕 Schleier died in New York City on December 13, 1908.〔 His daughter Matilda worked as a professional photographer in the late 19th century.〔 Schleier's brothers-in-law, Joseph Knaffl and Charles Knaffl, learned the photography trade while working in his studio, and established their own gallery in Knoxville in the mid-1880s.〔Alice Howell, Lucile Deaderick (ed.), ''Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee'' (Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society, 1976), p 549.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「T. M. Schleier」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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