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Dorothy Bohm

Starting out in Studio Alexander…

Welcome to the Dorothy Bohm in Manchester research blog for Manchester Art Gallery.

From 24th April, Manchester Art Gallery is staging A World Observed 1940-2010: Photography by Dorothy Bohm, a major retrospective of work by leading Manchester photographer Dorothy Bohm whose exceptional career spans six decades and several continents. As part of the exhibition planning and preparations, I have been researching Dorothy’s early career which began in Manchester. If you are a bit of a Manchester history buff, are keen to find out more about Dorothy’s life or think you might be able to help me in my ongoing projects then follow me as I document my discoveries.

I have already found archival information about Dorothy’s education and have started two ongoing projects relating to Dorothy’s studio; “Finding the Faces of Manchester: Who Are They?” and “Searching for Studio Alexander”. These are my main areas of research, please have a peek below for more information or to see if you recognise a familiar face!

I am very keen to find Dorothy’s sitters and unearth more information on her studios so please do get in touch if you have any interesting information to share.

Jennifer Boyd, Research Assistant, Manchester Art Gallery. Contact me.

Dignitary, late 1940’s

  This is the first "face" which I have been attempting to "find" as hopefully, even without a specific date to the photograph, the chain of this Manchester Dignitary will give him away! Click here for any updates on my search to find the faces of manchester...

Female Portrait, 1946

Erica, 1946

Enid Kaufman, late 1940’s

This portrait has been identified by Harold Saunders as Enid Kaufman, click or see below for some more information from Harold, it seems Enid-like Cynthia Jones-lived a very interesting life!

Knitwear Model, late 1940’s

This is most likely a model from the Lucy Clayton Modelling School for whom Dorothy photographed regularly. Click here to see an identified model portrait!

Female Portrait, 1947

Female Portrait, late 1940’s

Pat Walker, late 1940’s

This portrait has been identified as Pat Walker by Jane Peers, she was Jane's mother's sister and a model with the Lucy Clayton Modelling School.

Bride, late 1940’s

Air Force Pilot, late 1940’s

Sheila Curley, late 1940’s

This portrait was recently identified by Barbara Arrowsmith with the help of her granddaughter Hannah Bloor. Barabara identified this sitter as Sheila Curley, with whom Barbara studied Hope Hospital in Manchester in the 1950s. Barbara also had her portrait taken at Studio Alexander, click here to see it!

PhD Graduate, 1946

Bride, late 1940’s

Child Portrait, late 1940’s

Mother and Son, late 1940’s

Male Portrait, late 1940’s

Igor, 1947

This is a portrait of Dorothy's brother Igor, who was also living in Manchester at this time, Igor, like Dorothy, also attended the Manchester College of Technology.

Child Portrait, late 1940’s

Child Portrait, late 1940’s

Child Portrait, late 1940’s

Cynthia Jones, late 1940’s

This portrait has been identified by Steve Flynn as Cynthia Jones, an adventurous lady and Steve's mother's half sister.

Finding the Faces

Dorothy ran Studio Alexander for 12 years, it was a popular studio and during this time Dorothy photographed a vast number of sitters for all kinds of occasions. My challenge is to see if I can find some of the people in Dorothy’s portraits, to see if they remember their experience at the studio and if one of Dorothy’s portraits still takes pride of place on their mantlepiece. You can see the photographs that I am working with on the slide reel or in our Portraits section...

Dorothy Bohm - Finding the Faces
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Studio Alexander

Dorothy began her own studio in 1946, after working since her 1942 graduation at the well known Samuel Cooper Photography Studios, building up her reputation as a portrait photographer. Dorothy called her new business Studio Alexander and the studio ran under Dorothy until 1958. Both studios were based on the hustle and bustle of Market Street, with one image of Studio Alexander which was taken by Dorothy herself, and none of Samuel Cooper...

Dorothy Bohm - The Search for Studio Alexander
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Blog Finding the Faces

Capturing childhoods…

If you have read anything about Dorothy or seen her work recently in the exhibition you will have noticed how she has a way with children in paticular. This was no different at the Studio and Dorothy often asked parents to let her photograph their child without them so she could capture them best.
Phillip Arnold [...]

Blog Finding the Faces

One for the portfolio…

Another lovely portrait has been identified!
The search continues with Jane Peers kindly contacting us to identify a member of the Lucy Clayton Modelling Agency, photographed by Dorothy in the late 1940’s, as Pat Walker (married name Mosedale) who is her aunt, her mother’s sister. This is certainly a stunning portrait of Pat by Dorothy, hopefully [...]

Searching for Studio Alexander

We are on the right track…

A little bit of exciting news! Following my chat with Barbara Arrowsmith, who identified one of the portraits in the exhibition as well as having one of her own, it can be confirmed that my archive information is correct on the whereabouts of Studio Alexander!
Barbara has a very strong memory of her experience at the [...]

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  • Recent Comments

    • jennifer: Hi Brian, many thanks for your comment. Unfortunately during my research I didn’t find a date when...
    • Lisa Zuccarelli: Hello, Harold I read your comment. Do you mean Enit Kaufman, the artist, who came to the US from...
    • Harold Saunders: This is a portrait of Miss Enid Kaufman who later suffered from infantile paralysis but recovered...
    • Steve Flynn: Hi Jennifer Not to sure if Cynthia is alive.The last I heard, around 10 years ago, was that she that she...
    • jennifer: Hello Steve, wow this is great to have our first portrait identified! Do you know if Cynthia is still...
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