Fire Chief James Hill with Fire Trumpet, Oakland, California, circa 1895

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Artifact Overview

James Hill was the Oakland, California, fire chief in the late 1800s. The city council appointed him to this post in 1878 and he served as the city's first professional fire chief. Hill posed for this photograph with an inscribed presentation fire trumpet -- perhaps a gift for his service. Fire chiefs used less ornate trumpets to call out directions during fire emergencies.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cabinet photograph

Subject Date

1878-1882

Creators

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

35.797.5

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of H. T. Reeder.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Cardboard

Technique

Gelatin silver process
Mounting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 6.5 in
Width: 4.25 in

Inscriptions

verso: Printed: Schramm Pacific Gallery Market Street Station, Oakland, Cal. Handwritten, pencil: Chief James Hill Handwritten, ink: James Hill when Chief of Oakland Cal. Died May 1897
Fire Chief James Hill with Fire Trumpet, Oakland, California, circa 1895