Photography, though young compared to other art forms, boasts a rich and deep history. From the camera obscura and daguerreotype to today’s DSLRs, photography has evolved as a form of expression, documentation, education, and artistic passion. Early photographers recognized this potential, and among them were the Burgert Brothers. Establishing their work in the late 1800s, they created a vast collection of photographs focused on Tampa, Florida, offering a unique glimpse into a bygone era. Today, photographer Chip Weiner carries their torch, helping us understand the city’s evolution.
Building a Legacy: The Burgert Brothers
Wood-framed Sanchez y Haya Factory No. 1 at corner of Seventh Avenue and Fifteenth Street in Ybor City. 1927. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.
The legacy that the Burgert Brothers studio crafted began with Samuel Peter Burgert, the father of the Burgert Brothers. In 1861, Samuel was known to be a “photographist” according to the city directory of Cincinnati, Ohio. Soon after, in 1866, Samuel partnered with A. A. Smith and founded “Burgert & Smith”, Photographers. The following years, which consisted of traveling through the countryside and taking photographs of people and places along the way, surely led to his sons’ interest and amusement with photography later on. In the late 1890s, Samuel moved his family to Tampa, Florida, where he and his oldest son, Willard, developed “S. P. Burgert and Son, Photographers,” the firm that would establish the family in Tampa. Although Will primarily handled the firm after his father’s passing, Samuel made sure to share his passion for and skill in his craft with all of his children.
The brothers we know as the Burgert Brothers are Alfred (“Al”) and Jean. They eventually took over Will’s responsibilities for the firm and later established their own firm, which is famously known today as Burgert Brothers commercial photographic studio. The brothers worked together to solidify their practice, with Al working mostly in the front of the firm with bookkeeping and being the primary contact, while Jean stayed mostly in the back working in the darkroom to develop the thousands of photographs taken by their photographers. Over the course of their studio’s existence, the brothers produced over 80,000 photographs, many of which were published in magazines, newspapers, advertisements, and brochures. The more photographs that their studio produced, the more exposure and credibility they earned, and soon corporations such as Life magazine and National Geographic began to recognize their talents and request their work to be on several covers and published in numerous issues.
The Burgert Brothers’ work in Tampa captures the area’s development during the 20th century. Although the Brothers began their work in portraiture, they later began photographing any subject in any location in the area and enjoyed the opportunities to go out to capture different assignments. This broadened subject matter led their studio to become the premier commercial photography firm in Tampa. Their photographs and skills were sought due to their sharpness and attention to detail. All of the negatives, regardless of whether Al, Jean, or another employee of the studio took them, were inscribed with what is now recognized as more of a logo than a signature. The words “Burgert Brothers” were placed in a corner of each and became known as a symbol of the firm’s expertise.
Preserving the Past: The Burgert Brothers’ Legacy Today
Left: Burgert Brothers, Burgert Brothers Studio at 1515 Broadway (7th Ave) in Tampa, 1917, University of South Florida Digital Collection Right: Chip Weiner, Faraona Cigar Company, 1515 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL, 2020, (c) Chip Weiner.
As it was clear throughout the existence of the Burgert Brothers’ studio that they had a keen eye for both historic and artistic documentation, the photographs and boxes of their negatives have since been preserved both digitally and physically as a result of the technological advancements that make photographic preservation possible. The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library bought the collection in its entirety in 1974 intending to have the works accessible to customers. Since then, over 15,000 of the negatives have been developed, digitized, and indexed for the library’s website. The collection eventually reached its final resting place in the History and Genealogy Department of the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa, where they are kept in a climate-controlled vault. These publicly available images, along with the remaining thousands of negatives that have yet to be printed, chronicle the social and cultural evolution of Tampa Bay through natural disasters, war, and economic phenomena. Altogether, the collection serves as a treasured resource for the students, teachers, historians, art enthusiasts, and photographers of today.
Bridging the Gap: Chip Weiner’s Rephotography Project
Southwest corner of Seventh Avenue and Fifteenth Street, Tampa FL. 2022, Chip Weiner.
There is much to be gleaned from admiring the Burgert Brothers’ work, primarily the understanding of how life was in the Tampa area over the past century. However, a deeper understanding emerges when we compare it to the present. By studying that comparison, we may discover things that otherwise may not have been noticed by simply looking at the originals. Chip Weiner’s work carefully and precisely demonstrates this idea of comparison, and calls attention to its importance. Weiner’s recreations demonstrate over 150 instances of what has and has not changed since the Brothers’ time.
One of Weiner’s focuses was the Brother’s photographs of Ybor City, an area known for its long and storied history of Spanish, Cuban, and Italian multiculturalism. Ybor has undergone many transformations since its founding in 1886, both socially and culturally. These changes have been made evident by Weiner’s work, as he has skillfully captured replicas of the Brothers’ images, meticulously finding the same angles as the originals. These replicas are special on their own, but when compared to the originals, they offer an entirely new perspective to the historical understanding of Ybor. Each comparison tells a unique story of time, change, and resilience.
A Legacy of Capturing Tampa’s Story
The work that the Burgert Brothers produced over the existence of their studio now serves the Tampa Bay community by documenting the historical nature of life as it was. The images preserve the people, places, and milestones of the area that have all played a role in what we know it to be today. Weiner’s work supports the Burgert Brothers’ mission to capture things as they are, without evidence of any particular attitudes toward the scenes. Weiner bridges the gap between then and now, between what was and what is, and emphasizes the educational significance of photography in today’s world.
Learn More & Sources
Burgert Brothers:
(https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/burgert/)
https://tampapix.com/burgert5.htm
Chip Weiner
Website: https://www.chipshotz.com/burgert-brothers-another-look
This blog post was written by Jada Amis and edited by FMoPA staff.
