William E. Irwin (1871 to 1935)
William E. Irwin, born in 1871, picked up his trade in the early 1890s, likely in Indian Territory or Texas. Throughout his career, he had studios in Chickasha, Indian Territory, Silver City, Arizona, and Bisbee, Arizona. In 1922, he left Bisbee for Douglas, Arizona, where he remained until his death in 1935. During his career, he worked with his brothers, John and Marvin, and with a photographer named Mankins. While working out of Chickasha, Indian Territory, Irwin traveled to Fort Sill and Anadarko to photograph the local Indian people. He compiled a fine body of work, including field photographs and studio portraits. Many of these images were reproduced for sale as cabinet cards. His subjects include Kiowa, Comanche, Wichita, and Caddo Indians. Irwin also photographed Geronimo while he was imprisoned at Fort Sill.
Info courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions, Inc. with additional research by p4A editorial staff, December 2011.