Dates

• Existence: 1879 - 1957

Biographical History

William Dassonville (1879-1957) was an American photographer.

William Dassonville was born on June 20, 1879, in Sacramento, California to Fredrick Dassonville and Elizabeth Wood. He married Gertrude Blanche Perry on November 5, 1910, in San Francisco, California. Together they had two children. William became a member of the Camera Club, which was the largest amateur photographer's organization for which he also wrote articles for their publication Camera Craft. In 1900, William opened a portrait studio with Oscar Maurer in San Francisco where they photographed other San Francisco artists like Maynard Dixon and John Muir. The studio was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Dassonville created his own famous "Charcoal Black" paper, which many famous photographers applauded, including Ansel Adams. His creation was a result of the shortage of platinum printing paper at the onset of World War I. At the time of his death on July 15, 1957, William was relatively unknown. It was not until several years later that his works were found in a pair of trunks.

Citation:

J. Paul Getty Museum, February 8, 2019: William Edward Dassonville (b.1879; largest amateur photographer's organization; wrote articles for Camera Craft)

International Center of Photography, February 8, 2019: William Edward Dassonville (In 1900, opened a portrait studio with Oscar Maurer in San Francisco where they photographed other San Francisco artists like Maynard Dixon and John Muir; studio destroyed in 1906 earthquake; famous "Charcoal Black" paper; creation was a result of the shortage of platinum printing paper at the onset of World War I; Relatively unknown at his death; work was discovered years later in a pair of trunks)

FamilySearch, December 9, 2024 (b. June 20, 1879; d. July 15, 1957; parents were Fredrick Dassonville and Elizabeth Wood)

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