Amos Lawson Hardy (1860-1935)

A. L. Hardy

• See also: A.L. Hardy photo

According to A.L. Hardy's Death certificate he was born 4th of October 1859 to the parents of Eliza & Stephen Hardy in Shelburne Co. Mr. Hardy passed away on 2nd of October 1935 in Kentville and was laid to rest on 5th of October in Oak Grove^[1].

Hardy opened his Kentville studio in 1892. He was an "Official Photographer" of the DAR for a time between at least 1897 to 1935. Both dates are speculation but based on the fact that Hardy was the photographer for the early "Land of Evangeline" photo booklets (1897, 1903) establishing a relationship early on with the railway which continued, although in lesser volume until Hardy's death in 1935. The designation of "Offical Photographer" is not speculation however and can be found identifying at least a handful of photos taken by Hardy in the service of the DAR in the earlier period of his career.

See the The Land Of Evangeline 1903 Photo Booklet published by the Dominion Atlantic featuring A. L. Hardy's photographs.

"Hardy was attempting to develop business in the New England states at a time when the Dominion Atlantic Railway and the government were increasingly promoting tourist travel from the U. S. to Nova Scotia. Hardy's work became recognized and his photographs were not only in publications of his own such as "The Evangeline Land", 1902, but also in railway promotional literature, and were sought after from Yarmouth to Halifax."^[2]

After Hardy's death in 1935, his business was purchased soon after by the Windsor photographer H. H. Reid.^[3]

His published work includes:
The Land Of Evangeline, 1903 Photo Booklet published by the Dominion Atlantic featuring A. L. Hardy's photographs.
The Evangeline Land, 1902 photo booklet published by A. L. Hardy himself featuring his photographs.

See the A.L. Hardy photograph category for his known Dominion Atlantic Railway photos.

References and Footnotes

External links

Ed Coleman, "A.L. HARDY – MYTHS AND TRIVIA", The Advertiser, September 13, 1996

Ed Coleman, "VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHER NEARLY FORGOTTEN", The Advertiser, August 30, 1996