Research Center
Ott & Hay collection
The Ott & Hay collection, consisting of 13,500 glass plate negatives, was saved from the tower of the Citizens and Northern Bank in Towanda, which was the location of their studio for many years. They were in business together until Mr. Hay's death in 1931. Mr. Ott continued the business until he sold in 1941. The collection covers the years from 1890 to 1915.
Each glass plate negative has the name of the person or persons who arranged for the photography appointment or paid for the photograph. Bank employee Richard Hall carried them to the Bradford County Historical Society in lots of 300 to 400 over a two-year period. Over time, Bradford County Historical Society staff and volunteers placed them in envelopes, labeled and filed them alphabetically.
Paul Newell volunteered to prepare this extensive collection for this website for our members and visitors. If you had ancestors in Bradford County during this time period they may well be in this collection. Copies are available by contacting the Bradford County Historical Society.
Some photo examples:
Girl and Bicycle
Children
Baby
Records are listed in Alphabetical order below: