John E. Benitz
(Source: J.Lockwood)

John E. Benitz
Photos & Albums

John E. Benitz enjoyed photography; he had his own camera and dark room, and took a great many pictures filling several albums. Being the photographer he was not often the subject, consequently there are few photos of him.

We have assigned a reference number to each photo. PLEASE send us any information correcting or adding to what we have about any of the photos! Names and dates in particular!

To return here, click on the red “Photos” button above.

Collections:

Estancia ‘La California’, 1880s & early 1890s
Estancia ‘La California’, late 1890s
Portraits (see below)
Miscellaneous Photos (see below)
Marjorie & her grandchildren (see below)
Bryan’s collection of JEBz’ photos
Estancia “Los Algarrobos” - Past & Present

John’s Albums:

John E. Benitz
(Source: J.Lockwood)

Notes re Photo Albums:

We copied John’s photo albums in 2011. ALL the albums are available on the web - listed above.
With very few exceptions, the photos in the eight albums were all taken by and developed by John.
The photos show their age – most have faded, many are now a dark reddish-brown, some have large yellowed patches. We restored them by removing the more distracting stains, spots, and scratches, and by increasing their density, detail, & contrast. With a few exceptions, we set their tone to a uniform dark brown & white – chosen for esthetic reasons as we don't know their original tones; they were likely developed in sets, each set a slightly different shade of brown or black.
These albums span the late 1890’s to about 1912 suggesting John either lost interest in photography or, more likely, the more recent albums were lost in the same flood that took his life in 1916.

¡Thank you!

We owe a special thank you to John & Ann Benitz for not only allowing us to copy (photograph) his grandfather’s photograph albums but to help us as well. It took us several days during which they housed and fed us — great breakfasts! Many thanks!

John’s Camera

Today John’s camera is in the care of his great-grandson, John P. Benitz, who very kindly provided us these photos of it. It likely was John’s second (or third?) camera because his earliest photos were taken during or before 1902 and the manufacturer of this camera, “W. Watson & Co. Ltd.”, did not become an “Ltd.” (Limited) company until 1908.

John’s Camera
in its case

Portraits

Port-01-A

John
(Source: Moira Greaven)

Port-01-B

Marjorie
(Source: Moira Greaven)

These photos (Port-01-A -B -C) were all taken during the same session. John’s tie-knot & Marjorie’s dress match.

Port-01-C

John & Marjorie, ca.1910
Leather-bound, foldable
(carpincho skin)
(Source: R. Benitz)

Miscellaneous Photos

Miscellaneous photos of John, Marjorie, and their children from sources other than John’s albums.

Misc-02-A

Jo, Marjory-Daw, & Elsie
Buenos Aires – 1898
Clip from a cabinet card (A.J Whitcombe, BsAs)
(Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-02-B

John & Marjorie
with Elsie, Marjory-Daw, Jo
Ea. “La California” – ca.1900
(Source: F. Malcolm Benitz
he thought it was William & Clara)

Misc-02-C

Jo, Elsie, & Marjory-Daw
ca.1909
(Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-03-A

Cruz Grande - looking west down valley
Cruz Grande house center
Córdoba hills – “19 Feb. 1902”
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-03-B

Out for a stroll?
Cruz Grande valley fields
ca.1902
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-03-C

Playing in the Rio Pintos?
(Rio Pintos per the quantity of water)
Córdoba hills – ca.1902
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-04-A

Elsie, Marjory-Daw, & Jo
Córdoba hills – ca.1902
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-04-B

Cow-Girl – which daughter?
ca.1903-1907
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-04-C

boy - Elsie - Marjory-Daw - Marjorie
Alfred - boy - lady - lady - Jo
Córdoba hills – ca.1905
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-05-A

Joy-rides in a sulky?
ca.1904
(Likely Jo next to horse)
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-05-B

Sentries: John & Alfred
Los Algarrobos – ca.1909
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-05-C

Live game delivery service
(Saddle bag: goat-kid; pack donkey: chickens)
Córdoba Hills – bef.1916
(By: JEBz? Source: J. Lockwood)

Misc-06-A

Gathering the Wheat Harvest
“La California” or “Los Algarrobos”
ca.1900
(see above Album 2, pages 33-38)
(Source: John C. Benitz)

Misc-06-B

MarjoryDaw - Marjorie - John - Jo - Alfred
Los Algarrobos – bef.1916
(Stain covers Alfred’s face)
(Source: J. Lockwood)

Marjorie, her children, & grandchildren

These photos were taken after John’s untimely death, March 20, 1916.

MMM-11-A

Marjorie
ca.1935
(Source: J. Lockwood)

MMM-11-B

Marjorie – drying fruit (peaches?)
Córdoba Hills – 1930’s
(Source: J. Lockwood)

MMM-11-C

Marjorie
ca.1940-1945
(Source: J. Lockwood)

MMM-12-A

Marjorie with daughters Elsie & Jo
& grandchildren
“Villa Josefina” – 1924-1925
(Source: J. Lockwood)

MMM-12-B

Marjorie & 12 of 13 Grandchildren
“El Venado” – 1938
(Click for larger photo with names)
(Source: M. Greaven.
Details: M.Greaven & John C. Benitz)

MMM-12-C

Marjorie & All Grandchildren
Hotel “El Chajá” – Solís, Uruguay – 1940
(Click for larger photos with names)
(Source: M. Greaven.
Details: M.Greaven & John C. Benitz)

MMM-13-A

Marjorie with
Poro Sympson & Josie Webster
ca.1931
(Source: M. Greaven)

MMM-13-B

Marjorie (r) & ??
ca.1940
(Source: J. Lockwood)