20th Century Virtual Plymouth Charles Draper Collection

The Charles G. Draper Collection is composed of more than 500 photographs, postcards, negatives, and glass plate negatives. It is owned by the Plymouth Historical Museum and housed in their archives. Most of the glass plate negatives were donated to the museum in 2004 by the grandson of Mr. Draper, but the museum has been actively collecting other images taken by this photographer for many years.

Charles Draper was born in South Lyon, Michigan on May 19, 1865. He attended watchmakers' school in Ann Arbor and opened his first watch/jewelry/optical business in South Lyon. He then moved to Plymouth, where he operated his business for forty-seven years. In 1901, he married Satie A. Merrell who was born in New Boston, Michigan, in 1878. They had two children, Merrell Draper and Winifred Draper (Carney). Charles died January 26, 1941 and is buried in the South Lyon Cemetery.

Although photography was a hobby for Mr. Draper, he managed to compile a chronicle of Plymouth life during the period from 1890 to 1930. He captured the transition from the age of horse and carriage to the automobile, from dirt streets to paved roads in Plymouth. He photographed not only his own family and home, but also the people and buildings around him. His collection presents a window of life in suburban Wayne County as it passed from the Nineteenth Century into the technology of the Twentieth Century.

Plymouth Historical Society Museum - 155 South Main Street Plymouth, Michigan 48170-1635 - Phone: (734) 455-8940
secretary@plymouthhistory.org
Last modified on: July 12, 2008