Aultman Studio

Aultman had initially granted Cook, a fellow newcomer to Trinidad, a $1500 loan to get a photography studio up and running.

Oliver set up his brother, Ira Everett Aultman (1873-1952), as the operator of Chase’s studio.

He also purchased the studio of Daniel Desmond (1853-1940) that same year and installed his other brother, Otis Aultman (1874-1943), as its head.

In 1907, Otis Aultman hopped a train bound for El Paso, Texas and left Trinidad, never to return.

[2] In El Paso, Otis Aultman found employment as a news photographer and became known for his images of the Mexican Revolution.

For instance, in 1901, Aultman was hired by a Denver entrepreneur, Frank H Summeril (1866-1923), to photograph a steamboat journey in Utah.

[8] Also, in 1901, Aultman hired a young woman, Susan Jane Rowland Snodgrass (1875-1961), known as “Jennie,” as a receptionist and hand-colorist.

Mitchell Western Art Museum with both collections sharing the historic Jamieson Building on East Main Street in Trinidad.