[1][2] A biographical sketch from an advertisement,[3] states that he received a degree in art and mechanical engineering from the Spring Garden Institute in Philadelphia.

[5] South's work was largely based on subtractive color pioneered by Louis Arthur Ducos du Hauron.

Each color – red, blue and yellow – were printed one layer at a time, registering the image with the negative taken with the corresponding filter.

[7] South received patents on the camera and Solgram process in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, and Belgium.

On December 21, 1904, he founded the Solgram Color-Photo Company[8] and began the production of printing kits in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

He wrote in his pamphlet "'The Solgram' A System of Color Photography": "As there is no process of means of producing pictures, which for truthfulness of reproducing nature can rival a water-color drawing executed by a master, I have made the aquarelle my standard.

"[11][12]South received some interest in the process from the United States Department of Agriculture as well as contemporary artists like Charles E. Dana.

[16] After his wife, Anna Boyle South died in 1935, he moved to the Turk's Head Inn in West Chester, Pennsylvania.