Thomas Adcock b. 23 September 1856

Also known as Reverend Thomas Adcock
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Name
Thomas Adcock
Also known as Reverend Thomas Adcock (Minister at Southwark Baptist Church, Thebarton, South Australia)
Gender
Male
Roles
Birth date
23 September 1856
Birth place
Brompton, SA
Death date
14 November 1923
Death place
Thebarton, Adelaide, South Australia
Active Period
  • c.1885 - c.1918
Training
  • -

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Biography
Date modified Feb. 8, 2022, 1:42 p.m. Feb. 8, 2022, 1:38 p.m.
Thomas Adcock was born In Brompton, Adelaide in 1856 son of English immigrant Thomas Adcock and Elizabeth nee Burnell. Thomas's career was varied; minister of religion and lantern lecturer, mattress maker, furniture retailer, photographer, estate agent, journalist and Temperence advocate. By 1882 Adock was presenting lantern slide religious lectures including in 1883 at the Congregational Church, Gawler, and the following year gave a lantern slide lecture at Clare Town Hall on insurance for the AMP Society. The following evening at the Hall he showed fifty slides of Christ and St Paul. He continued with religious theme lantern slide and musical presentations and services into the 1890s. ¶

By 1885 Adcock was making photographs as he became a foundation member of the South Australian Photographic Society and opened how own studio in 1887, offering a range of portrait and view services at Port Road, Hindmarsh. He attracted commissions undertaking in 1890 portraits of the Premier and Speaker of the House of Assembly and fifty two members. Adcock was working as a portrait and enlarging artist at a studio in Freeman street by 1894. He took over Saul Solomon's Rundle street studio c 1890. ¶

How Adcock learned photography or portrait art is not known but he was a nephew of local photographer George Burnell.(q.v.). Adcock was known for his enlarged portraits some life size - a skill perhaps arising from his experience with lantern slide projection. He published a series of South Australian stereographs in the mid 1880s, a number held by the State Library of South Australia. ¶

From 1891-95 Adcock had studios in Hindmarsh, Kadina, possibly Gawler and Moonta and in Frearson's Building, King William Street, Adelaidefrom 1894-1899. He also made visits to Western Australia as a minister. From 1903-05 he was located at 143 Rundle street Adelaide, trading as Alpha studios. From The Adelaide _Mail _ofReligion and social causes were a constant in Adcock's ife and career. From 1900 to 1902, Adcock was an active campaigner and secretary for the South Australian Temperance Alliance, to which h returned in 1906. ¶

On 3 February 1917 _The Mail _ described his commodious studio in the new City Market building in Grove street - noting as well that he had once been a lecture in photography at the School of Mines. His role as a pastor continued apparently and he died in 1923 whilst performing a marriage ceremony at his Church in Southwark, Thebarton. ¶