Gladys Reeves

Gladys Reeves (1890–1974),^[1] was an Edmonton, Alberta photographer, establishing a photographic studio in 1920 and staying in the business until 1950.^[2]

Gladys Reeves
Gladys Reeves ca. 1920.
Born	1890 (1890) Somerset, United Kingdom
Died	26 April 1974(1974-04-26) (aged 83–84) Edmonton, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Known for	Photography

Biography

Gladys Reeves was born in 1890 in Somerset, England. She and her family emigrated to Edmonton, Canada in 1904.^[2]

In 1905, she started her career in photography working as a receptionist for the photographer Ernest Brown.^[2] Brown helped Reeves start her own studio named The Art League in 1920. This was the first woman-owned photographic studio in Canada west of Winnipeg.^[3] The studio specialized in portraits and commercial photography^[2][4]

In 1929, Reeves' first studio was destroyed by fire, but reopened at a new location on Jasper Avenue.^[2]

Reeves and Brown opened the Pioneer Days Museum in the 1930s.^[1]

Concurrent with her success as a photographer, Reeves was involved with the beautification of Edmonton. She belonged to the Edmonton Horticultural Society where she served a term as President; the first woman to hold that office. She was a charter member of the Edmonton Tree Planting Committee.^[5] In 1923 the Edmonton Tree Planting Committee coordinated the planting of more than 5,000 trees on boulevards in Edmonton.^[2]

Reeves died in Edmonton on 26 April 1974 at the age of 83.^[2]

Her works were included in a 1983 exhibition entitled "Rediscovery: Canadian Women Photographers 1841–1941".^[1]

A collection of Reeves' photographs is in the Provincial Archives of Alberta^[1]