NOTES

1. Most of the information we have included on Wooley's life and work in Ballston Spa, New York was compiled by Bernard C. Puckhaber who generously gave us his notes and files. A brief article on Wooley was published by Puckhaber and Annabelle H. MacMillin in Winter 1978 issue of The Grist Mill, the journal of the Brookside Museum.

2. Ballston Journal, February 1, 1896, p. 3. The church was part of a Baptist congregation which had fallen on hard times, and which G. G. Johnson's father, the Reverend G. J. Johnson had revived. Also see the Ballston Journal, p. 3, February 22, 1896.

3. The photographs that comprise the main part of this work are black and white reference shots that Wooley made to accompany the text from which he gave his lecture. His actual lecture notes were written on the back of each photograph. Wooley frequently abbreviated his notes, and almost certainly elaborated on them during his presentations. For this work, we have edited Wooley's lecture notes to ensure clarity and provide proper grammar and spelling. The photographs with the original notes that accompany them are included in the Floyd and Marion Rinhart Collection in the Special Collections Department of the Otto G. Richter Library, University of Miami. The actual glass slides for his lecture were hand-tinted in color. They survive largely intact as a series in the collection of the Brookside Museum, Ballston Spa, New York. Approximately ten of the 170 photographs included in Wooley's lecture were excluded from this publication because of their poor quality or redundant nature. It should also be noted that those photographs with rounded upper edges were almost certainly not taken by Wooley, but are commercial stereopticon slides that he incorporated into his lecture.

4. An interesting article included on page 1 of the Ballston Journal dated September 25, 1897, summarizes Wooley's various photographic and commercial activities.

    The progress of photography has been one of the great triumphs of the last few decades. In delicacy and skill this work has now reached a point far beyond that dreamed of by the early artists. A leading and well equipped studio is that of Mr. J.S. Wooley of this village, who has kept fairly in line with the improvements made. He opened his gallery here in 1887, and he drew a large trade by reason of the superiority of his work. He has always been in the van of progress as regards methods, appliances and materials. The premises occupied are well equipped with the latest improved photographic apparatus. He uses good taste in posing and securing the most advantageous pictures for adults, children and babies. Picture frames are also dealt in. He is also the accredited agent for this section for the Eastman Kodak Co. and the Rochester Kodak Co.'s Cameras and has them in prices from $4 to $40.

Attention is also given to landscape and out-door. Mr. Wooley makes a specialty of finishing photographs taken by amateurs. He promptly fills all orders and the prices which rule are most reasonable. Mr. Wooley is an enthusiast in his profession and is thoroughly reliable in all business dealings.

5. These photographs survive along with the 1896 tour of Florida as part of the Floyd and Marion Rinhart Collection at the University of Miami, Otto G. Richter Library.

6. A description of how Wooley's lectures were received in the Ballston Spa community can be seen in the following brief article from page three of the April 2, 1898 issue of the Ballston Journal entitled "AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH: California and the Yellowstone." 

    The return trip from California home by J.S. Wooley in the Baptist Church was enjoyed by a large audience. One seems almost to see the wonderful works of nature as the lecturer throws them on the canvass and explains them. These pictures taken by Mr. Wooley during his journey across the continent are wonderfully well selected scenes and give the beholder a view of the country as he advanced. We regard the pictures as the very finest and we have seen many sets covering this route. It a grant treat to spend an hour with Mr. Wooley and his pictures.

7. Richard Balzer, Optical Amusements: Magic Lanterns and Other Transforming Images, A Catalog of Popular Entertainments (1987), p. 4.