Late 19th century commercial photographers recorded the citizens and local landmarks of small Ontario towns and villages as had never been possible before. The ever involving advances in photographic technology allowed for this advent. At the same time the ease of travel and and rise of the middle class also fed an interest in recording images. Demand was so strong for photographs in the late 19th century that small towns often supported several resident photographers.

In Brighton the names of three photographers – John F. Fulford, John A. Brock, and Herington & Son – featured prominently during this time period. Their names are known because their photography has survived the years, and equally importantly, they recorded their names, often indicating the name of the photographer (or photographic studio) and location on their works. This information, embossed or imprinted on the photo frame or matte, was a form of advertising, but today is a vital link to the past that provides some historical context. These vital links increased exponentially if the owner of the photograph recorded the name of the person or scenes. The title of this exhibit, All Kinds of Photos, takes its name from an advertisement that John Fulford placed the 1886 Union Directory.