Biographical Information

John Griscom Bullock was born in Wilmington, Delaware on September 27, 1854. Bullock was born and raised in an Orthodox Quaker family. He graduated valedictorian of his class from Haverford College in 1874 and soon after began work at his uncle’s pharmaceutical firm, Bullock and Crenshaw. In 1875 he began attending the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy where he trained to work as a pharmacist.   

Portrait of a Man [possibly John G. Bullock self-portrait]
Portrait of a Man [possibly John G. Bullock self-portrait], P84-01-299

  • Photography Beginnings

    Bullock first took up photography in 1882 after attending a lecture by British photographer John Carbutt. Bullock quickly developed a passion for the subject. He joined the Photographic Society of Philadelphia in […]

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  • Marriage and Family Life

    As Bullock’s career in photography grew, so too did his family. In June of 1888, he married Rebecca Malin Downing and the two had four children: Marjorie (1889), John (1891), Franck (1895), […]

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  • The Photo-Secession

    As Bullock continued to work within the Photographic Society of Philadelphia, he became affiliated with the “New School” of photography, which focused on creating soft-focus images that were considered more […]

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  • Later Life & Conclusion

    After leaving the Photo-Secession, Bullock remained involved in photography though his involvement in exhibitions dwindled as he focused more on spending time with his family. He died in West Chester, […]

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