Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: KIRKLAND, Charles Durbin (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II


p. 355-356



CHARLES DURBIN KIRKLAND.

	Charles D. Kirkland, who has been characterized as "the undoubted 
leader" in the art of photography in Colorado, has a beautiful and 
splendidly equipped studio in Denver and his patronage is very 
extensive. He was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, July 4, 1851, and is a son of 
Samuel and Susan (Bair) Kirkland. The father was a native of 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and possessed much mechanical skill 
and ingenuity. He became the inventor of a machine for cutting out 
boots and shoes, which constituted a valuable contribution to that 
industry. He served in the Civil war from 1861 until 1865, making a 
most creditable record for valor and loyalty. The greater part of his 
life was passed in Bucyrus, Ohio, where he held membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal church, his religious faith guiding him in all of 
his relations. He died in the year 1867, when yet a comparatively young 
man, and was long survived by his wife, who passed away in 1897. They 
had a family of seven children, of whom three are yet living.

	In the public schools of his native city Charles D. Kirkland 
pursued his education, and owing to his father's early death, the care 
and support of his mother and four sisters devolved upon him when he 
was yet quite young. He began carrying papers when a boy and otherwise 
assisted in the support of the family, and he is indeed a self-made man 
who deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. He early became 
attracted to the art of photography and began studying along that line. 
In 1872 he made his way westward to Denver and engaged as operator in 
one of the early studios here, where he soon began to attract attention 
to his photography by having introduced methods, particularly of lights 
and shades, entirely new to the western public at that time. In 1874, 
he acquired a studio on Larimer street and began business for himself. 
Later disposing of this business, he went to Cheyenne, in 1877, where 
he began again as an operator, but in 1881, purchased a studio and 
continued in business there for many years. He soon became known, 
throughout the entire western country, as the leading photographer of 
the west, and his studio was visited by most of the public and 
professional men and women, many of whom came long distances in order 
to have a sitting made in the Kirkland Studio. During his sojourn in 
Cheyenne, Mr. Kirkland perfected in 1887 his invention of a new and 
superior photographic print paper, known as "Gelatine Chloride," which 
soon gained such recognition among the trade that he found it necessary 
to manufacture it in large quantities. This constantly increasing 
demand, necessitated a return to Denver, in 1893, where better 
manufacturing facilities were obtainable, and where he devoted his 
entire time to the production work, until 1899, when the manufacturing 
rights of Gelatine Chloride was acquired by the Eastman Kodak Company. 
In 1901, Mr. Kirkland again opened a studio in Denver, this time on 
Champa street, removing later to Welton street, and in 1910, to the 
present location, on Tremont place. The Kirkland Studio, with its 
spacious, and attractively furnished quarters, is equipped with all the 
latest appliances for photographic work, while the artist within him 
enables him to readily discern the value of light and shade, of pose 
and all those things which make for naturalness in a picture. His work 
is of a most attractive, finished and artistic character and there is 
nothing that has to do with photography in its most advanced form with 
which he is not thoroughly familiar.

	In 1883 Mr. Kirkland was united in marriage to Miss Hattie 
Todhunter, of Indianola, Iowa, a daughter of Lewis Todhunter, a 
prominent attorney and worker in prohibition ranks and well known as a 
writer. Mr. Klrkland gives his political allegiance to the republican 
party but is not always bound by party ties and has never desired or 
sought office, for his attention and energies, are concentrated upon 
his art. This is his whole life purpose and he has become master of it.