Arthur May Cromack (c.1854->1921)

Arthur May Cromack was born in Scarborough. In 1871 the census lists his profession as artist, but the local trade directories of that year record him as a photographer. He seems to have learnt his photographic practice from Herbert Watkin. In 1875 he built a new photographic studio at his parents premises in Newborough. It is recorded that he specialised in photographing children and could accommodate groups of up to 50 people for photographs taken ‘in the grounds’ outside his studio. He is known to have exhibited a case of photographs on porcelain at the Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial exhibition of 1879.

Arthur May Cromack’s parents, Benjamin (b.1820) and Mary C. (b.1817) were both born in Leeds. The Scarborough Gazette (4 May 1865) records that they moved ‘Cromac’s Bazaar and Fancy Emporium’ from 5 Eastborough to 30 Newborough Scarborough. The 1881 census records Arthur May Cromack living at home with his parents, his sister Sarah J. (b.1852), a brother Arthur G. (b.1872), a cousin John William May (b.1856) and servant the 15 year old Charlotte Monkton. Both Sarah and John May are listed as photographic assistants. He was married to Kate, they had a least one son, Joseph Vevers Cromack (1886-1818) who was killed in action during World War One and is buried at Aisne in France.