Alfred Tennyson Beals papers

A.T. (Alfred Tennyson) Beals (1870-1955) was an amateur bryologist and a professional photographer. He recorded events and persons in the educational and civic worlds of New York City and New Jersey. He succeeded E. B. Chamberlain as Secretary-Treasurer of the Sullivant Moss Society in 1925 and was active in the organization through the early 1930s. He also belonged to the Torrey Botanical Club and the American Fern Society. He donated his personal herbarium of 2000 specimens to the New York Botanical Garden.

The name of the Sullivant Moss Society was changed to the American Bryological Society in 1948. Currently it is the American Bryological and Lichenological Society. Its collections were donated to the University of Pennsylvania.

Beals was born in Greenfield, MA in 1870. He attended the Massachusetts Agricultural College, graduating in 1892.

In 1897 he married Jessie Tarbox Beals who is known as the first female photojournalist. They traveled the country as peripatetic photographers. Jessie Tarbox Beals’ work is represented in many major photographic collections in the United States. A. T. and Jessie Tarbox Beals split up in the 1920’s. In her last years, she became known for her garden photography.

As a professional photographer Beals was known as A. Tennyson Beals. His studio was located at 2929 Broadway, New York City. His correspondence from the Sullivant Moss Society bears this address as well.

A. T. married again to Marie Victoria (M.V.) Beals. They had one daughter, Mrs. Henry Brainerd. They lived at 274 Summit Ave., Hackensack, N. J. In 1951 he won a special citation from the Union County (N.J.) Park Commission for his work in providing park museum exhibits. He died in November 1955.