Charles A. Alvord (Portland, McMinnville)
Alvord operated a string of portrait studios, mostly in downtown Portland. He did not advertise, instead he relied on high foot-traffic locations to bring walk-ins. Alvord frequently changed locations, and by 1915 he had moved at least 15 times in just over 20 years. He moved one last time to 167 1/2 First street, which is the same location that he started out in 22 years earlier. After being a photographer for 26 years, in 1919 he got a job as a mechanic, and then became a clerk at the YMCA for the duration of his working career.
1893-1894 167 1/2 1st
1894-1895 281 1/2 1st (corner of Jefferson)
1895-1896 McMinnville
1896-1897 189 Madison (probably on the wharf)
1897-1898 183 Madison (probably on the wharf) Alvord & Sherwood
1898-1899 185 1/2 Morrison (at entrance to bridge)
1899-1900 252 Washington (between 2nd and 3rd.)
1900-1904 203 1/2 1st (between Taylor and Salmon)
1904-1905 employed by Kiser (q.v.)
1905-1906 real estate agent
1907-1908 unknown
1908-1910 Kern Park
1911-1913 unknown
1913-1915 201 1/2 1st
1915-1918 167 1/2 1st
unknown 225 1st (between Salmon and Main) Alvord & Brown
Around 1904, Alvord worked for Fred Kiser (q.v.), a photographer who was the official photographer for the Lewis & Clark Fair. In 1905, after the exposition was over, Alvord tried his hand at selling real estate but soon went back to photography.