Self-portrait published in the 1911 ISC Bomb
Ames Intelligencer, December 5, 1905
"His heart is in his work" is the secret of the success of many a man's success, and of none can this be more truly said than of Mr. C.R. Quade, proprietor of the Cottage Studio. Eight years ago Mr. Quade began to evince an interest in photography and with kodak in hands transversed the woods and fields and along the banks of picturesque streams in search of beautiful scenes which he might transfer to his films. In a short time Mr. Quade became widely known as an amateur photographer of exceptional ability.
At length he determined to make a study of his cherished art with the result that three years ago he graduated from the Illinois College of Photography at Effingham, Ill., and at once opened a modest studio. He at once sprang into popularity from the superior work furnished by him, and the growth of his business has been little short of phenomenal. At the present time Mr. Quade has in his employ two assistants, both graduates of the Effingham college of photography. A specialty is made of platino carbon work, one of the latest and best products that has been put on the market, and the grade of work done by Mr. Quade and his assistants is such as to demand all the time of all three artists.
Beginning with a studio of average size, he has twice been forced by his increased business to make additions to the building and is planning now another and extensive addition to be made this vacation. The new addition will be twenty by forty feet in size, and will be erected of concrete hollow blocks. A basement will be put under the entire building to be used as a work room. The studio will be steam heated and newly equipped. The new wing will be used for an operating room, and will be one of the largest in the state. A north light, 14 by 16 feet will be put in a larger light than can be found in any other city in the state except Des Moines, and as large as the best and largest studios of the Capital City can boast.
Mr. Quade's work has attracted wide spread attention. He does a large amount of college work, has been official photographer for the last two Junior classes and the last three Senior classes. His policy of always keeping in touch with the newest in his art brings Mr. Quade a large amount of patronage. He is now planning to equip a carbon room in his studio, something never furnished in our town before. Previously he has been handicapped in this work for lack of room, but with this improvement will be able to surpass any of his previous efforts in this line of work.
1905 view of the Quade residence at 417 Main Street
QUADE STUDIO FOUNDED AS RESULT OF CONQUERING TYPHOID GERMS
Ames Daily Tribune-Times, August 8, 1931
By trade a carpenter, by preference a professional baseball umpire, by expediency the manager of a railroad restaurant, by accident a commercial photographer, the latter becoming the life work to which he still clings. Thus did it occur that Charles R. Quade, venerable citizen of Ames, churchman, business man and optimist, found himself established in this community where his picturesque career has become a well known story, and where his plans for expansion of his business activities are as ambitious as if conceived by a man in the early prime of life, rather than one approaching his seventy-fourth year.
Announcement of the proposed removal about October 1 of his studio to a new building being erected at 109 Welch avenue, close to the Iowa State college campus, for the Faculty Women's Housing club, was made early this month. This means the abandonment and probable sale of the property at 417 Main street where Mr. Quade has made his home since 1890. It was here that he erected his home, doing most of the work himself, later building his studio where he has attained prominence in the field of commercial photography.
Mr. Quade has no thought of retiring. Rather, it may be said that such thought would be wholly opposed to his philosophy of life, that a man is only as old as he permits himself to feel. He says he feels as vigorous and active as a youth in his teens.
For many years Mr. Quade has specialized in making portraits and groups for students and for the Bomb, Iowa State annual. He holds a contract with the annual for this work, this being the chief reason for his seeking a location nearer the campus. Prior to inauguration of the photographic department at the college, he did much of the regular commercial work at the institution.
Mr. Quade was born in Providence, R.I., nearly three quarters of a century ago, on the spot where later was erected the capital of that state. This fact he learned 50 years later, while he was a delegate to the national republican convention in 1905, thru conversation with a Rhode Island delegate. When a young man, Mr. Quade learned the carpenter trade, and followed it for some years. But baseball was in his blood, and in January 1884, he was one of a group of four, who met in the Tremont house in Chicago, and organized the old Interstate league, forerunner of the present Three-I league. The others, he recalls, were Bill Lucas of Davenport, Bill Allen of Rockford, and Miller of Decatur. In those days, Mr. Quade lived in Dubuque, managed the Dubuque team for one year, and spent several seasons as a professional umpire.
Railroading next occupied Mr. Quade's interest. In the fall of 1887, the Northwestern offered him the job of managing the lunchroom it was just opening in Ames. He accepted because he was in need of a position, and this offered steady, profitable employment. This ended his active participation in baseball, but to this day, he maintains live interest in all the doings of the sport and follows the various leagues faithfully every day.
In Ames occurred the trick of fate that led to his career as a photographer. He was stricken with typhoid fever in 1896. During the convalescent period, his physician ordered him to get out of doors as much as possible to recuperate. These were the days when photography first became the toy of the amateur. His doctor advised him to get a camera and ramble about, a means of keeping him in the open. So thoroughly did this hobby occupy his mind, that in 1900 he took a leave of absence from the lunch room and entered a school of photography in Effingham, Ill. After three months, he was instructing a class in the carbon department. He returned to Ames and erected his first frame studio adjoining his home where many students came for instruction, and where he almost immediately won success as a professional photographer. But it was still a part time job and he continued to manage the lunchroom until 1909, when it was certain his new vocation was to become a life activity.
Mr. Quade is the only surviving charter member of St. John's Episcopal church where he has been active since the foundation of the congregation. He is a Mason and is a past master. He has long been a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served as vice president one term.
Mrs. Quade passed away three years ago. Their son, Earl, is associated with his father in the studio.
PHOTOGRAPHER RESCUED BY HIS SON
Ames Daily Tribune, June 27, 1932
Charles R. Quade, veteran Ames photographer, was in Mary Greeley hospital Monday afternoon recovering from the effects of gas poisoning suffered when he was overcome in the basement of his former studio building at 417 Main street. Mr. Quade is believed to have gone to the basement for something, as some photographic equipment is stored there. When he failed to return, his son, Earl, made a search and found him lying on the basement floor about 1:45 p.m. He had been missing about two hours.
City firemen and police were summoned, but answering the call to the Quade studio rushed to the new studio building at 109 Welch avenue, where they learned the mistake. They raced back with the inhalator. In the meantime, Mr. Quade's son had obtained help and he had been brot out of the basement. A physician was at work over him. The inhalator was brot into use, and Mr. Quade soon showed signs of recovery. He then was taken to the hospital where his condition was reported good.
The old studio building had been rented, but the tenant moved out about a month ago. It is believed the basement has been closed since then. Source of the gas leak had not been determined Monday afternoon.
SERVICES TO BE FRIDAY FOR CHARLES R. QUADE, 84
Ames Daily Tribune, April 7, 1943
Charles R. Quade, 84, died at 8:20 a.m. today in the home of his son, Earl Quade, 1403 Kellogg. Quade, who was born Oct. 21, 1858, at Providence, R.I., operated a photographic studio here for many years. He was a charter member of Eastern Star and the Masonic lodge.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. in St. John's Episcopal church with Rev. LeRoy S. Burroughs officiating. Interment will be in the Ames cemetery. Surviving are the son, Earl, a member of the Ames fire department, and two brothers, Frank L. of Dubuque and Henry of the San Juan Islands.