Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

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Leon Ernest Seay (1863-1930)

Leon Ernest Seay was born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1862. He began work as a photographer sometime in the 1890s. Seay came to Charlotte in 1906 and formed a partnership with Charles W. Eutsler. Together they ran a studio from Eutsler’s home at 21 North Tryon Street until 1910. (1) In 1907, Seay formed another partnership with Zachius "Zackie" E. Scott (1866-1943), who owned a studio at 904 Elizabeth Avenue, which was beyond the original four wards. Scott moved to Fort Mill the next year.

John B. Readman (1851 - 1903)

Readman first appears in the Charlotte directory around 1899. ( 1) Born in New York in April of 1851, his father was from England and his mother was a New Yorker.  Readman dabbled in the theatrical business and worked in newspapers in California. He arrived in Charlotte in 1896. (2) Readman’s studio was located at 18 South Tryon Street, and he lived in a boarding house on 3rd Street. (3) By 1902, his wife, Emily, joined him, and they lived at 237 South Tryon Street, which was just a few blocks down from Readman’s Studio that was now located at 27 South Tryon Street.