Arthur Beales
Arthur Beales (1871–1955) was the first official photographer for the Toronto Harbour Commission, first hired in 1914, and only retiring in 1951. His job was physically challenging, as he climbed cranes and towers, carrying the heavy and inconvenient cameras of the time. When his car was hit by a train, in 1920, Beales was blinded in one eye, and had to use clever techniques to compensate for his loss of depth perception.
Arthur Beales
Public domain
- Name
- Arthur Beales
- Born
- 1871
- Birthplace
- Brentwood, Ontario
- Died
- 1955
- Known for
- took over 17,000 historic photos for his employer, the Toronto Harbour Commission
- Occupation
- photographer
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Documentary summary
Arthur Beales (1871–1955) was the first official photographer for the Toronto Harbour Commission, first hired in 1914, and only retiring in 1951. His job was physically challenging, as he climbed cranes and towers, carrying the heavy and inconvenient cameras of the time. When his car was hit by a train, in 1920, Beales was blinded in one eye, and had to use clever techniques to compensate for his loss of depth perception.
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wikidata · Q87925089
In this article
Biography
Biography
Kevin Plummer, writing in the Torontoist, quotes an official biography that said Beales felt the facial scarring left from his accident had closed off the option of working as a portrait photographer.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Arthur Beales • Born — 1871 • Birthplace — Brentwood, Ontario • Died — 1955 • Known for — took over 17,000 historic photos for his employer, the Toronto Harbour Commission • Occupation — photographer • Illustration — Arthur Beales, the Toronto Harbour Commission's first official photographer, in 1914. • Illustration — Arthur Beales, taking pictures from atop a derrick, in 1915.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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