Thomas Connon was born in Scotland in 1832, and emigrated to Canada in 1852, settling in Elora, Ontario. Connon developed an interest in art early in his life and created a number of drawings and paintings.

In 1851, after reading about developments in photography at the Great London Exhibition, Connon began to take photographs. In 1859 he developed an interest in commercial photography, operating out of his Elora general store.

Thomas married Jean Keith, the daughter of one of Elora's founding families and the first child born into a setter's family in the community. Their son John R. Connon was born in 1862.

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Portrait of Jean Connon, nee Keith, wife of
Thomas Connon and mother of John R. Connon, [between 1860 and 1890]
Thomas or John R. Connon
Connon family fonds
Reference Code: C 286-5-0-1
Archives of Ontario, I0011667

Connon sold the store in 1867 and the family returned to Europe. While there they visited family in Scotland. Thomas spent time painting and taking photographs, particularly in the area of Jean's ancestral home.

He also attended the Paris Exhibition to learn about the latest developments in photography.

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Lane and house in Elfhill, Scotland. Elfhill is the ancestral home of the Keiths.
Jean Connon (nee Keith) married Thomas Connon. September, 1867
Thomas Connon
Black and white print
Connon family fonds
Reference Code: C 286-5-0-3
Archives of Ontario, I0011430

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Oil painting on iron of Elfhill, Scotland. Elfhill was the ancestral home of Jean Connon, nee Keith, wife of Thomas Connon, [ca. 1867]
Thomas Connon
Painting
Connon family fonds
Reference Code: C 286-5-0-4
Archives of Ontario, I0011436

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Looking down a hill towards water in Elfhill, Scotland Elfhill was Jean Connon's (wife of Thomas Connon) ancestral home, 1865--1867
Thomas Connon
Black and white print
Connon family fonds
Reference Code: C 286-5-0-3
Archives of Ontario, I0011431

Thomas decided to return to Canada with his family and focus exclusively on photography. He opened a studio in Elora and also built cameras.

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The Connon Photography Studio in
Elora, [between 1860 and 1929]
Thomas or John R. Connon
Lantern Slide
Connon family fonds
Reference Code: C 286-3-0-16
Archives of Ontario, I0011613

Stereograph of Elora Gorge, viewed from Grand River, [between 1860 and 1899]
Thomas Connon
Stereograph
Connon family fonds
Reference Code: C 286-2-0-5
Archives of Ontario, I0011441

Thomas also became involved in stereo photography and created many stereographs, a number of which are in the Archives' collection.

To see more of Thomas' stereographs, click here.

His son was also developing an interest in photography and soon became involved in the family business.

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Postcard showing the Thomas Connon family home in Elora.
Later known as "Connon's Corners", it was located at Main Street.
Sold in June 1960. [between 1870 and 1909]
Photographer unknown
Connon family fonds
Postcard
Connon family fonds
Reference Code: C 286-5-0-1
Archives of Ontario, I0011663

In 1881, Thomas invented a roll holder for cameras. This was a significant contribution to the transition from glass plate to film negatives and it was later incorporated into George Eastman's Kodak camera. Thomas Connon died in 1899. Jean died in 1909.

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