[Bust portrait of unidentified man] / J.P. Ball's Photographic Gallery, No. 30 West 4th St., between Main and Walnut Streets, Cincinnati, O.

James Presley Ball (1825-1904) was an African American photographer and abolitionist who played a major role in the American photographic scene of the 19th century. Born in Virginia in 1825, he later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. He gained his freedom in 1847 and learned the art of daguerreotype photography, establishing his own photographic studio in Cincinnati in the 1840s. Ball was active in the abolitionist movement, using his photography to advocate for the rights and freedom of African Americans. He created portraits of well-known abolitionists and leaders, including Charles Sumner and John Mercer Langston. In addition to his photography studio, Ball was involved in several business ventures. He operated a photography gallery, a photography supply house and a fine art gallery, contributing to the growing African American middle class. Ball's studio gained a reputation for producing high quality portraits. He photographed both African American and white clients, helping to break down racial barriers in the field of photography. In the mid-1850s, Ball moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he continued his successful photographic career. He became a respected figure in the local community and beyond.