At a late point his life, Mathew Brady recalled his start in photography. He said he was in Saratoga, N.Y., and met William Page, the artist. Page, who became a student of Samuel F.B. Morse, took an interest in Brady, and introduced him to Morse. Brady reported he was "counselled" by John Draper and Professor Doremus in the new daguerreotype process. He also recalled that a Mr. Wolf ordered one of Daguerre's cameras from Morse, then made a camera for Brady. This was probably John G. Wolf.
Mathew B. Brady entered the photography business first as a daguerreian and case maker, c. 1843. In 1843-1844 he was listed as a jewel case manufacturer at 164 Fulton St., New York City, and lived at 27 John St.
In 1844, as a daguerreian, he exhibited at the Fair of the American Institute. In 1844-1845 he was listed as a jewel, miniature and surgical case manufactuer at 187 Broadway. He was also listed as operating a daguerreian gallery at 207 Broadway, at the corner of Fulton Street. The entrance to the gallery in the 1845 directory was noted at 162 Fulton Street. He lived at 63 Barclay Street.
Brady's first daguerreian operator has been noted by one historian as "James A. Brown"; this is probably James Sidney Brown, who later (1848) opened his own gallery in New York City.
Other daguerreians who worked for Brady included Polycarp von Schneideau and Edwin Bronk.
In 1845, Brady began his gallery of prominent Americans. In 1845-1846, he was listed as a jewel case manufacturer at 187 Broadway and 162 Fulton St. He also advertised "Frist Premium New York Daguerrian Miniature Gallery" at the corner of Broadway and Fulton Streets, and offered instruction in the art.
One source indicated that c. 1846 Brady also had a daguerreian gallery in Brooklyn at the same time he had his Fulton Street (NYC) gallery, but the Brooklyn address has never been recorded. In 1846-1847 he was listed as a daguerreian at 161 Fulton Street and 187 Broadway, New York City. In the same year, he was listed as a jewel case manufacturer at 187 Broadway, and with a daguerreian gallery at 161 Fulton. His residence was listed on Canal Street.
From 1847 to 1849 he was listed as a daguerreotypist at 205 Broadway, and lived at 275 Division Street. In 1848-1849 he apparently advertised at both 205 and 207 Broadway, third door south of St. Paul's, and noted he occupied the second, third and fourth stories. He maintained the same address through 1853.
In 1848, Brady was also listed in Washington, D.C., with daguerreotype rooms on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, between 4-1/2 and 6 West. One source reported that Brady's first attempt at a Washington gallery lasted only a year; the competition was stiff and an argument with his landlord resulted in his lease not being renewed.
In 1851, one report commented on Brady's failing eyesight, and noted him as being "not a practical operator, yet displays superior management..."
In July, 1851, Brady left New York to attend the World's Fair in London. George Samuel Cook was left in charge of his New York gallery. Brady returned from London by May, 1852. In March, 1853, he opened a second gallery at 359 Broadway, and advertised at both addresses through 1857. However, in December, 1854, there was a note in Humphrey's Journal that Brady had closed his rooms at 205 Broadway, and would only be at his other rooms, over Thompson's Saloon. A few pages later, it was noted he had re-leased his old rooms, and was refitting them.
In 1857-1858, he was listed only at 359 Broadway; his residence was noted as the St. Denis Hotel.
In January, 1858, Brady arrived in Washington, D.C., to open a new gallery there. One source reported that Alexander Gardner was placed in charge of the gallery from its opening. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Streets, NW, the gallery was nearly next door to the old gallery of John Plumbe, Jr., and occupied four floors over Gilman's Drug Store and the Sweeney, Rittenhouse and Fant banking concern. In 1860 the Washington Gallery was listed at 352 Pennsylvania Avenue.
From 1858 to 1860, he was listed at both Broadway addresses.
Brady's career as a Civil War photographer is history. Brady's imprint appears both on the velvet liner of cases, as well as stamped on the brass mat of both daguerreoytpes and ambrotypes. In April and May, 1911, advertisements appeared offering Brady's Civil War negatives for sale.