(1824-1876) Born in Barin, Maine, he learned the daguerreian process sometime before 1845 in Boston, Mass. He opened a daguerreian gallery there in 1845. From 1845 to 1847 he was listed as daguerreotype rooms at 91 Washington St., Boston, in partnership as Vance and Lerow (J.).
One source reported that in the spring and summer of 1846, Vance worked in Dover, N.H., and in the following year dissolved his partnership with Lerow. In 1847, Vance left Boston and went on an extended voyage, including a visit to South America. In fact, one source reported he had established a daguerreian gallery in Valparaiso, Chile by March, 1847; he was noted there in partnership as Vance and Hoytt. In April the partnership moved to Santiago, where they occupied rooms vacated by Charles and Jacob Ward.
Vance later worked with another partner, a Mr. Mason, possibly from the United States; back in Valparaiso, the pair announced their intention to sell their gallery and leave for California in July, 1850. It was only after numerous stops along the way, documenting major ports and countries by the daguerreotype, that Vance arrived in San Francisco, California, just prior to January, 1851. By that month he had opened daguerreian rooms on Clay Street. In May, 1851, his daguerreian gallery was burned out in fire. He apparently rebuilt the gallery, and was listed until 1860.
In 1851, Vance brought his famous collection of 300 daguerreian views to New York City. He exhibited a four-image whole plate daguerreotype panorama of San Francisco at the American Institute, Crystal Garden, New York. In 1853, Vance's collection of views was to be auctioned by the house of Bangs, Brothers & Co., 18 Park Row, New York City. The original date was set for June 8, and was changed to July 20.
Back in California, in 1853, Vance was listed as a daguerreian in Marysville, with his gallery on the west side of D Street, between First and Second Sts. He employed H. Hanscom. In 1853-1854 he was also listed as a daguerreian in Sacramento, Calif., with rooms on the northeast corner of J and Third Street. The listing continued in 1854-1855. In 1854-1855, Vance employed Carleton E. Watkins in his Marysville gallery. Also, in 1854, he was listed in San Francisco as a daguerreian, at the corner of Kearny and Commercial Streets, second floor. In September, he opened new and lavish daguerreian rooms at the corner of Montgomery and Sacramento Streets. He reportedly had twelve operating rooms.
In 1855-1856, he advertised in Sacramento, Calif., that he had won first premium for daguerreotypes at the California Fair in 1855 and 1856. He also noted his new building at the corner of Sacramento and Montgomery Streets, San Francisco. He continued to be listed at the corner of J and Third Streets in Sacramento. In 1855 he was not listed in the Marysville directory.
In 1856 he was listed as a daguerreian in San Francisco at the corner of Montgomery and Sacramento Streets. It was noted he received the first premium awarded at the State Fair for daguerreotypes. He also advertised he had one of the best photographers in the world working for him, as well as a New York artist. The address was alternately listed at 115-1/2 Montgomery St.
From 1856-1861 he was listed as a daguerreian in San Francisco, on the southwest corner of Montgomery and Sacramento Streets, third floor. From 1856 to 1858 he was not listed in the Sacramento directory. In 1858-1859 he was listed as a daguerreian at the corner of J and Third Streets, third floor, in Sacramento. This was in the Hiller and Andrews building. He advertised that the owned Cutting's patent for ambrotypes. In 1859-1860 he was listed at the same address, in partnership as Vance and Weed. He noted in his advertisement that his galleries were "always in charge of the best artists in the state."