Plain back, dated 1892

​John Randolph was a photographer and artist in Southampton from the late 1880s to about 1900, when he gave up photography following a serious illness, and concentrated on being an artist. During his time as a commercial photographer he traded as the Academy Art Co, based at 17 Dorset Street.

Records exist for the purchase of 2 of Randolph's photographs by William Robert Scanlan (of Adams and Scanlan):- "Photograph of the front of Above Bar Chapel Southampton." 1890 and "Photograph of group London & South Western Railway directors." 1891.

In later years Randolph produced engravings of local historic landmarks, for example The Bargate.

Randolph was born in Scotland in 1857, and married Priscilla Honor Cartridge in Southampton in 1879. The 1881 census records John Randolph (artist), his wife Honor and 2 children, living in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

In 1891 they were back in Southampton, living in York St, Northam, with 5 children and 26 year old Alice, Photographer's assistant. Randolph's occupation was given as artist and photographer. The census record listed Alice as Randolph's daughter. However, given that there was only a 10 year age gap between them, this was a mistake made by the census official, which was cleared up by the 1901 census.

At the time of the 1901 census, John Randolph was in hospital, and Priscilla was living with their 7 children at 17 Dorset Street. The eldest son Harry, was listed as a photographer and Aunt Alice Cartridge, also a photographer, was living with the family. 

By 1911 John Tolmie-Randolph (artist painter) and his wife 'Honar' Priscilla lived in Portswood, Southampton. Also in the house were 2 sons, 2 daughters and a niece. 18 year old son Rowallan John Tolmie-Randolph was a student at the School of Art.

John T Randolph died in Yeovil, Somerset in 1935.