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A lifelong resident of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Albert Franz Zimmerman (b. 1863, d. 1938) was a photographer and dealer in photographic supplies who operated Zimmerman's Kodak and Picture Framing Store. He was the son of George Zimmerman and Marie R. (Roller) Zimmerman, both born in Germany. George Zimmerman arrived in Philadelphia at age 12 where he received training as a baker and subsequently established himself as a baker in Williamsport at 655 Franklin Street. George and Marie had eleven children. Albert Franz Zimmerman attended the public schools of Williamsport and was first employed in the photographic business with Godfrey Hess from 1880 until the latter's death in 1903. During this period, Albert attended the Williamsport Business College at night and went into the photography business himself at 148 West Fourth Street in 1904, moving the business to 12 West Fourth Street in 1922. During his career, Albert Zimmerman took many thousands of photographs in Williamsport and its vicinity and was especially interested in documenting Williamsport's past.
Lumbering was of particular interest to him during the years of the lumber boom. His brother, Edward, became heavily involved in the lumber business from 1885, eventually moving to the Texas-Louisiana field where he became involved in the Lutcher and Moore interests that had been transferred from South Williamsport. Edward Zimmerman formed a partnership with J.A. Bentley and together they built a lumbering fortune valued at $10 million by the time of Edward's death. Upon, his brother's death, Albert found it necessary to spend considerable time at the Hotel Bentley in Alexandria, Lousiana in order to look after these business interests and it is here that he died in 1938.
The collection consists of a large number of glass plate negatives depicting Williamsport and lumbering scenes in various counties in Pennsylvania.
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