Kelley’s Photography Studio

Kelley’s Photography Studio* Roy F. Kelley

Built 1911

Studio Established 1914

517 Sullivan Street, Miami,Az

Roy F. Kelley, his wife, Mary E. Mallarky and her brother, Andrew J opened their photography studio at the end of Main Street in Miami, Arizona in 1914. 

Kelley had begun by documenting the work of the mines, but after opening the studio became well known for doing class pictures, weddings and other community events.  

His work is preserved among the Distinctive Collections at ASU. This collection, which dates from 1917 through the 1940’s, houses 36 8″ x 10″ silver gelatin photographic contact prints showing mines in Miami, Arizona. Taken as a whole, the work recorded the transformation of the copper industry from small tunnel and shaft operations to more developed open pit mining.

The building went from a one-story studio to two stories after Mrs. Kelley became concerned about teacher housing after being elected to the School Board. The coupled added a second floor to accommodate themselves and up to 4 teachers in the upstairs apartments. 

In 2000, Susan Hanson, a businesswoman from Phoenix purchased the building and established  Joshua’s Tree House Antique Store;named after her son. The store became an extension of her business, Joshua Tree Lampshades, and she managed an antique store in the front and custom lampshade work in the back. In 2003 she began work on restoring the second floor to apartments which were completed in early 2004. 

Roy Kelley died on March 30, 1933 and is buried in the Pinal Cemetery, Miami, Arizona.

He was born on St. Patrick’s Day in Newton, Ill. in 1882. He and his wife, Mary, came to Miami in 1911, and started Kelly’s Studios. He served as Miami councilman for several terms, represented his district in the state legislature in the ninth, tenth and eleventh sessions, and was elected president of the Miami school board.

He was an ardent supporter of the development of the Globe-Superior highway. He took an active part in the copper tariff fight. He was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee when he died. 

He had a severe case of influenza in 1932, which left his heart in a weakened condition, according to his physician, Dr. Nelson Brayton. He suffered a heart attack during the legislative session, and several more while at home in Miami. 
He was survived by his wife, Mary E.; and brothers-in-law, Andrew J. Mullarky and W.T. Mullarky.
(Source: Arizona Silver Belt, March 31, 1933, page 1; courtesy Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum, Miami, Az.)