Alva was the son of Timothy W. Townsend, who operated a photograph gallery in Iowa City 1866-1880, and again beginning in 1890. Alva worked in his father's studio beginning at age 17, around 1890. This information is from Annals of Iowa, and the New…
View looking northwest. Old South Hall, Old Capitol, and Old North Hall. Photo taken after North Hall built in 1866, and before Medical Building constructed in 1882.
