Robert Albert Bird, 1891-1972, was born in England and grew up in the Sundre/Bergen, Alberta area. He began his photography career in 1916 working for W.O. King, a Calgary commercial photographer. In the following year Robert worked for Chazin's Photo Studio, and then for W.J. Oliver until 1919. He was photographer for the D.J. Young and Co. stationery store from 1919-1924. In 1925 he opened the Central Photo Studio at Centre Street and 7th Avenue, later relocating to 126A-8th Avenue SE. He retired about 1968. Throughout his career he specialized in architectural views and rodeos. He and his wife, Margaret, married in about 1918, and had a son, Robert Francis "Bobby", 1920-1943, who died serving in the RCAF during the Second World War.