A native of New York, Talcott Harmon Parkhurst is best known for his photography.

Around 1910, he traveled to New Mexico on an expedition with the Smithsonian Institution to study the ruins at Santa Rita de los Frijoles in Frijoles Canyon (now Bandelier National Monument.)

Following his work with the Smithsonian, Parkhurst accepted a position with the Museum of New Mexico at the Palace of the Governors. From 1910-1915 he worked under the Museum's senior photographer, Jesse L. Nusbaum and Nusbaum's influence is identifiable in Parkhurst's photographs of Santa Fe taken during this period.

In 1915, Parhkurst left the Museum and opened his own studio. The primarily self-taught photographer later worked with Charles F. Lummis, who praised Parkhurst as being one of the best photographers he knew.