This terrific Cabinet Card is a portrait of a Judge in Chicago, Illinois. The clarity and detail of this image is remarkable. The photographer was C. D. Mosher of Chicago, Illinois. Mosher was an important early photographer of Chicago and made national news for an ambitious endeavor he undertook. The New York Times wrote a story in 1885 about Mosher’s project to collect 10,000 portraits of prominent residents of Chicago. His goal was to finish collecting the images by 1888. The photographs were placed in a special safe and placed in a vault provided by the city to only be opened for the nations bicentennial in 1876. Perhaps this Cabinet Card is one of the photographs that was locked away for Mosher’s effort to preserve history. To view other cabinet cards by Mosher, click on the category “Photographer: Mosher”.
FANTASTIC PORTRAIT OF A CHICAGO JUDGE BY MOSHER
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
We have in our family portrait book a picture of this judge. Would you have any information as to why we might have a copy of this? The Book includes portraits of many of our family, but most are unknown to us and we would like to identify them if possible. Any help is appreciated. Thank you Diana Steffes
I really wish I could help you but I do not have any information in regard to identify the identify of the intriguing subject of this photographic portrait. Here are some tips that may be helpful but are truly longshots. Do an internet search and see if you can find a list of the names of the people Mosher photographed for this series. Also search the internet for the names of Chicago judges during this period and next try to search the web for their pictures. Finally, contact the Chicago historical society and Chicago library for their assistance. I am posting your request for assistance and hopefully a cabinet card gallery visitor will have some additional suggestions for you. I own the judge’s original cabinet card image and I am not sure if any other images of this subject were produced. Good luck in your search. Enjoy the adventure.