This photograph captures a young boy dressed in a formal sailor suit. The outfit is unusual, as most children wearing nautical clothing in photographs of this era are not clad in such a fine suit. The photographer is Taylor of Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington is a US naval port and it is very possible that this boys father was a high ranking naval officer stationed there. One can surmise that he was an officer because a child dressed in such finery must come from a well-to-do family.
SAILOR BOY IN WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA (FUTURE NAVAL OFFICER?)
PRETTY YOUNG GIRL IN LIFRACOMBE, ENGLAND
A pretty young girl poses for her portrait at the photographic studio of Chevalier Lafosse at 5 Belgrave Promenade in Lifracombe, England. Lfracombe is a seaside resort on the North Devon coast and has a small harbor surrounded by cliffs.
JOSEPH WHEELOCK SR: LEADING THEATRE ACTOR
This cabinet card features stage actor, Joseph Wheelock Sr. (1839-1908). He began his careeer in Boston and later played leads in various stock companies. His first hit was his appearance in “The Stranger”. His principal stock company was the Meech Brothers. During his career he appeared with many of the most renowned theatre actors. His fellow cast members included Edwin Booth, Agnes Booth, Adelaide Neilson, Mary Anderson, Edward Sothern and Julia Marlowe. Wheelock was one of the founders and the first President of the Actors Society of America. The society was organized in 1895 and its purpose was to regulate and standardize contractual obligations between performers and producers. The group dissolved in 1912. This cabinet card was photographed by Napoleon Sarony of New York City, one of the most popular celebrity photographers of this era. To see other photographs in the Cabinet Card Gallery by Sarony, click on the category “Photographer: Sarony”. It is important to note that Joseph Wheelock Sr. had a son who was also an actor. Judging by the estimated age of the subject of this photograph, and the estimated date of this photograph; it seems almost certain that this image is that of Joseph Wheelock Sr., and not Joseph Wheelock Jr.
OLDER WOMAN MAKES FASHION STATEMENT IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
This cabinet card features a very fashionably dressed older woman posing for her portrait at the Block Studio, in St. Louis Missouri (1225 Franklin Avenue). The woman is wearing a very interesting hat that includes feathers and assorted other materials. She is wearing a pin and earrings. Research indicates that Louis Block worked as a photographer in St. Louis between 1900 and 1919 although he may have also worked there during other additional years.
A FASHIONABLE WOMAN AND HER CASH
This cabinet card features a beautifully dressed woman posing for her photograph at an unidentified photographers studio. The woman is wearing earrings and a ring and is holding a purse. This cabinet card image poses an interesting question for the vast unpaid research department of the Cabinet Card Gallery. Why does the woman’s purse have a stash of money sticking out of one of its compartments? Hopefully, visitors to this site will leave their opinions about this mystery, in the comment section.
LACE ABOUNDS IN PORTRAIT OF TWO SIBLINGS IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
This cabinet card is an image of siblings posing for their photograph at the studio of Herman Buchholz of Springfield, Massachusetts. The children are dressed in their finest clothing and the oldest is carrying a beaded purse. The photographer, Herman Buckhholz (1839-?) was born in Berlin, Prussia. His studio was located at 365 Main Street when he produced this cabinet card. He was an active photographer between 1869 and 1896. He found time to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1890-1891.
ANNIE AND MAGGIE: YOUNG SISTERS POSE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS
Annie and Maggie Fleming pose for this cabinet card portrait at the Anderson’s photographic studio, located at 85 Main Street in Houston, Texas. An inscription on the reverse of the card identifies the little girls and indicates that this photograph was given to their cousin. These cute siblings appear to be a bit dubious of the photographer and their photographic session. The photographer, Samuel Anderson, operated out of the address on this cabinet card, between 1886 and 1892. To see other photographs by Sam Anderson, click on this sites category, “Photographer: Anderson”.
PRETTY WOMAN PLAYING THE VIOLIN IN KJOBENHAVN, DENMARK
A pretty woman poses for her photograph at the studio of Hansen & Weller in Copenhagen, Denmark. The studio’s address was 28 Bredgade. The woman is playing her violin with her bow. Her hair is up and she appears to be wearing a corset , giving her a lovely figure. One of the photographers is George Emil Hansen (1833-1891). He was a pioneer Danish photographer. His father and brother were also photographers. He won photography awards in London (1862) and Berlin (1865). Hansen was the photographer of the Danish Royal Family. His photographic work spanned from 1856 through 1891.
CARDINAL GIBBONS (1834-1921): THE FACE OF CATHOLICISM IN TURN OF THE CENTURY AMERICA
This cabinet card is a photograph of James Gibbons (1834-1921). Gibbons was an American Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Richmond, Virginia and as the Arch Bishop of Baltimore, Maryland. He became a Bishop while quite young and was known as the “Boy Bishop”. He was elevated to Cardinal in 1886, becoming the second American Cardinal. He was an acquaintance of every American President from Andrew Johnson to Warren Harding. He was honored by Presidents Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. Gibbons advocated the creation of Catholic University and was its first Chancellor (1887). He was an advocate for labor and an author of several books and articles. His most well known book was “The Faith of Our Fathers” (1876). In later life, Gibbons was the public face of Catholicism in the United States.
BARE CHESTED MAN READYING FOR A BATH
This cabinet card captures a bare chested man preparing for a bath. He appears to be muscular and fit. He has a formidable thick mustache. Writing on the reverse of the card states,“This is for mother. Father is taken washing and this is as exactly as he looks”. This cabinet card invites speculation. It appears that the man is separated from his wife. Is he in prison? Is he in the military? The answer is most likely unobtainable as there is no identifying information concerning the identity of the subject, or the photographer. In addition, the location that the photograph was taken is also unknown.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 