A nicely dressed woman poses for her portrait at the studio of A. Hatch in Bath, Maine. The woman appears to appreciate jewelry. She is wearing a necklace with a cross, earrings and a bracelet. She is wearing a hairband and has curly hair and bangs. The Maine Register (1891) reports that Hatch’s studio was located at 46 Front Street in the town of Bath.
This cabinet card creates a historical mystery. Is this image really a portrait of Captain William James Williams? Captain Williams was among the first African American officers to serve in a state volunteer regiment during the Spanish American War. He served in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry, Company L. This company was probably the first and possibly only African American company to be attached to a white regiment. Williams commanded Company L and was the first African American to enter the US Volunteer army with a captain’s commission. He was six feet tall. He was a product of Boston schools and was a lawyer. He joined the Massachusetts Militia in 1891. The reverse of this card is inscribed “William James Williams, Captain, Spanish American War”. A photograph of Captain Williams found from another source, has resemblance to the man in this image, but does not confirm the identity. The photographer of this image is William G. Hussey of Salem, Massachusetts. A photographic journal (1900) reported that Hussey sold his Salem studio in 1900.
A serious looking woman poses for her portrait at the studio of Erickson, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is wearing the uniform of the Salvation Army.
Two young woman and two children pose for their portrait at the studio of Nicklas & Co. in Chicago, Illinois. The women and oldest child are wearing very complicated decorative hats. One woman is holding a fan on her lap and the oldest child is holding a basket of flowers. Wild hats were clearly the rage during the time of this photograph.
A young boy and girl pose as if they are out for a walk with a baby doll in a carriage and a pug firmly in the girl’s arms. The young boy is clearly a forward thinker as he has taken on the “woman’s” role of pushing the carriage. He is also wearing an interesting cap with a tassel. The photograph was taken at a studio in Bourbon, Indiana. The photographer’s name is listed on the front (bottom) of the card but the name is illegible.
An older man, looking quite intense, poses for his portrait at the studio of La Tier, in Waterloo, Iowa. The gentleman is named Albert G. Porter and he was born in 1816. His place of birth was Seneca, New York. His identification information is derived from an inscription on the reverse of the card. The date 1892 is written on the front of the card (center bottom) and this is likely the date that the photograph was taken. The photographer, James D. La Tier, was the first president of the Photographic Association of Iowa. During his career he operated studios alone, as well as part of Simmons & La Tier, as well as Simmons, La Tier, and King. La Tier is mentioned in a number of photographic publications (1890 & 1898).
Two boys are dressed in what appears to be military style, as they pose for photographer Otto Rietmann in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The older boy is holding a sword and wearing a gun powder horn. The younger boy is holding something that looks like a decorated lance. Perhaps a visitor to the cabinet card gallery can add additional information about this image.
A well dressed man poses for his photograph at the studio of a photographer named Ward, in Pendleton, Oregon. The man is wearing a derby and a pocket watch. He is holding a cane and is posing in front of a beautiful backdrop. The gentleman is accompanied in this image by three dogs. The dogs appear to be retrievers; and most likely, they are hunting dogs. (SOLD)
The attractive woman in this cabinet card is adorned with a lace cap and lace collar. Her outfit is a bit unusual but she would look beautiful no matter what she was wearing. The photographer of this image was F. W. Guerin, and his studio was located at 627 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri. Guerin received a medal for his work at the World Exposition in Paris (1878) and was similarly honored at the St. Louis Worlds Fair (1904). Fitz W. Guerin (1846-1903) was an excellent photographer but he was also a hero during the American Civil War. He was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Guerin was a private in Battery A, 1st Missouri Volunteer Light Artillery. His citation states that along with two of his comrades, he voluntarily took a position aboard the steamer, Cheeseman, in which he took charge of all the guns and ammunition. He took this role while the steamer was unmanageable and under heavy enemy fire. After the war he became an apprentice photographer and later had a successful career photographing the well-to-do citizens of St. Louis. Guerin took many wonderfully posed photographs of beautiful women; he seems to have had an eye for the ladies.
Two impish looking children pose for their portrait in Watseka, Illinois. The photographer is Hogle. The children are probably siblings. The oldest appears somewhat intimidated by the photographer while the youngest child is displaying a devilish grin.
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 