PRETTY WOMAN IN MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS

A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the Foss Studio, on Florence Street, in Malden, Massachusetts. The subject of the photograph is named Nellie which is evident from the inscription that she made on the reverse of the card. She wrote “Patience is furnished here by, Nellie”.  Below the inscription is the full name of the subject, but other than determining that the last name begins with a “C”; the writing is illegible. The photographer of this cabinet card is Eliphalet Jay Foss (1840-1923). He was born in New Hampshire and later worked as a photographer and an art restorer on Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. In time, he operated a “Garden Studio” in Malden, Massachusetts. He held a photographic patent and photographed many famous people, including Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 

Published in: on January 10, 2011 at 8:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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HANDSOME AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN IN SEDALIA, MISSOURI; OR QUINCY, ILLINOIS

This Cabinet Card features a very handsome African American gentleman with a terrific handlebar mustache. He is very well dressed and has short parted hair. This man has movie star good looks before the era of  movies. The photographer is Fritz, who had studios in both Sedalia, Missouri, and Quincy, Illinois.

Published in: on January 9, 2011 at 5:53 pm  Comments (2)  
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CHRISTINE HUDSON IN BABES IN TOYLAND

This Cabinet Card features stage actress Christine Hudson in costume for her role in “Babes in Toy Land”. The New York Times (9/10/1905) reports that the show was appearing at the West End Theatre and the cast included May De Sousa. An earlier edition of the New York Times (1902) announces her appearance in “Princess Chic”. The reverse of the cabinet card has an affixed label stating that the photograph is number H-16 of the “Oral M. Heffner Theatrical Collection” and the property of the Franklin County Historical Society. Research sheds some light on the Heffner collection. The Ohio State Archeological and Historical Quarterly (1953) writes that the first showing of the Oral M. Heffner Theare Collection was in 1953 and that the collection included over 700 rare photographs of early actors and actresses “who visited Columbus years ago”. The label on the front of this photograph blocks the name of the photographer. The name of the photographer etched on this image appears to be “Hall”. There was a Hall Studio located in New York City at a different Broadway address and it is possible that the studio was once at the Broadway address listed on this cabinet card. However, confirmation is needed and any verification help from a visitor to this site would be appreciated. To see other images by Hall, click on the category “Photographer: Hall”. To see other cabinet cards from the Heffner Collection, click on Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Oral M. Heffner Theatrical Collection”.

Published in: on January 8, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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SAILOR BOY IN PHILADELPHIA (1890)

Meet Willie Howard Smith. He was three and a half years-old at the time of this photograph, which was in 1890. Willie is adorable as he poses for his photograph in his sailor suit. He is wearing a wonderful cap which is covering his longish hair. The photographer of this cabinet card portrait is Kuebler, who was located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Research discloses some interesting information about the photographic studio. The studio was co-owned and operated by brothers William Kuebler and Louis H. Kuebler. They were very successful photographers and one of their photographs of Walt Whitman is very well known among those that study the great poet. A news article in The Photographic Times (1888) announces the “largest contract ever made in the photographic line” had been awarded to William Kuebler to photograph the members of the Mexican Typical Orchestra. In all, 4,750 photographs were ordered.

 

Published in: on January 7, 2011 at 12:53 pm  Comments (1)  
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TWO FASHIONABLE LADIES : GIESSEN, GERMANY 1912

Two attractive women pose for their portrait at the studio of the Strauss Brothers, in Giessen, Germany. These ladies have a flair for fashion and apparently the financial wherewithal to support their fine taste in apparel. The woman are attractive and dressed beautifully. Note their fine hats. An inscription on the reverse of the image indicates that the image was photographed in 1912.

Published in: on January 2, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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