SOLEMN MAMA BROWN POSES FOR HER PORTRAIT IN WASHINGTON D.C.

mama brownThe inscription on the reverse of this cabinet card identifies the subject of this portrait. She is “Mama Brown, friend and neighbor of Annie S. Peters”. The photographer of this photograph is G. W. Dahi… and his studio was located at 925 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D. C..  Dahi… had a second studio located at 821 Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia. If you are wondering why his name is spelled “Dahi…”, let me tell you the answer. The first four letters of the photographers name are “Dahi” and the rest of the letters are unknown because they were removed when the image was taken from the frame or album that used to house it. Note the subjects, ruffles, lace, flowers, and hair ornament.    Research did not identify the photographer. There were a number of photographers that operated businesses from the 925 Pennsylvania Avenue address. They included Henry Whitefield Samson (1878), J. D. Merritt, G. W. Davis, and Tassert or Fassett. Research also failed to identify Mama Brown. There are a number of Mamie Browns that lived in the Washington D. C. area and it is possible that one of them is the subject of this portrait. Annie S. Peters, Mama Brown’s friend and neighbor, was easy to track down. She appears in a number of US Censuses. Annie was born around 1849 and was married to David W. Peters in 1871.

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Published in: on March 30, 2014 at 4:53 pm  Leave a Comment  
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STAGE PERFORMER IN EFFEMINATE COSTUME (IS THIS A YOUNG MAN OR A YOUNG WOMAN?)

BURK_0005This cabinet card portrait, photographed by A. D. Burk and Co. presents a gender mystery. A stage performer wearing an effeminate stage costume by today’s standards, is the subject of this portrait. Note the subjects frilly shirt and jacket, and the feathered hat. Also take note of the subjects long curly hair and hanging curls. Are we looking at a handsome actor or a pretty actress? My guess is actress. The photographer, Alcynus D. Burk worked in Cleveland from 1889, when he partnered with David Bailey until 1900 or later.

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Published in: on March 28, 2014 at 12:21 pm  Comments (9)  
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LLOYD BRUNDAGE: A TWO YEAR OLD POSES IN FRONT OF A PLAYHOUSE IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (1888)

SF CHILD 1888_0006A very young child, holding a box by the handle, poses for his portrait at the Morse Studio in San Francisco, California. The child is standing in front of a small house. The faux house is a studio prop. Note that that the number “1888” is above the open window. The number likely indicates the year that this portrait was taken. The reverse of the cabinet card has inscription with the name “Lloyd Brundage” and a note that states that Master Brundage was 21 months old at the time he was photographed. Research reveals that the subject of this image, Lloyd Jeffers Brundage was born in San Francisco on New Years day in 1887. He appears in many US censuses. In 1900 he was thirteen years old and living in Bridgeport, California with his father and mother. His father was named Marshal and was a 46 year-old laborer who was a native Canadian. Lloyd’s mother was named Nillie and she was 31 years old and a native Californian. Her maiden name was Smallwood. Lloyd had a five year-old sister named Delphine. The 1920 census found Lloyd living in Chico, California, with his wife Anna. He was employed as an “agriculturist”. Ten years later he was working as a mechanic in an industiral plant. He and his wife remained in Chico. The 1940 census discovers Lloyd working in a governmental general maintenance position. Lloyd died in 1955 in Butte, California. To learn more about the photographer, George Daniels Morse,  and to see other examples of his work, click on the category “Photographer: Morse”.

Published in: on March 27, 2014 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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A YOUNG WEDDING COUPLE IN MANKATO, MINNESOTA

MRS FRED DRURY_0002A young couple pose for their wedding portrait in Mankato, Minnesota. The photographer is the Snow Art Gallery. The reverse of the photograph has an inscription that states “Mrs Fred Drury”.  Presumably, Mrs Drury is the woman seen in this image. John R. Snow, the proprietor of the Snow Gallery, was born in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1868. At nine years old, he and his family moved to Maine where he finished common school. After graduating, he went to work in a sardine and lobster factory. He left Maine for Wisconsin and it is there that he began his photography career as a tent photographer. He travelled in this capacity and covered the area between Wisconsin and Kentucky. He later had studios in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Zumbrota, Minnesota. He bought a studio in Mankato in 1893. His addresses in Mankato included 118 East Jackson (1893-1902), and 313 South Front Street (1912-1919). The 1910 US Census lists both John and his wife Margaret as Mankato photographers. Their son, Cecil J. Snow (1894-?), worked as a photographer in Mankato in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Published in: on March 26, 2014 at 11:54 am  Leave a Comment  
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ADORABLE LITTLE BOY WEARING A SAILOR SUIT (PHOTOGRAPH BY W. AND D. DOWNEY)

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A little boy wearing a sailor suit poses for his portrait in London, England. The boy is adorable and he is posed beautifully sitting on a faux rock with his arms folded against his chest. He is wearing a straw hat and a terrific grin. The photographer is the W & D Downey studio. This studio was well known and highly respected in England. They advertised themselves as photographers specially appointed to photograph the imperial and royal families of Europe. To view other photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Downey”.

Published in: on March 21, 2014 at 12:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF STAGE ACTRESS VILLA KNOX IN ROLE OF DAISY BLOSSOM (PHOTOGRAPH BY JACOB SCHLOSS)

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This cabinet card has a lot to say. First, the photograph features an actress named Villa Knox. She appeared in productions in the United States, England, and probably a number of other places. She acted in at least two Broadway shows. She appeared in the musical comedy “Boccaccio” (1898) and in “Apollo, or, The Oracle of Delphi” (1891). Second, the photographer of this image is the well known celebrity photographer, Jacob Schloss. At the time that this photograph was taken, the Schloss studio was located at 467 and 469 Fifth Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets in New York City.. To view more of his photographs click on the category “Photographer: Schloss”. A third aspect of this photograph is that it has the pencilled name “Daisy Blossom” on the front of the card. Thanks to a little luck in my research, I learned that “Daisy Blossom” is a character in a play called “London Day by Day” (1893) which was reviewed by The Sydney Mail. This portrait likely captures Miss Knox in costume for that role. The fourth interesting fact about this image is the stamp appearing on the front of the card that states “Vignettes All Around For Segar Label”. It appears that this photograph was used as a vignette photograph for a cigar box label. The last feature I will mention concerning this image is that it has all the signs of once residing in someones photograph album. The cabinet card truly tells a number of stories and is in good condition.   SOLD

 

Published in: on March 20, 2014 at 12:56 pm  Comments (1)  
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AN ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOLL IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

LENHART FAn adorable little girl poses for her portrait at Lenhart’s Studio in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She is wearing a cute bonnet and is clutching her prized doll. A look at her eyes reveals that she is taking in the entire scene around her. She is sitting on a large cushion on what appears to be a wicker chair. To view other images by Thomas Lenhart and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Lenhart”.

Published in: on March 19, 2014 at 4:18 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A YOUNG AND HANDSOME FAMILY POSES FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN DAVENPORT, IOWA

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This vintage photograph features a handsome family posing for their portrait at the F. A. Free Studio in Davenport, Iowa. This good looking and well dressed couple had their hands full with three children so close in age to each other. It is possible that the two older children are twins. Whatever the case, all three children are adorable. Note their boots, bows, and ruffles. The photographer, Frank A. Free, is the subject of an article in the Quad-City Times (2010). The newspaper reports that a Free Photographic Studio estate sale was being held.  Frank Free had already left thousands of portrait negatives to the Putnam Museum (located in Davenport) and to the Davenport Library. Frank died in 1968 and his wife Lois continued operation of the studio through part of the 1990’s. Frank Free’s name is mentioned in a number of photographic journal articles. An article in the Bulletin of Photography (1922) states that he won a silver cup in a photographic exhibition in London. He was also involved at the beginning stages (1909) with a Iowa photographers group called Cameracraftsmen. (SOLD)

Published in: on March 15, 2014 at 12:34 pm  Comments (3)  
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PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL LOVINGLY HOLDS HER BISQUE DOLL IN TOLEDO, OHIO

doll girl_0002This vintage photograph is from the early post cabinet card era and features a precious bright eyed little girl holding her bisque doll. The little girl and her doll are both elaborately well dressed. The photographer is the Griffith studio which was located on Summit Street in Toledo, Ohio. E. L. Griffith is mentioned by The American Amateur Photographer (1891) as being the Vice President of the Toledo Camera Club. In addition, research reveals that there was a Toledo photographic studio named Griffith & Nichoson. It is likely that the Griffith in the partnership was the same man responsible for this wonderful portrait.   SOLD

Published in: on March 15, 2014 at 12:11 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF THEATER ACTRESS LILLIE THORNE

thorne fThe attractive woman in this photographic portrait is named Lillie Harris Thorne. Her name is printed on the reverse of the image. There was a theater actress named “Lillie Thorne” who performed during the cabinet card era and the subject of this portrait is likely the same Lillie Thorne.  The Golder & Robinson studio was located on Broadway in New York City and was known for it’s celebrity photographs. Unfortunately, preliminary research yielded little information about Lillian Thorne.

Published in: on March 14, 2014 at 12:35 pm  Leave a Comment  
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