CHARLES HENRY PARKHURST: CLERGYMAN, SOCIAL REFORMER, CROOKED POLITICIAN’S AND CORRUPT POLICEMAN’S NIGHTMARE (1892)

 

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Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842-1933) is the subject of these Cabinet Card photographs which are published by Newsboy. Photographer Napoleon Sarony has the 1892 copyright for the top photograph. The second photograph is marked “375” and is part of Newsboy’s tobacco premium series. Parkhurst was a clergyman and social reformer. He was a presbyterian minister and from 1874 until 1880, he was a pastor in Lenox, Massachusetts. He then became the pastor for Madison Square Presbyterian Church in New York City (1880-1919). During the year of this photograph, Parkhurst began giving tough sermons attacking the political corruption in the New York City government. This led to the exposure of the corruption in Tammany Hall and subsequent social and political reform. He had a special concern about the problem of prostitution in New York City’s tenderloin section. He hired private detectives to investigate the houses of ill repute and their police protection. Concerning the police, he said “while we fight iniquity they shield or patronize it; while we try to convert criminals, they manufacture them”. He took his concerns and investigative results to court on these matters. He was President of the New York Society for the Prevention of Crime and published numerous magazine articles and books. Parkhurst died tragically; while sleep walking he fell off the second story porch of his home.

Published in: on July 19, 2014 at 11:37 am  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY TEENAGE GIRL BY UNIDENTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHER

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This photograph features a girl who appears to be in her teenage years. She is wearing a bead necklace and a shamrock brooch. Note the girls long braid behind her collar. This cabinet card has been trimmed by a previous owner who was likely trying to fit it into a frame.

Published in: on July 18, 2014 at 11:43 am  Comments (1)  

AN OLDER GENTLEMAN SITTING IN A WICKER CHAIR (SUBJECT IDENTIFIED)

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An elderly man sits legs crossed on a wicker chair as he poses for his portrait at an unidentified photographic studio. Note his pocket watch and silvery beard. The reverse of the photograph identifies the subject as “Uncle Andy Norton”.

Published in: on July 17, 2014 at 11:31 am  Comments (1)  
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TENDER PORTRAIT OF A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER IN LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS

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The love between a mother and her daughter is quite evident in this cabinet card portrait by the Bauer studio  in Leavenworth, Kansas. Note the intimate quality of this image. The little girl displays a loving look and has her right arm draped over her mother’s right shoulder and has her left hand touching her mothers’ upper arm. The reverse of the cabinet card has printing advertising the address of P. H. Bauer’s studio. The building was located on the northwest corner of Shawnee and Fifth Streets.  P. H Bauer’s father, Sebastian Bauer was a pioneer Kansas photographer. He was active in Leavenworth between 1865 and 1887. His son, Pius Henry Bauer (1861-?) started sharing his fathers studio in 1878 and they soon joined as partners. He opened his own gallery in 1887 which he ran past 1900. In 1886 and 1887, a Mary Bauer worked in the gallery. She was reported by one source to be Pius’s sister and by another source to be Pius’s wife.

Published in: on July 16, 2014 at 12:46 pm  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG COUPLE IN LEEDS, ENGLAND

QUEENS ARCADE_0003A young well dressed couple pose for their portrait at the Allen Nield studio in England. The woman in this photograph appears to be only semi conscious but she is probably just at a loss as to how to pose for the camera. Nied had four studios at the time that this photograph was taken. There were two galleries in Leeds, and one each in Manchester and Stockport.

Published in: on July 15, 2014 at 11:35 am  Leave a Comment  
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LITTLE GIRL AT THE GATE IN ALBANY, NEW YORK

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A little girl stands at a gate in this cabinet card portrait by Wendover & Son. The child’s hair is styled with curls and she is wearing a necklace with a locket. To learn more about this photographer and to view more of his photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Wendover”.

Published in: on July 14, 2014 at 12:24 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF A WELL DRESSED AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN

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Unfortunately, there is no identifying information available related to this photograph. The photographer and subject are unidentified. The image features a well dressed African American man. The photograph is slightly smaller than a cabinet card.

 

Published in: on July 13, 2014 at 11:54 am  Comments (1)  
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PROFILE PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY WOMAN IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

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The woman in this photograph is quite pretty.The photographer, J. R. Pearson, chose to pose her for a profile view. Pearson’s studio was located In Pittsburgh, Pensylvania. An inscription on the reverse of the cabinet card has an inscription which identifies the subject as “Sheila Pape”. The subjects first name was not easy to decipher so it is possible that “Sheila” is not the correct name.

Published in: on July 12, 2014 at 12:03 pm  Comments (1)  
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A MAN AND HIS SPECTACULAR BEARD IN PITTSFIELD, MAINE

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The gentleman featured in this cabinet card has a terrific salt and pepper bushy beard. In fact, it is so terrific that this image qualifies to join cabinet card gallery’s category “Beards (Only the Best). To see other great beards, click on the category. This photograph was produced by the Howe studio in Pittsfield, Maine. W. H. Howe is listed as a photographer in the Pittsfield Register (1904).

Published in: on July 11, 2014 at 11:55 am  Comments (7)  
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MLLE. RHEA: INTERNATIONAL STAGE ACTRESS

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The top Cabinet card, by Jose Mora of New York, features actress Mlle. Rhea (1843-1899). Mlle Rhea was her stage name. She was actually Mlle Hortense-Berbe Loret and was born in Belgium to French parents. She began studying acting at age 20 upon the suggestion of an actor that she had met at a party. Her decision was also prompted by the death of her mother and financial reversals experienced by her father. She studied acting in Paris and in 1876 spent five years playing roles in Continental Europe. In 1881 she vacationed in England and  decided to appear in British theater. She quickly learned English and in one months time, performed in Much Ado About Nothing in London. Shortly after, she travelled to America where she spent the majority of her remaining life. Her obituary in the New York Times indicates that her english was “somewhat incomplete” and he always performed with a pronounced french accent. She appeared frequently on the New York stage but was a fan favorite in the “provinces”. This very popular actress died in Montmorency, France in 1899. The second cabinet card is a portrait of Mlle. Rhea that was probably taken some years after the first cabinet card. The actress appears somewhat older than in the first image. The second cabinet card was also produced by Mora.

Published in: on July 10, 2014 at 11:35 am  Comments (3)  
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