This cabinet card photograph captures an older couple posing in a study setting. This particular trompe loile is an unusual and a wonderful backdrop. Note the desk and fireplace. The portly man looks like he would have difficulty rising from his chair. He is wearing a pocket watch. Hopefully the vast unpaid research department of the cabinet card gallery (the visitors) can comment about the chain or cord hanging from the woman’s dress. What function does this unusual accessory serve? The photographer of this image is John M. Kemp in Paterson, New Jersey. His studio was at 256 Main Street. Kemp was a native of New York City and initially did his photographic work in California. He opened his Paterson studio in 1876. He held photographic patents for a photographic printing apparatus. He is listed by the Paterson Morning Call (1910) as one of the prominent citizens of Paterson, New Jersey to have died in 1910. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
I ALSO HAVE A CABINET CARD PHOTO OF PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY TAKEN BY JOHN KEMP IN PATERSON NJ. BASED ON THE CLOTHING I WOULD GUESS IT WAS TAKEN MID 1800’S TO LATE 1800’S. I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING WHEN THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN AND WHO’S NAME IT WAS PROCESSED UNDER. I AM NOT SURE OF WHO IN MY FAMILY ARE IN THE PHOTO.
I also have two photographs taken at the Kemp studios in Paterson. I am African-American doing genealogical research on my family. I believe that one photo is my great-great grandfather and the other photo I am still trying to figure out who it is.
Thanks for leaving a comment at the cabinet card gallery. It is really fantastic that you may have found a cabinet card photograph of your great great grandfather. Good luck and have fun doing the research. If you haven’t already, check out “Introduction to African American Photographs”, a book by Ross J. Kelbaugh. It covers the period between 1840 and 1950. In addition, the cabinet card gallery has a category of cabinet cards “African Americans”, that you may find interesting.