This unusual antique cabinet card photograph, dating to approximately 1898–1900, features a young American soldier believed to be serving with the Wyoming United States Volunteers during the Spanish-American War era. The soldier is seated cross-legged on the studio floor, intently reading what appears to be a letter, with a beautifully painted woodland and lakeside backdrop behind him. He wears a dark military uniform with brass buttons, collar insignia appearing to read “WYO” and “USV,” a metal numeral 8 pinned to his jacket, and a military cap displaying the crossed rifles insignia of the U.S. Infantry. Wyoming supplied volunteer infantry troops who served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War and the subsequent Philippine-American War. The photograph’s reverse bears a handwritten identification that appears to read “O. A. Van Blaricom as a young man,” although his identity and military service have not been independently confirmed. The front mount identifies the photographer as O. A. Kirby, Photo Artist, without giving a studio location. The soldier’s contemplative pose, apparently reading a letter, makes this a particularly interesting and evocative military portrait from the turn of the century. This cabinet card was almost certainly produced by Orval A. Kirby, a regional photographer who operated a commercial portrait studio in Lincoln County, Washington, right at the turn of the 20th century. He operated a Studio in Creston, Washington, up until late 1905. In 1905 he relocated his business to Hartline, Washingon but kept the Creston studio open for business. Research also revealed information about the subject of this photo. Orpha A. Van Blaricom, a resident of Lincoln County, Washington, answered the call to arms during the Spanish-American War by enlisting in Company H of the 8th U.S. Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was officially mustered into federal service in July 1898 and sent to train and garrison at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, through the autumn of that year. Following the conclusion of the war, Orpha was honorably discharged when the entire 8th Regiment formally demobilized on March 6, 1899. The large brass number “8” resting near his waistline represents his federal regimental designation, fastened directly to his standard-issue canvas Mills woven cartridge belt. Because the 8th U.S. Volunteers consolidated recruits from across the sparsely populated West, his unit frequently shared supply chains, hardware, and staging camps alongside the 1st Wyoming Volunteer Infantry. SOLD
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