A good looking African American gentleman, wearing a checkered coat, poses for his portrait at the studio of I. V. Morrell, in Elgin, Illinois. There is an inscription with the subject’s name on the front of the photograph. His name is “John H. Grant”. The photographer’s full name is Isaac V. Morrell and he had studios located at various adrdesses in Elgin between 1894 and 1940.
HANDSOME BLACK MAN IN ELGIN, ILLINOIS
HANDSOME COUPLE IN LOCKPORT, NEW YORK (IS THE WOMAN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN?
A lovely couple pose for their portrait at a studio in Fairport, New York. The photographer is F. B. Clench. This handsome couple is beautifully dressed. A previous owner of this card described the woman as an “African American Beauty”. She is certainly beautiful but it is not clear that she was an African American. A local modern day historical society described Clench as the finest photographer working in Fairport in the late 19th century. He was born in Niagara, Canada. He set up his first photographic studio in Lockport, New York in 1863. He operated in Fairport between 1889 and 1902. He then moved to Madison, Georgia until he returned to Fairport in 1914, the year of his death. Clench was clearly a talented photographer. Wilson’s photographic magazine described Clench as a “painstaking and progressive artist”. The reverse of this photograph is stamped with the following: “Clark T. Rice Collections, Perry, New York. Clark Rice (1922-1999) was a photographer in the Perry, New York area whose work captured the Perry area from just after World War II until the 1990’s. During World War II he was an army photographer. The Perry Library housed the Clark T. Rice collections.
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card features an African American woman posing for her portrait at the studio of Hartley in Chicago, Illinois. The woman is nicely dressed. Her fashion statement includes an interesting hat and a cumberbund. The Cabinet Card Gallery has a large collection of images of Blacks at the turn of the century. The images can be viewed by clicking on the category of “Black Americans”. Other photographs by Hartley, as well as some biographical information about him, can be seen by clicking on “Photographer: Hartley”.
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.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM J WILLIAMS: AFRICAN AMERICAN SPANISH AMERICAN WAR VETERAN
This cabinet card creates a historical mystery. Is this image really a portrait of Captain William James Williams? Captain Williams was among the first African American officers to serve in a state volunteer regiment during the Spanish American War. He served in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry, Company L. This company was probably the first and possibly only African American company to be attached to a white regiment. Williams commanded Company L and was the first African American to enter the US Volunteer army with a captain’s commission. He was six feet tall. He was a product of Boston schools and was a lawyer. He joined the Massachusetts Militia in 1891. The reverse of this card is inscribed “William James Williams, Captain, Spanish American War”. A photograph of Captain Williams found from another source, has resemblance to the man in this image, but does not confirm the identity. The photographer of this image is William G. Hussey of Salem, Massachusetts. A photographic journal (1900) reported that Hussey sold his Salem studio in 1900.
ATTRACTIVE ETHNIC WOMAN POSES IN FRONT OF THE LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
This cabinet card features an attractive young woman posing for her photograph in an unknown studio and in front of an unknown photographer. The house is not “The Little House on the Prairie” but the studio backdrop and props compose a terrific replica of a country cottage. Note the faux grass. The woman is wearing a chain necklace. Her skin, eyes and hair are dark. She has an ethnic appearance; possibly Black, Hispanic or Native American. The identity of this pretty young woman is unknown.
WELL DRESSED AND HANDSOME BLACK GENTLEMAN: POSSIBLE CELEBRITY
This cabinet card features a handsome and fashionably dressed black man. He appears very confident in his three piece suit with his overcoat slung over his arm. This dapper man seems to be going someplace. The photographer and the location of the studio is unknown as this photograph has been trimmed to fit into an album or picture frame. The man may be a celebrity. The number (805) on the left side bottom of the card likely is a card number, indicating that the photograph is one of a series of photographs. Tobacco companies published cabinet card series, including series of cards featuring famous individuals. Perhaps a visitor to this site will leave a comment providing additional information about the identity of the subject of this photograph.
FASHIONABLE BLACK WOMAN IN RENO, NEVADA
This Cabinet Card captures a pretty young Black woman posing at the studio of Rifenburg and Dowe in Reno, Nevada. The woman is beautifully dressed and the details of her elaborate dress are easily seen in the closeness and clarity of this image. Note the woman’s dark gloves and that she appears to be holding a cane, or perhaps, a parasol.
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN CHILLING AT TURN OF THE CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO
Attractive young Black woman poses at Smith’s Photographic Studio at an unnamed location. She is very fashionably dressed. Note the wonderful details of her cape and hat. Unfortunately, there are no clues as to the identity of this woman nor the identity or location of the cabinet card photographer.
AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN IN SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY
This interesting Cabinet Card is a photograph of an African American man posing for his portrait at the studio of W. A. Apcar in Somerville, New Jersey. This gentleman looks quite dapper and intellectual. He appears professorial but his biographical information is lost in history.
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