SLOW BOAT TO VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA: YOUNG SAILOR AT COMMAND

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This cabinet card portrait features a young boy wearing a sailor’s uniform at the wheel of a faux ship located at the Solano Art Studio in Vallejo, California. The photographer is Charles McMillan. The little sailor’s uniform looks very realistic and his hat and lanyard are a nice touch. The backdrop, depicting the sea, is also quite effective. However, the photographer’s use of a fur on the deck was certainly not consistent with the nautical scene he was trying to create. The book “Vallejo” (2004) by James E. Kern, includes an 1895 photograph of Charles McMillan’s studio. The building was located at 314 Georgia Street. McMillan was born in Canada in 1853. He began his photography career at the age of sixteen in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to California in 1879 and became a travelling photographer. He operated his studio out of a tent. He eventually decided to settle down and opened a studio in Vallejo. One source reports that McMillan was such a success upon opening his studio that the competing photographer in town was forced to move his business elsewhere. In 1883 McMillan married Californian Isabell Floto.

Published in: on June 23, 2014 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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THREE YOUNG SIBLINGS IN WORCESTER, ENGLAND

WORCESTER TRIO

This cabinet card features three adorable young siblings posing at the West End Studio in Worcester, England. The boys are wearing sailor suits. Their little sister sits between them with her hands clasped and a with a bewildered expression. Walter J. Brown’s studio was located at 9 Bridge Street in Worcester.

Published in: on June 21, 2014 at 3:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MOTHER AND DAUGHTER SIDE BY SIDE

MOM AND DAUGHTER_0006A mother and daughter pose for their portrait at an unidentified photography studio. On second thought, the young woman and the child seen in this image may actually be siblings. Looking at the way they are posed, I would guess that they share a sibling relationship rather than a parent-child relationship. The subjects certainly exhibit a family resemblance.  The pair are nicely dressed. The little girl is wearing a beaded necklace, possibly pearls.

Published in: on June 16, 2014 at 11:54 am  Leave a Comment  

SWEET GIRL LEANING ON A CHAIR AND CLASHING FABRICS IN HUDSON, NEW YORK

SWEET GIRL_0001A sweet young girl with her arms crossed leans against a chair at the V. Whitbeck studio in Hudson, New York. One wonders if Whitbeck ever noticed the major pattern clash between the fabrics of the girl’s clothing and the chair.  The reverse of the photograph has advertising that indicates that Whitbeck was successor to a photographer named Forshew. Frank Forshew (1827-1895) established his photography business in 1850 in Hudson, a small city on the banks of the Hudson River in upstate New York. He began as a daguerrian and progressed through the stages of photography, eventually producing cdv’s, cabinet cards, and stereoviews. He sold his business to Volkert Whitbeck (1843-?) in the early 1890’s. Whitbeck had joined the business after his discharge from the Union army in 1863. Whitbeck had enlisted into the 14th NY Infantry (Co K) as a corporal. Before his mustering out on 5/23/1863, he had reached the rank of sergeant. Records indicate that he remained in the reserves and continued to rise in rank reaching Captain. Whitbeck appears in the 1880 US census and at that point in time he worked as a photographer and shared his name and residence with his father. His father was a physician. Whitbeck’s photography business is listed in many Hudson city directories. The latest one appears to be 1913.

Published in: on May 26, 2014 at 10:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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SERIOUS LOOKING BOY AND HIS INDIAN CLUBS

JUGGLING_0003A young boy, looking quite unhappy, poses for his portrait at the William Meyer studio in Chicago, Illinois. His arms are folded across his chest but it looks as if they won’t stay there long because standing in front of him are a pair of Indian Juggling Clubs. It is as if the boy is preparing to give a juggling exhibition or to exercise. Juggling these pins was a good workout as they were quite heavy.  some exercise. Clubs like these were very popular during the health mania of the late Victorian period. A picture of a pair of Indian clubs from the late nineteenth century can be seen below (Source: Wikipedia). William Meyer is listed in a number of the Chicago business directories including 1880,1885, and 1892. His address in 1892 was Clybourn Avenue which indicates that this image was produced before that date.

                                                                                                                  

 

 

Published in: on May 19, 2014 at 10:33 pm  Comments (1)  
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WINTERIZED LITTLE GIRL IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN

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The young girl featured in this cabinet card portrait seems to be very prepared for a cold Michigan winter. She looks adorable in her fur trimmed coat and matching fur hand warmers. The photograph is a product of the Abbey studio in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lewis Clark Abbey (1838-1904) was a photographer from 1876 through at least 1900. He was located at 303 East Main Street between 1887 and 1889 which therefore this photograph was taken between those years.

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Published in: on May 7, 2014 at 12:04 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THREE SIBLINGS WEARING HATS IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

This exquisite vintage photograph captures three siblings posing for their portrait ant the Stone studio in Brooklyn, New York. The oldest child, a girl, is wearing a large straw hat. The two youngest children, possibly twin boys, are wearing sailor caps that display a decorative anchor. Each sibling is holding an item. The items include a ball, basket of flowers, and a walking stick. The photographer, Isaac C. M. Stone was born in England and immigrated to Brooklyn in 1884. He was a photographer in Brooklyn for twenty years. His death was announced in the Bulletin of Photography (1914).

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Published in: on April 30, 2014 at 12:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A BABY AND A PUG SIT ON A FUR COVERED CHAIR IN GRANT CITY, MISSOURI

PUG FRONTA baby and a pug sit together on a fur covered chair as they pose at Huston’s studio in Grant City, Missouri. There is no identifying information on the reverse of the photograph. According to one photographer directory, Jude Huston operated a studio in Grant City in the 1890’s. To view other photographs of dog, click on the cabinet card gallery category “Dogs”.

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Published in: on April 26, 2014 at 12:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TWO CUTE LITTLE GIRLS IN LONDON, ENGLAND

Judging by appearance, the two girls in this cabinet card portrait are sisters. The older child is wearing a necklace and both children are wearing bows in their hair. The girls are dressed fashionably. The photographer is Charles E. Long who operated in London, England. He has posed the siblings in a typical studio pose. This image is one of  countless cabinet card photos with images of fur covered chairs and tables topped with books.

Published in: on April 24, 2014 at 11:48 am  Leave a Comment  
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FASHIONABLE YOUNG GIRL HOLDS GRADUATION CERTIFICATE IN UNION CITY, PENNSYLVANIA

UNIONCITY GRAD_0002An adolescent girl holds a rolled paper as she poses for her portrait at the Hearn Studio in Union City, Pennsylvania. Is that a graduation certificate that she is holding? She is dressed fashionably. Her hat is strategically placed beside her. Her jewelry includes a necklace, bracelet, and a ring.  Interestingly the photographer placed two faux rocks in front of her ankles so that her shoes cannot be seen. Is the photographer hiding something? Note the plants in the planter and the art object on the stage beside her. What exactly is that artistic piece? J. P. Hearn was a native of Devonshire, England, where he was born in 1846. He immigrated to Ottawa, Canada with his brother John in 1872. He later moved to St. Catherine where he studied photography with G.F. Maitland. His next stop was Buffalo, New York. In 1875 he came to Union City and opened a photographic gallery which was destroyed in the “Brooklyn Fire” of 1879. After the fire, he was able to successfully rebuild his business in Union City. He married Canadian, Annie McClelland in 1878. Research found another cabinet card that indicates that at some point in time, Hearn operated studios simultaneously in the Pennsylvania cities of Union City and Spartansburg.

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Published in: on April 22, 2014 at 12:13 pm  Comments (2)  
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