This cabinet card portrait features a young boy dressed up for his confirmation and holding a religious book. Note his huge bow tie. He is wearing two ribbons pinned to his jacket. One of the ribbons has the printed name “St. Mary’s Church”. The reverse of the photograph has an inscription stating “Willie Butler”. Young Master Butler posed for this image at Ettlin’s Portraits which was located at 17 Chatham Square in New York City. William A. Ettlin is listed in the 1902 and 1905 New York City directory as well as in Trow’s Business Directory of 1898.
WILLIE BUTLER FINDS RELIGION AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH IN NEW YORK CITY
LLOYD BRUNDAGE: A TWO YEAR OLD POSES IN FRONT OF A PLAYHOUSE IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (1888)
A very young child, holding a box by the handle, poses for his portrait at the Morse Studio in San Francisco, California. The child is standing in front of a small house. The faux house is a studio prop. Note that that the number “1888” is above the open window. The number likely indicates the year that this portrait was taken. The reverse of the cabinet card has inscription with the name “Lloyd Brundage” and a note that states that Master Brundage was 21 months old at the time he was photographed. Research reveals that the subject of this image, Lloyd Jeffers Brundage was born in San Francisco on New Years day in 1887. He appears in many US censuses. In 1900 he was thirteen years old and living in Bridgeport, California with his father and mother. His father was named Marshal and was a 46 year-old laborer who was a native Canadian. Lloyd’s mother was named Nillie and she was 31 years old and a native Californian. Her maiden name was Smallwood. Lloyd had a five year-old sister named Delphine. The 1920 census found Lloyd living in Chico, California, with his wife Anna. He was employed as an “agriculturist”. Ten years later he was working as a mechanic in an industiral plant. He and his wife remained in Chico. The 1940 census discovers Lloyd working in a governmental general maintenance position. Lloyd died in 1955 in Butte, California. To learn more about the photographer, George Daniels Morse, and to see other examples of his work, click on the category “Photographer: Morse”.
ADORABLE LITTLE BOY WEARING A SAILOR SUIT (PHOTOGRAPH BY W. AND D. DOWNEY)
A little boy wearing a sailor suit poses for his portrait in London, England. The boy is adorable and he is posed beautifully sitting on a faux rock with his arms folded against his chest. He is wearing a straw hat and a terrific grin. The photographer is the W & D Downey studio. This studio was well known and highly respected in England. They advertised themselves as photographers specially appointed to photograph the imperial and royal families of Europe. To view other photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Downey”.
AN ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOLL IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
An adorable little girl poses for her portrait at Lenhart’s Studio in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She is wearing a cute bonnet and is clutching her prized doll. A look at her eyes reveals that she is taking in the entire scene around her. She is sitting on a large cushion on what appears to be a wicker chair. To view other images by Thomas Lenhart and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Lenhart”.
PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL LOVINGLY HOLDS HER BISQUE DOLL IN TOLEDO, OHIO
This vintage photograph is from the early post cabinet card era and features a precious bright eyed little girl holding her bisque doll. The little girl and her doll are both elaborately well dressed. The photographer is the Griffith studio which was located on Summit Street in Toledo, Ohio. E. L. Griffith is mentioned by The American Amateur Photographer (1891) as being the Vice President of the Toledo Camera Club. In addition, research reveals that there was a Toledo photographic studio named Griffith & Nichoson. It is likely that the Griffith in the partnership was the same man responsible for this wonderful portrait. SOLD
AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF TWO YOUNG SISTERS IN CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card photograph, by the Evans and Balsinger studio, does an excellent job of capturing the love between two adorable sisters. The older sister has an expression of apprehension. She does not seem to be thrilled about having her picture taken. The previous owner of this image asserted that the two subjects in this image are of Hispanic origin. That appears to be just a guess on his part although these girls do appear to be “ethnic”. The Pallet seen next to Evans and Balsiger’s name indicates that the photograph was produced in 1890. Advertising on the reverse of the cabinet card indicates that their studio was located on the Tompkin’s Block in Centralia, Illinois. (SOLD)
A LITTLE BOY AND HIS HORN IN PORT JERVIS, NEW YORK
A dressed up little boy holding a horn instrument poses for his portrait in Port Jervis, New York. I am unsure if his horn is a toy or a real musical instrument. Hopefully a musically inclined visitor to this site will leave a comment about the instrument. Note the child’s high shoes and bow tie. The photograph is a product of the Allerton studio. William H. Allerton operated his studio in Port Jervis during the 1880’s. During at least some of that time, he also ran a combined refreshment pavilion and photography studio in Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania.
THREE CUTE KIDS AND A STRING IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Three adorable kids wearing doilies (just kidding) around their neck pose for their portrait at the Williams & Norton studio in San Francisco. The studio was located at 914 Market Street. The child in the middle is holding a walking stick with a string. All three kids are sitting on a pile of hay. It is likely that the children are siblings. W. I. Williams was partners with Norton between 1885 and 1886.
THREE PRETTY SISTERS ALL IN A ROW IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
Three young and adorable sisters pose for their portrait at Pomranz’s Art Studio in Newark, New Jersey. Two of the girls have long hair and all three of them are wearing large hair bows. The two older girls are holding flowers. Isadore Pomranz was listed by the US Census as being a photographer in Newark during 1910, 1920, and 1930.
CUTE AND ALERT BABY IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card portrait features an adorable baby wearing a long gown. The baby is perfectly posed. This is one of the most alert babies that I’ve ever seen photographed on a cabinet card. The image has great clarity. The talented photographer who produced this photograph is F. N. Warmkessel. He operated as a photographer in Allentown in the 1880’s and 1890’s. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
