A sweet little girl and her father pose for their cabinet card portrait at the studio of photographer O. C. Jarmuth, in South Chicago, Illinois. The little girl has cute curls and the front of her dress has a couple of large ribbons. Note dad’s wire rim glasses. Otto C. Jarmuth was educated in photography in both Europe and in the United States. He had two galleries in Chicago and ran the Jarmuth School of Photography, which was located in the Central Music Hall building in Chicago. The school is mentioned in the Anthony Photographic Bulletin (1896).
DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL IN SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
AN AMERICAN WOMAN AND HER BRITISH SISTER FEUD IN JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS
This Cabinet Card photograph captures two angry sisters posing at McKinnon’s Portraits, in Jacksonville, Illinois. These sisters do not seem happy; in fact, the sister with the darker dress is displaying quite a scowl. Writing on the reverse of the card indicates that the women are sisters. Their names are Mrs Annie Knight of London, England, and Mrs Agnes Jackson of Jacksonville, Illinois. Perhaps the woman are in conflict, or are just having an aggravating experience at the photographic studio. The women are beautifully dressed for the taking of the photograph and wearing flowers to enhance their appearance.
FATHER AND MOTHER WITH THEIR FEET ON THE GROUND, BABY FLOATING IN MIDAIR IN RECKLINGHAUSEN, GERMANY
This Cabinet Card is a somewhat bizarre image. Dad and mom are posing with their infant who looks so small in her oversized dress. Mom is holding the baby in a position that makes the baby appear to be floating in midair. The infant is also in a position that makes the image appear as if the mother is a ventriloquist and the baby is her mannequin or puppet. The photograph was produced by Victoria, in Recklinghausen, Germany.
SIX TEENAGE GIRLS WHO DIDN’T SMILE FOR THE CAMERA IN LENA, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card photograph captures six girls posing for the photographer at the studio of W. T. Nash in Lena, Illinois. The girls appear to be in their teens or early twenties. Perhaps they are sisters born without the smiling gene. In reality, smiling was not a behavior many subjects exhibited in cabinet card portraits.
FAMILY PORTRAIT IN PAPA, HUNGARY
This family portrait cabinet card was photographed by Sorensen Bela in the city of Papa, Hungary. Due to the age of the seated man and woman, it is difficult to determine the family constellation. Is this a photograph of parents with two daughters? Perhaps its a photograph of a set of parents, their daughter, and their granddaughter? The community of Papa is a historical town in northeast Hungary. The town is noted for its baroque architecture and for being the center of the reformed faith in Transdanubia. In addition, Papa was the third to largest Jewish community in 19th century Hungary.
FASHIONABLE FAMILY OF FOUR IN LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
This Cabinet Card was produced by the Electric Light & Daylight Studios of Richard Brown in Liverpool, England. This well dressed family of four poses for their portrait. Both father and son are wearing suits with exposed watch chains. Mom is wearing a beautiful dress and the daughter is adorned with a necklace. Research indicates that advertising one’s studio as “Electric Light & Daylight” was a method of informing people that the studio was capable of evening hour photography.
WHO IS ELECTA HARDING? FAMILY PORTRAIT IN YATES CENTER, KANSAS
This Cabinet Card is an interesting and puzzling family portrait. Who are these people and how are they related? The photographer is Shirley of Yates Center, Kansas. Yates Center is the county seat of Woodson County, Kansas. Note that the Woman in the back row is holding something (despite appearances, her hand doesn’t appear to be on the man’s shoulder in front of her). The young girl in the center of the front row is holding a dark bag of some sort and the woman in the floral dress is grasping a book (she must have left her kindle at home). The reverse of the card has the inscription “Mrs. Electa Harding; Flushing, Michigan. The 1919 Farm Journal Rural Directory of Genesee County, Michigan lists a James Harding and his wife “Electra” as residents of the County. Correspondingly, Flushing is located in Michigan’s Genesee County. Despite the difference in spelling, Electra and Electa Harding appear to be one and the same individual.
MOTHER AND THREE YOUNG CHILDREN POSE IN WLOCLAWKU, POLAND
A proud mother and her three children pose for their family portrait in Wloclawku, Poland. The photographer is B. Sztejner.
PROUD MOM AND CUTE BABY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Young mother and her adorable baby pose for their portrait at the studio of William Neidhardt in Chicago, Illinois.
ELDERLY COUPLE IN ADAMS, NEW YORK
An older couple pose for this photograph. They are likely wearing their best clothing. Looks like they may even be holding hands. Bravo, the spark in the relationship may still be there. Note the jewelry and the gentleman’s great beard. The photographer is G. Ralph Huested of Adams, New York.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 