TWO YOUNG DANDIES WEARING DERBY HATS IN TURNER’S FALL, MASSACHUSETTS

HOWES_0006Two well dressed young men wearing derby hats are captured in this portrait by the Howes studio in Turner’s Falls, Massachusetts. The Historic Northampton Museum web site has an article about the photographer of this cabinet card as well as a collection of his studio photographs. Actually, the site focuses on the Howes brothers, Alvah (1853-1919), George (1861-1925), and Walter (1865-1945).The Howes brothers were all photographers and began their career as traveling photographers. They photographed people in front of their houses, in their schools, and in their work places. The brothers tours included trips within Massachusetts, and to Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. By 1888 Alvah had opened a portrait studio in Turner’s Falls which operated until 1904 and produced the above cabinet card.  McFarland and Newman (1981) wrote a book about the lives and works of the Howes siblings. The book is titled “New England Reflections 1882-1907: Photography by the Howes Brothers”.

 

Published in: on February 14, 2014 at 11:45 am  Leave a Comment  
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SCHOLARLY LOOKING GENTLEMAN HOLDING PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

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The balding and bespectacled gentleman posing for this cabinet card portrait appears to be a studious man. He is holding a photographic album and and there are books and another album on the table beside him. Hiram C. Moore was the proprietor of the Photo Parlor that produced this photograph. Moore’s studio was located in Springfield, Massachusetts. An advertisement for his studio appeared in the fourth volume of Good Housekeeping (1886). At one time Hiram was partners with his brother Chauncey L. Moore in a Springfield studio. To view photographs by Chauncy Moore, click on the category Photographer: Moore (Chauncey).

Published in: on December 11, 2013 at 9:02 pm  Comments (2)  
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BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID IN ROCKMART, GEORGIA

J WHITE AND FRIEND_0003If you doubt that these two gentlemen are really the infamous outlaws, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, then you are correct. This is not a portrait of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid but these guys do give the appearance of a pair of scoundrels.  In reality, this photograph features Joseph C. White and a friend, as someone so kindly informed us in pencilled writing beneath the subjects image. The photographer is J. A. Morris of Rockmart, Georgia.  Research yielded no information about either Joseph C. White or J. A. Morris. Both names are common and preliminary research for biographical information was unproductive.

 

Published in: on December 4, 2013 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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DESK JOCKEY CONDUCTS BUSINESS IN POSEN, PRUSSIA

DESK JOCKEY A handsome well dressed gentleman sits at his desk and poses for this portrait by the Engelmann studio in Posen, Poland. At the time of this photograph, Posen was a province of Prussia and part of the German Empire. The man in this photograph appears to be a professional of some type. Perhaps he was an attorney or politician. He is leafing through some papers and looking at the camera. Note the large books (journals?) and the inkwell on his desk. He is wearing a wedding ring and a bow tie.  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 5, 2013 at 12:10 pm  Comments (1)  
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THREE ARROGANT NE’ER DO WELLS IN WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA

TUFFSWESTCHESTER_0001The previous owner of this cabinet card described the subjects in the photographs as “thugs”,  “ne’er do wells”, and “arrogant”. We will never know if these are fitting descriptions but that is one of the reasons that collecting and viewing cabinet cards is such an interesting and fun activity. Interpreting these photographs require a knowledge of history, detective work, and psychological awareness. In addition, our interpretations of the photographs are also influenced by our own personalities, experiences, and projections. This particular photograph certainly shows three guys with attitude. They dressed nicely for their portrait. The seated man looks like a tough guy and the expression of the gentleman behind his right shoulder seems to communicate that he is ready for a confrontation. The photographer of this cabinet card is W. C. Bell.

Published in: on April 23, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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OLDER GENTLEMAN EXHIBITS TRUE GRIT IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

OLD MASS MAN_0001An older man poses for this cabinet card photograph by Frank Lawrence who operated a studio in Worcester, Massachusetts. Advertising on the reverse of the image reveals that the studio was located at 492 Main Street. The gentleman in this photograph is nicely dressed and groomed (despite his longish locks). He has a very strong countenance. He looks like the sort of man that you would not want to alienate. He has an appearance that strongly suggests determination and grit. Research found an advertisement in the Worcester Directory (1867)for Lawrence’s studio which trumpeted that he produced both Sphereotypes and Ambrotypes. A stereographic photograph by Lawrence of the great flood of Worcester (1876) was also discovered. His name appears in Worcester business directories through 1886.

Published in: on April 16, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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THE LITTLE MAN FROM LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

LITTLE ROCK MAN_0003The gentleman in this cabinet card photograph has an unusual appearance. He appears to be small in stature and is nicely dressed and groomed. He is wearing a pin in the knot of his tie. The photographer is C. C. Cook whose studio was located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Cook can be found in the Little Rock business directory (1886) where he is listed as a photographer.

Published in: on April 14, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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TWO DAPPER AFFECTIONATE GENTLEMEN IS NEWTON, KANSAS

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Two affectionate men pose for their portrait in Newton, Kansas. The men look quite dapper in their suits and with their straw hats. Note that the gentleman wearing the suit and vest has a pocket watch chain visible atop his vest. He is also holding a walking stick.The man standing, and the man sitting on the hammock are showing some shared affection. They could be friends, relatives, or even lovers. It is impossible to guess their relationship. One wonders if homophobia was much of a factor in the cabinet card era in regard to men showing affection to men in public or in photographs. Perhaps a visitor to the cabinet card gallery can competently comment on this issue. The photographer of this image is the Tripp studio in Newton, Kansas. According to print on the reverse of the photograph, the studio was located on the corner of Main Street and Broadway. The photographer, Frank D. Tripp is cited in Anthony’s Photographic Bulletin (1896) as the President of the Photographers Association of Kansas. Another source states that Tripp “flourished” as a photographer in Newton during the 1880’s. Tripp’s obituary appears in The Evening Kansan Republican (1947). He died in Denver, Colorado at age eighty. He was described in the article as a pioneer photographer in Newton. He was an officer in the Newton Masonic Lodge. At some point he moved to Pueblo, Colorado where he was a partner in the Tripp and York photography studio.

Published in: on February 24, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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NINE GUYS DRESSED TO THE NINES

TOPHATS_0007This photograph features nine men “dressed to the nines”. What does “dressed to the nines” mean and where does the term derive from? It basically means that these guys are fashionably and elaborately dressed. Research reveals that the derivation of the phrase “dressed to the nines”  is unknown. There are a lot of theories but no real evidence to support a single theory. So who are these guys and what group do they represent? We run into another wall in an attempt to answer these questions. The men in this image are unidentified and the photographer is unknown. This photograph is one of those images that is similar to a psychological projective test. We have to make up our own story to better understand the photograph. The story we create is a reflection of our experiences and personality. The story I tell myself is that these men are part of a club or organization. They are dressed formally for some sort of special organizational event. The papers that they are holding are possibly certificates for some type of accomplishment, ballots, or invitations. What’s the story you tell yourself about this image? You are invited to leave a comment with your impressions

Published in: on January 22, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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FASHIONABLE AUSTRIAN MAN IN VIENNA

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A well dressed Austrian gentleman poses for this cabinet card portrait by photographer Karl Dubell. Dubell’s studio was located in Vienna, Austria. The subject in this image is accessorized with a cane, vest, bow tie and what appears to be a straw hat. What is this fine gentleman holding in the fingers of his right hand. Is that an extra long cigarette? To view other photographs by Dubell, click on the category “Photographer: Dubell”.

Published in: on December 11, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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