This cabinet card captures five young adults who may be part of a musical group. One of the two woman in the photograph is holding a guitar; and that may be the only evidence that this group was in the business of making music. The men are all wearing derby hats. The woman with the guitar has a flower covered hat on her lap, and the second woman has a basket filled with flowers on her knees. There is also something odd included in the content of this photograph. There appears to be a sheet, or sheets, of paper on the ground between the two woman. Is that white square paper, sheet music, or is it a photographic flaw in the image? The photographer of this cabinet card is J. H. R. Kemp. His studio was located in Luzerne, Pennsylvania and his tenure there included the 1890’s.
MUSICAL GROUP IN LUZERNE, PENNSYLVANIA
THE OTHER BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY OF COMPANY B……… IN ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA
This cabinet card features a uniformed bugle boy, posed holding his instrument, and wearing a satchel bag strapped over his shoulder. The boy’s cap has a badge indicating that he was in company B of the “ALC”. “ALC” likely stands for Albert Lea C……”. Perhaps a visitor to the Cabinet Card Gallery can leave a comment identifying the “C” word. The bugle boy, judging by his uniform, was a member of a band. Albert Lea is the name of the Minnesota town where the photographic studio that produced this cabinet card was located. Albert Lea is ninety miles south of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and was named after a topographer with the US Dragoons who surveyed the area in 1835. The photographer of this cabinet card was Joseph A. Fuller (1851-?). Fuller was born in Walworth County, Wisconsin. He worked as a photographer in Decorah, Iowa and Chatfield, Minnesota; before moving to Albert Lea in 1873. At the time of this photograph, Fuller’s studio was on the corner of Williams and Broadway Streets, “over Brown & Cos Bank”. His later studios in Albert Lea included 202 South Broadway (1914-1922) and 204 South Broadway (1924). He worked in Minnesota from the 1870’s through part of the 1920’s.
BRASS BAND IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
The Boys in the Band gather for this cabinet card photograph by photographer John Strunk, in Reading, Pennsylvania. The uniformed brass band consists of four member. A consultation from the Cabinet Card Gallery’s unpaid research department would be helpful, but for the time being, I will identify the bandsmen’s instruments as being a clarinet, trumpet, french horn and a flute. To view other photographs by Strunk, click on the category of “Photographer: Strunk”.
MASTER R. DEMARST: PIANO BOY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
This Cabinet Card captures young Master R. Demarst sitting at a piano in the studio of W. J. Root, in Chicago, Illinois. An inscription on the reverse of the photograph indicates that the boy musician was six years old at the time the image was produced. He is very well dressed in his velvet suit. He is wearing a ring on his right middle finger. The photographer’s studio was located at 243-253 Wabash Avenue, in Chicago. The back stamp on the reverse of the card states that Root’s studio was located in Kimball Hall. When Root began his business, he took souvenir photographs at the Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893. He is mentioned in various photographic journals from 1892 until 1897. To view other photographs by Root, click on Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Photographer: Root.” Thanks to the amazing research department of the Cabinet Gallery (see comments), additional identifying information about the young boy in this photograph has been discovered. In the book, “Musical Instruments at the World’s Columbian Exposition: A Review (1895), it is noted that Master Rubinstein Demarest, aged 5, won the love of all who met him. He appeared at the Exposition and “his piano playing was almost marvelous considering his youth”. The boy was a native of St. Paul, Minnesota where he was regarded as a protege of great promise.
BOY DRUMMER FROM TRAVELING MINSTREL SHOW IN FERNDALE, CALIFORNIA
This cabinet card features a bow tied young boy posing with two drums in the studio of A. W. Gilfillian, in Ferndale, California. The reverse of the card has an inscription that identifies the subject as Arthur Robinson, who was “part of a traveling minstrel show” during the late 1800’s. The inscription also dates the photograph “before mom’s visit in 1895”.
YOUNG MAESTRO AND HIS VIOLIN IN WILLMAR, MINNESOTA
A wavy haired boy poses with his violin and bow for photographer G. A. Carlson, in Willmar, Minnesota. The young maestro appears dressed for a musical performance and looks very “professional”. Next stop; Carnegie Hall.
THE BOYS IN THE BAND: TWO TUBA PLAYERS IN GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
This cabinet card features two uniformed band members and their instruments, which according to my limited musical knowledge, are tubas. Note that the instruments have the written music attached via musical symbol clips. Hopefully, a visitor to this site can leave a comment explaining the significance of the design of the clips. The musicians are handsome men and appear very serious as they pose for their portrait. The pin on the band members cap has the letters “DCB”. The meaning of this abbreviation is unknown. The photographic studio that produced this image was W. F. Kilborn of Grand Island, Nebraska.
SALVATION ARMY BAND IN EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Eureka! This cabinet card is an addition to the rapidly expanding Salvation Army category of the Cabinet Card Gallery. This image is of a three member musical group and three of their musical instruments. The instruments include a portable organ, a guitar and what appears to be, a banjo or another type of string instrument. The band members are in their Salvation Army Uniforms. One gentleman is wearing a badge on the front of his jacket and the second gentleman has a “S” pin on the collar of his jacket. The woman in the band appears to be wearing a badge over the top button of her blouse. The photographer is Spencer McCollister of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
YOUNG WOMAN: SALVATION ARMY WORKER IN LEWISTON, MAINE
A young woman poses for this Cabinet Card photograph at the studio of I. L. Hammond in Lewiston, Maine. She is wearing the attire of the salvation army and is holding a tambourine. Note her bonnet and the structure of the dress which creates the appearance of a thin midriff. One of Hammond’s photographs appears in the autobiography of Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) who was an American modernist painter, poet, and essayist in the early 20th century.
WOMAN WITH A BANJO ON HER KNEE IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
This Cabinet Card portrait captures a woman posing with a banjo on her knee at a photographers studio in Sparkbrook, England. Ok, so the banjo is not quite on her knee. Is this woman a musician or entertainer of note? Unfortunately, there is no identifying information on the reverse of this photograph, so her identity remains a mystery. Sparkbrook is an inner city area of Birmingham, England. The photographer is Woodcock.
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