THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN IN SPRINGVILLE, OR SPANISH FORK, UTAH (NOTED UTAH PHOTOGRAPHER)

Three young men pose for their portrait at the studio of G. Ed. Anderson, located in either Springville, or Spanish Fork, Utah. The guys may have come to the studio after work. The two seated men are wearing work boots and work gloves. They are also wearing dirty trousers. Interestingly, one of the guys is wearing a turtleneck, a garment not seen often in cabinet card photographs. An inscription on the reverse of the card identifies the men as Saul Clyde, Will Rowland, and John Whiting. It would be interesting to hear some of this sites visitors opinion as to what occupation these men may have occupied. Please leave a hypothesis if you have one. Photographer, George Edward Anderson (1860-1928) was a noted photographer for his portraiture and documentary photographs of early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temples. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and was a photographer apprentice to renowned photographer Charles Roscoe Savage. At age seventeen, Anderson established a photography studio in Salt Lake City with two of his brothers. He then established a studio in Manti, Utah and in 1886, he moved his studio to Springville, Utah. Anderson became well known for his traveling tent studio which he set up in small towns throughout central, eastern and southern Utah. During that time he did an excellent job of documenting the lives of residents in the years 1884 to 1907. Although best known for his portraits, Anderson took many documentary photographs of homes, barns, businesses, Temples, mines and railroads. He went to England on his Church of Latter Day Saints mission in 1909 to 1911. After his mission, he set up a photography studio in South Royalton, Vermont, which is near the birthplace of LDS prophet Joseph Smith. In 1913, he returned to his home and family in Springville. He returned to financial and marital problems and tried to revive his traveling tent studio but met little success. The later years of his life were spent documenting families and life in Utah Valley and traveling to photograph newly constructed temples. Anderson received most of his recognition long after his death. A collection of his works is housed at Brigham Young University library.

TURN OF THE CENTURY COUNTRY DOCTOR IN WAUKON, IOWA

This cabinet card features an older man carrying what appears to be a doctors bag. He is dressed as if he is preparing to make a winter house call to check the status of one of his patients. The doctor is wearing a buffalo coat and a fur cap. He is holding a scarf and a pair of gloves. He has a pocket watch that he probably uses to take the pulse of his patients. It must have been difficult to be a doctor in a rural area for many reasons; including having to travel great distances to visit ill patients in all kinds of weather. At least he didn’t have to deal with managed care. The Huffman and Barnard Studio produced this terrific image. Perrin Cuppy Huffman (1833-1894) was a photographer in Frankville, Iowa from 1862-1864; and than worked in Waukon, Iowa from 1865 until 1896. He was of German ancestry, born in Ohio, and settled in Iowa in 1853. His son Laton Alton Huffman became one of Montana’s foremost photographers. At times he worked with partners. His first partner was his wife, Christina Huffman.  He later was associated with the the partner listed on this cabinet card, Barnard. They were partnered between 1882-1894.

Published in: on October 14, 2010 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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TWO PLUMBERS IN SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA

This cabinet card features two workmen, photographed by Washer, of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Both men are  holding adjustable wrenches. The men may be plumbers or some other type of tradesmen. One man is wearing work clothing while the second man is wearing a neck tie. One could humorously posit that the man with the tie must be management. The photographer is likely Edward Washer, a Scranton photographer mentioned in photography journals of 1911 and 1914.

Published in: on October 5, 2010 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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LAWYER : PILE OF BOOKS IN OFFICE : LANSING, MICHIGAN : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card features a young man who appears to be in the midst of some intense studying. His desk is stacked with many books including the Annual Encyclopedia of 1879. He has a foot stool at his feet to help him relax during his studies. Is this gentleman a lawyer? The answer is lost to history. There is a statue figure on his desk. It may be a pen and inkwell set, but its actual purpose is unknown. Perhaps the vast and unpaid research department (all cabinet card gallery visitors) has an opinion about the statue that they can share in the comment section. The photographer of this cabinet card is John H. Scotford and his studio was in Lansing Michigan.  He was active as a photographer in Michigan, Missouri, and Oregon in the 1870’s and moved to Tacoma, Washington where he worked between 1885 and 1893. He next worked as a photographer in Portland, Oregon between 1892 and 1898.  (SOLD)

Published in: on August 6, 2010 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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FAMILY WITH GREAT WORK ETHIC IN RUSH CITY, MINNESOTA

A group of men and boys pose for their portrait at the photographic studio of R. Tynelius of Rush City, Minnesota. This photograph stimulates a lot of interesting questions. Is this a family or some other type of unit? What are the tools that the men are holding? What is the occupation of these photographic subjects? Are they farmers? All of the subjects in this image are wearing a hat which suggests that their occupation requires working outside. The photographer, R. Tynelius is mentioned in a publication called “The St. Louis and Canadian Photographer” (1900). It was reported that he was succeeding Mr E. J. Almquist in running a photography studio.

Published in: on April 13, 2010 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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THREE BUTCHERS IN LOGANSPORT, INDIANA

This cabinet card is clearly a photograph of three men in their occupational garb. They appear to be butchers but there is no confirmation available. The men are very muscular and that may be evidence supporting the hypothesis that they are butchers. The gentleman in the middle has an air of authority and looks to be the oldest of the three. Why are their sleeves rolled up? Perhaps keeping their sleeves rolled up is what they typically do when performing their work. The photographic studio that produced this cabinet card  is Anderson’s of Logansport, Indiana.

NAVAL OFFICER IN SHANGHAI (PHOTOGRAPHED BY AH FONG)

A naval officer, wearing his dress white uniform, poses for his portrait at the studio of Ah Fong. Fong had photographic studios in both Shanghai and Wei-Hai-Wei. Ah Fong was active in photography in the 1860’s through the 1880’s and beyond. In 1937, he published a photo album entitled “The Sino-Japanese Hostilities”. Fong was a Chinese photographer trained by western photographer around Canton. He later opened his own studio  and it operrated through World War II. His photographs of Nanjing in 1937 documented for the West the “Rape of Nanking” and Japanese denials were shown to be lies. The dates cited in this description come from research and some of them are likely inaccurate unless Fong lived an extremely long life. In regard to the pictured officer, no identifying information of the officer is available but perhaps a visitor to the site will recognize his uniform and leave a comment.

FIRE CHIEF OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

chief of providenceThis excellent image is a portrait of a fire chief in Providence, Rhode Island. He is seen in his dress uniform with a fire chief badge on his hat. His coat buttons indicate he is a fireman with the Providence Fire Department.  The photographer is Y. E. Rose of Providence, Rhode Island. The studio opened in 1886 in the Conrad Building.

CIVIL WAR VETERAN BEDECKED WITH MEDALS IN MISSOURI

cw vetThis Cabinet card is a terrific image of a union army Civil War Veteran. He is wearing three medals. One medal identifies him as J. W. Plummer, a member of company G in the 29th Indiana Infantry Regiment. The second medal represents his membership in the Civil War Veterans Group, the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). Further research reveals that Mr Plummer, is John W. Plummer and entered his unit as a private and left with the same rank. His regiment was organized in 1861 and fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Stones River, and the Battle of Chickamauga.  The unit suffered 304  dead during the course of the war. The photographer is Tussey of Schell City, Missouri.

DAPPER SAILOR IN UNIFORM

SAILOR_0002The Sailor in this Cabinet Card is posing at an unknown photographers studio at an unknown location. Perhaps the information is classified (just kidding). It is also a mystery which nations navy this young man is serving in.  Hopefully, an informed visitor can leave a comment identifying the nation this sailor represents. One can imagine that the sailor is on shore leave and wandered into a photographers studio to get a souvenir of his visit. He is looking quite dapper  in his uniform.

Published in: on May 28, 2009 at 12:27 am  Leave a Comment  
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