A young woman poses for her portrait in the studio of Louis Blaul located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The bejeweled woman is very attractive and dressed beautifully. She has accessorized herself with a necklace, ring and earrings. To view other photographs by Blaul, and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Blaul”.
PRETTY AND FASHIONABLE YOUNG WOMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
OLD WOMAN WEARING A SHAWL AND HOLDING A BOOK IN WATKINS, NEW YORK
Photographer R. D. Crum produced this terrific portrait of an older woman whose hairstyle and fashion choices allows one to say that she is dressed for the part. Before I am accused of being an ageist, let me say that I am well aware that there were, and are many older people who are quite fashionable and contemporary. The fact is though, that if I was casting a movie and needed a character to play an elderly 1890’s woman, this lady has got the part hands down and doesn’t even need to audition. The subject of this photograph has her gray hair parted in the middle and she wears it close to her scalp. She is wearing a black dress, as well as a black shawl which is clasped by a piece of jewelry. There appears to be lace or needle work on her shawl and sleeves. She holds a book on her lap with her thumb holding a place in the volume. She has an extremely serious expression on her face. The photographer, Richard D. Crum was located in the 1860 census and he is listed as working as a “Dagarian Artist” (photographer) in Watkins, New York. The 1870 census finds Crum working as a clerk in New York City and living there with his wife and three children. The 1880 census finds Crum still married to his wife Maria and working as a photographer in Watkins. He lived in a residence with his wife and three children and a 21 year old boarder named, George Stanley, who worked as a photographer (likely “apprenticing” to Crum). Interestingly, living nearby was a Fred Crum, who was listed as a photographer (one of Richard Crum’s children?). An application that Crum made for a passport in 1897 is on record and lists his birth year as 1831. By 1900, Crum had left the field of photography and was living in Ocean, New Jersey. He died in 1913 and is buried in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
MILWAUKEE’S BEST: PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY WOMAN IN BREW TOWN
This cabinet card portrait features a pretty young woman posing at the studio of Joseph Sasse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee’s Best isn’t just a beer brewed by the Miller Brewing Company (founded in 1855). The young woman in this photograph was likely considered one of Milwaukee’s Best eligible women by the many suitors she must have attracted. She appears to have had a fondness for jewelry evidenced by her lovely collar pin. The large buttons on her dress are interesting. In the middle of each button is a six point star. She is wearing her hair in a “Gibson Girl” type style and has a hair bow atop her head. The photographer, Joseph Sasse, according to the 1900 census, was born in Germany (1854) and married his wife Walbolia in 1888. He worked as a photographer and he is listed as working in that profession in a number of Milwaukee city directories from 1895 through 1915. He had a son, Joseph Sasse Jr. who was born in 1887. Over time his son worked as a musician and as a movie operator. The 1920 census reveals that a man named Joseph Sasse, born the same year as photographer Sasse, was divorced and an inmate in a Milwaukee jail. There is no confirmation that these are one and the same man but it certainly does seem likely.
PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
A pretty young woman poses for her portrait at the Fowler studio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The subjects hair is nicely styled and she is wearing a ring, earrings and a necklace. To learn more about the photographer of this image, Lewis C. Fowler, and to view some of his photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Fowler (Lewis)”.
LOVING MOM IN POLKA DOT DRESS POSES WITH HER BABY IN NEW YORK CITY
A pretty young mother poses with her baby for a portrait by Charles Hoffman in New York City, New York. Mom certainly has no aversion to attracting attention judging by her polka dot dress and fantastic hat. She has a flair for putting an outfit together; her dress, hat, and dark gloves are a good match. Mother seems to also have no trouble showing affection to her young child. She holds her head very close to the baby head which is likely a reflection of the closeness she feels to her baby. The book, Great Industries Exchange and Commercial Review (1884), mentions photographer Charles Hoffmann. The citation states that he had recently established his 1288 Broadway studio after working 18 years in the “famous house of Sarony” in an important position. To view photographs by Napoleon Sarony, click on the category “Photographer: Sarony”.
WOMAN WEARING FUR STOLE IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (PHOTOGRAPH BY WALTER CHICKERING)
A pretty woman wearing a mink stole over her long winter coat, poses for photographer Walter E. Chickering in his Boston, Massachusetts studio. The woman is wearing a nice winter hat and is holding a fur muff. She is also wearing gloves. Note the pom pom’s on the front of the stole. Advertising on the reverse of the cabinet card reminds the public that “Walter E. Chickering is the original photographer of that name”. To view photographs by both of the Chickerings (Walter and Elmer), click on the category “Photographer: Chickering, W.”.
THE “SPRING LAKE GYPSIES” IN WAVERLY, IOWA
This cabinet card features two pretty young woman dressed in multiple layers of clothing and holding baskets of flowers. The pair are wearing large straw hats. The subject’s names, Mattie and Lottie, are written below the photograph. The reverse of the photograph has an inscription which states “These are Spring Lake Gypsies”. Although these women could be gypsies it seems more likely that the writer of the inscription was commenting about these women’s propensity to travel around a lot. A printed advertisement on the back of the cabinet card names the photographer as the A. Garner Art Gallery, located in Waverly, Iowa (“Four Doors East of Breemer House”). No information could be found about “Breemer House”. Interestingly, the town of Waverly is located in “Bremer” county. Is there a connection between Breemer and Bremer? As a side note, Bremer County received it’s name from Governor Hempstead who admired Swedish feminist writer Fredrika Bremer. The phrase “Spring Lake Gypsies” was researched and no information was uncovered. In addition, investigation yielded no last names for Miss Mattie or Miss Lottie. Little could be learned about photographer A. Garner other than the discovery of an article in the Report of the Iowa State Horticultural Society (1890) which includes the text of his speech to the group. The topic of his lecture was “Photography and Horticulture”.
PRETTY WOMAN WITH “GIBSON GIRL” HAIRSTYLE
A pretty woman is featured in this oval photograph by an unknown photographer. The woman has a “Gibson Girl” hairstyle. It appears that a previous owner trimmed the picture to fit it into a frame.
EARLY CABINET CARD PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY WOMAN IN CANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK
This cabinet card captures the image of a pretty young woman dressed in a fur trimmed winter coat and wearing a fancy hat. She is also wearing a necklace. The photographer who produced this image is Finley & Sons. The studio was located in Canandaigua, New York. This cabinet card likely dates back to the 1870’s. The Finley & Sons studio was established by Marshall Finley as a daguerreotype gallery. His son, Horace M. Finley (1839- ?) joined his father in business in the early 1860’s. The 1870 Ontario County Directory has an advertisement for the gallery. The ad reveals that in addition to “photographic work”, Finley & Sons (172 Main Streeet) was “Canandaigua’s Music Store”. The Finley’s sold pianos (including Steinway and Chickering brands) as well as other instruments and music supplies. In 1888, Horace Finley took on a partner named William N. Freeman. There are many stereoview cards, cdvs, and cabinet cards produced by this studio that can be found today as the Finleys were known to run a prolific studio. To view other photographs by Finley, click on category “Photographer: Finley”.
EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES FOR PRETTY WOMAN IN GROTON, NEW YORK
A pretty woman wearing pinned roses on her dress poses for her portrait at a photographic studio in Groton, New York. The photographer’s name is M. W. Cooper. One source reports that he operated as a photographer in Groton in the 1890’s through 1900. Cooper is listed in the Ithaca (NY) city directory of 1890 under the category of Photographers. The directory confirms that his business was located in Groton.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 