A pretty girl poses for her portrait at a photographic studio in Ludington, Michigan. The photographer was Fred C. Silver (1848-?). Silver was born in Ohio, and came to Ludington in 1871 from Elkhart, Indiana. Upon his arrival, he opened a photographic gallery, becoming the first photographer in Ludington. The town was originally named Pere Marquette, but was later named after industiralist Jmes Ludington. Ludington’s logging operations were the reason the town developed. Ludington became an incorporated city in 1873. The late 19th century brought a boom to the area as a result of the lumber business and the discovery of salt deposits. The young lady in this photograph is wearing a nice dress, and jewelry at her collar. She is displaying a very serious expression in this image.
PRETTY GIRL IN LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN
TWO PRETTY YOUNG WOMEN: SISTERS WEARING LEATHER CAPS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
This cabinet card features two attractive young women, obviously sisters, posing in white clothing and wearing dark leather caps. What is the story concerning the caps? The headwear is certainly quite unusual to be seen in a photograph from this era. Are the caps part of an occupational uniform? One wonders if the caps are driving caps, but the automobile was likely not around all that long when this photograph was taken. Any theories about the hats would be welcome from cabinet card gallery visitors. Please leave a comment with your theories. This cabinet card was photographed by the Baker Art Gallery of Columbus, Ohio. To learn more about the gallery and to view other photographs by the Baker’s, click on the category “Photographer: Baker Art Gallery”.
MARY COLEY, A PICTURE OF FASHION, IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card features a very fashionable lady, posing for her portrait at the studio of Gilbert & Bacon, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The woman is identified as Mary Coley (her name is written on the reverse of the photograph). She looks great in her beautiful gown. Note the fur trim at her collar and near the bottom of her dress. She appears to be wearing pearls and she strategically placed her hat at just the right angle, in order to make some sort of fashion statement. This pretty woman may be an actress; Gilbert & Bacon were prominent theatre photographers in Philadelphia. However, research found no record of any actresses named Mary Coley. To learn more about the photographers of this cabinet card, click on the category “Photographer: Gilbert & Bacon”.
A PRETTY WOMAN IN ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA
A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the studio of R. A. Bonine, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The studio was located on 14th Street. The woman in the photograph is beautifully dressed and looks terrific in her dress; a fact not lost to the photographer who took a portrait of the woman that captures her, head to toe. This image is nicely done. The pose integrates the chair and curtain for balance and the swirl in the curtain along side the swirl in the woman’s dress enhances the image. Saying it simply, this is a beautiful portrait. The photographer, Robert Atkinson Bonine (1838-?) moved his photography business from Holidaysburg to Altoona, Pennsylvania, in 1878. He came to Altoona with his wife, Matilda Hollinger (1838-?), whom he married in 1860. When Bonine wasn’t producing photographs, he was producing children. He and his wife had eleven children. A number of his children entered the field of photography. One of his sons, Robert Kates Bonine (1862-1923) was a well known film maker of travelogues. He was employed twice by Edison, and also worked for the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. His work included films about the Klondike Gold Rush, the San Francisco Earthquake, Yosemite, Japan and China.
PRETTY WOMAN WITH SNOW SHOE BROOCH IN DANBURY, CONNECTICUT
A pretty young woman poses for her portrait at Folsom’s gallery in Danbury, Connecticut. She is wearing a snow shoe brooch at her collar. Joseph H. Folsom (1841-?) married Sarah Elizabeth Lockwood n 1869. At the time he married, he was a veteran of the American Civil War. He had enlisted in the New York First Regiment in 1861 and had fought in several battles before being taken prisoner at Gaines Mill, in June, 1862. He was a prisoner of war in Libby Prison. After the war, he returned to his photography business in Danbury. A photography journal published in 1883 announced that his estate had sold the business. Interestingly, it seem that his wife, reestablished the photography studio. The Anthony Photographic Bulletin (1888) reported that she had opened her own photographic studio in a new location.
SHORT HAIRED BEAUTY IN DANBURY, CONNECTICUT
A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the Sanford gallery. She has short dark hair and is wearing earrings and a pearl choker. The photographer of this image was E. Starr Sanford, a man with an interesting life story. To view other photographs by Sanford and to learn more about him; click on the category “Photographer: Sanford”.
PRETTY WOMAN POSES IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
A pretty young woman poses for this cabinet card portrait at the studio of Bradley & Rulofson, in San Francisco, California. Her hair is nicely styled for her day at the photographer. To view other photographs by Bradley & Rulofson, click on the category “Photographer: Bradley & Rulofson.
FASHIONABLE WOMAN IN WINTER OUTERWEAR IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
This cabinet card is a portrait of a pretty young woman dressed in winter clothing. Her heavy coat is trimmed with fur and she appears to be wearing a fur hat and leather gloves. The woman can access additional warmth from her fur muff. She is clearly ready for a cold New York winter. The photographic studio that produced this image is Vail Brothers, of Poughkeepsie, New York. Vassar College library’s archive possesses two photographic albums from the photographers. The collection includes photographs of Vassar and Poughkeepsie. Vail Brothers began their studio in 1868 and it was still in existence at least until 1895. The studio is also known for their photographs of a number of the members of the Roosevelt family, including Franklin Roosevelt during his childhood years.
LADY AND A PUG
This cabinet card features a portrait of a well dressed lady and her pug. The woman is wearing a flower hat and is holding an umbrella with one hand, and petting her dog with the other hand. The photographer is unknown and would likely be known if this image wasn’t glued incorrectly on the card stock. The top of the image is glued to the bottom of the card. The viewer can see some partial printed letters showing above the top of the image. Perhaps the photographer had no card stock with his studio’s name and used old card stock from the studio’s previous owner. The photographer may have intentionally covered up the name and address of the studio so it would not get false credit for producing the image. Incidentally, there seems to be many cabinet card photographs featuring pugs. They must have been a popular breed at the turn of the century and certainly have made a resurgence during recent times.
A WOMAN POSES WITH POSIES IN WELLMAN, IOWA
A woman surrounded by flowers is the subject of this cabinet card portrait by J. V. Wahl, of Wellman, Iowa. A dark patterned curtain serves as the background in this photograph. The patterned curtains, the multitude of flowers, the patterned chair, and the young woman; make for a very busy image. In fact, the viewer’s eyes don’t know where to focus. An inscription on the reverse of the photograph indicates that the subject of this cabinet card is Miss Edith Ash of Washington, Iowa. The photograph was taken in January, 1898. Edith Ash (1878-?) is listed in the census of 1880 through 1920 as a resident of Washington County, Iowa. She is most likely the subject in this image. She was married to Howard Cooper, circa 1899.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 