This cabinet card is an image of what may have been the prettiest woman in Waterville, Maine. The photographer of this profile portrait was C. G. Carleton. Carleton began work as a photographer in Waterville in 1862. Research reveals that his studio was 25 x 100 feet and he was member of the Free Masons. He was a native of Whitefield, New Hampshire.
PRETTIEST WOMAN IN WATERVILLE, MAINE
WOMAN WEARING UNFASHIONABLE HAT IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
This Cabinet Card features a young woman wearing a hat that is quite extraordinarily unpleasing to the eye. The photographer is C. Jessen & Co. of Providence, Rhode Island.
PRETTY WOMAN POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPHER IN “LAND OF THE BEAVER” (TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA)
A very pretty woman poses for her portrait at the studio belonging to a photographer named Baily, in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. The woman appears very fashionable in her high collar dress. Tamaqua is located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania and is about 35 miles south of Wilkes Barre. The name of the town comes from the Native American word Tamaqua; which means “Land of the Beaver”. The town was in Pennsylvania’s coal region and thrived in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. Baily’s studio was founded by David Baily circa 1862. An 1892 edition of Anthony’s Photographic Bulletin reports his retirement after 30 years in his occupation. The article adds that he was succeeded by his son Elmer D. Baily. The format of this photograph suggests a time period that makes it likely that this portrait was done by Elmer Baily.
FASHIONABLE WOMAN AT THE GARDEN GATE IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card photograph presents a fashionable woman posing at a mock garden gate in the studio of Rote, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The young woman is holding a floral arrangement and is fashionably dressed. She is wearing at least three rings and that is unusual to see on photographs of this era. The photographer may be Frederick A. Rote (1852-?), a Lancaster photographer.
A WOMAN AND HER DOG IN JANESVILLE, MINNESOTA
This cabinet card photograph captures a woman and her dog posing in the studio of A. S. Hellebo in Janesville, Minnesota. The woman is wearing a fur hat and fur “scarf”. She is wearing gloves and holding a pocket book. The dog looks like a labrador retriever and appears quite comfortable as it sits on a fancy chair. The photographer, Hellebro emigrated to Minnesota from Norway and some of his photographs can be found in a collection of historical photos at the Minnesota Historical Society.
AN AMERICAN WOMAN AND HER BRITISH SISTER FEUD IN JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS
This Cabinet Card photograph captures two angry sisters posing at McKinnon’s Portraits, in Jacksonville, Illinois. These sisters do not seem happy; in fact, the sister with the darker dress is displaying quite a scowl. Writing on the reverse of the card indicates that the women are sisters. Their names are Mrs Annie Knight of London, England, and Mrs Agnes Jackson of Jacksonville, Illinois. Perhaps the woman are in conflict, or are just having an aggravating experience at the photographic studio. The women are beautifully dressed for the taking of the photograph and wearing flowers to enhance their appearance.
PRETTY GIRL STANDING BY A WINDOW IN LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS (1882)
This cabinet card captures a pretty girl posing by a window in the studio of W. M. Wires, in Lynn, Massachusetts. The young woman has relatively short hair for the era, and she is dressed quite fashionably. The photograph was taken in 1882.
PRETTY WOMAN ON A SWING IN MONTESANO, WASHINGTON
This Cabinet Card presents a pretty woman sitting on a swing. Her elaborate hat has been staged on the floor atop an outstretched fur. The photograph was made at the studio of Wainright & Arland, in Montasano, Washington. The reverse of the card indicates that the studio was over Bacon’s Drug Store on Main Street. The top left corner shows what appears to be an error by the photographer but perhaps a visitor to this site has the expertise to explain the imperfection.
MADAME BUTTERFLY AND HER SIDEKICK
This Cabinet Card is an image of two very interestingly dressed young women. Are they going to a costume party or are they just making a fashion statement? Madame Butterfly has butterflies affixed all over herself. She has butterflies atop her head, as well as on her chest, skirt and shoes. Is that a butterfly purse she is holding? The second woman is wearing gloves and holding a cane. She also has an interesting rope belt and an unusual necklace and hat. The photographer of the cabinet card is likely the Baker Art Gallery located on the corner of State and High Streets in Columbus, Ohio. The studio was founded by Lorenzo Marvin Baker who began working as a photographer in the early 1860’s and established the Baker Art Gallery in 1886. Four generations of the family ran the gallery until 1955. Many of their photographs and materials are now held by the Ohio Historical Society. To view other photographs by Baker, click on the category “Photographer: Baker Art Gallery”.
SIX TEENAGE GIRLS WHO DIDN’T SMILE FOR THE CAMERA IN LENA, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card photograph captures six girls posing for the photographer at the studio of W. T. Nash in Lena, Illinois. The girls appear to be in their teens or early twenties. Perhaps they are sisters born without the smiling gene. In reality, smiling was not a behavior many subjects exhibited in cabinet card portraits.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 