THE “WILD MEN” OF PRAIRIE CITY, ILLINOIS

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Who are these guys? I suppose we will never know. This cabinet card photograph features two older men posing for their portrait at the Crane studio in Prairie City, Illinois. The men are pretty well dressed. Both are wearing long coats and hats. One imagines that this photograph was taken during the winter, judging by the men’s clothing. The gentleman on the right side of the image has an appearance of someone who likely did not live a traditional lifestyle. His appearance might have earned him a part in a movie about a wild man living a bit away from civilization. That is, if there were movies during the cabinet card era. Of course I realize that my hypothesis could be very wrong. As much as I love to conjecture about the people in these vintage photographs, I am clear that our interpretations may reveal more about ourselves than about the subjects in the images. These old photos can be similar to the projective tests (ie the Rorshach)  employed by Psychologists. Gathering information about the photographer of this image was problematic. More thorough research could reap some very interesting results. The only photographer named Crane that I could find in the Prairie City area was Maria Ann Crane who operated a studio right in Prairie City. According to the Yale University library collection of “Women in Photography”, Miss Crane operated a studio in Prairie City in 1893. The library collection includes two of her portraits. Crane may have been an independent photographer, or like many other pioneer women in photography, she may have joined or succeeded her husband in the photography business.

 

 

Published in: on August 26, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL WITH A TRIANGLE HAT IN LAFAYETTE, INDIANA (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

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The little girl featured in this vintage photograph apparently is a “girly girl”. That phrase is not meant to be a slur; it just means that she enjoys the more feminine look. She is wearing a frilly dress, her hair is nicely braided and has a pretty bow, and she is wearing an elaborate hat. The front of the hat is nearly triangle shaped and it is adorned with flowers and a feather. The Himea & Elam studio of Lafayette, Indiana, is the creator of this vintage image. Chas Himea is listed in the 1910 US census. He was born in Maryland in 1872 and died in Indiana in 1944. His wife was named Estella but she was also known as Ella. At the time of the census the couple had a thirteen year old son (Leslie) and Chas was working as a photographer. His name appears in a number of Lafayette business directories between 1903 and 1915. Interestingly, the 1957 directory lists a photography store bearing the Himea name. Himea’s partner was Warren G. Elam.  Elam was born in Indiana (1874) and married Alice Elam in 1899. He is listed in the 1900 US census as a photographer but, by at least 1920,  he was out of the profession and living in California.

 

 

 

Published in: on August 22, 2016 at 7:39 pm  Comments (3)  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY TEENAGER IN WATERFORD, WISCONSIN

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This cabinet card features a pretty young woman, probably a teenager, posing for her portrait at the Grunseth studio in either Waterford or Mukwonago, Wisconsin. The subject is well dressed with a fancy collar and choker. The Wiconsin Photographers Index, published by the Wisconsin Historical Society lists two photographers named Grundseth in the Waterford/Mukwonago area. One of these men is the photographer who took this photograph. Christ. Grundseth operated a studio in Mukwonago and Waukesha beginning 1895. G. Grundseth had a studio in Waterford between 1893 and 1898. Whichever Grundseth produced this photograph, he did an excellent job of capturing this young woman’s beauty and personality.

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Published in: on August 20, 2016 at 8:05 am  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A WEDDING COUPLE IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

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This post cabinet card era photograph features a young wedding couple in Syracuse, New York. The groom is formally dressed with a tuxedo/suit, white collar dress shirt, bow tie, and white gloves. He is wearing a flower on his lapel. The bride is wearing a wedding dress, holding a bouquet of flowers and wearing flowers on her dress and in her hair. She is also wearing a necklace. Both the bride and groom are displaying serious expressions as they embark on the beginning of their marital life together. The photograph was taken by James Krawczyk. His obituary appears in Utica’s (New York) Daily Press (1959). In 1959, Krawczyk had moved to Utica and died just a week later at the age of 71. The article reports that he had been born in Poland in 1888 and came to Utica in 1902. He then moved to Syracuse in 1910. While living in Syracuse, he operated a photography studio for 33 years, retiring in 1958. Krawcyk was involved with a number of Polish organizations in Syracuse. This photograph measures 6″ x 9″.  SOLD

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Published in: on August 18, 2016 at 3:30 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY LITTLE FRENCH GIRL WITH LONG HAIR (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

french girl

This vintage real photo postcard features a very pretty little girl posing for her studio portrait. She has beautiful long hair and is wearing a serious expression. She is holding a book. The postcard is likely of French origin and has great clarity.

Published in: on August 17, 2016 at 1:42 pm  Comments (1)  

AN OLD WEAVER SITTING AT HIS LOOM SMOKING A PIPE (OCCUPATIONAL CABINET CARD)

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This is a fascinating occupational cabinet card featuring on old weaver sitting at his loom. He is smoking a pipe as he poses for a photograph from an unidentified photographer. The location that this photograph was taken is unknown. I wish I knew more about weaving so I could explain a bit more about the occupational component of this image. All I know is that weaving on a loom looks extremely complicated and requires excellent coordination between the weaver’s hands, eyes, and feet. (SOLD)

Published in: on August 11, 2016 at 11:51 am  Comments (3)  
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FAMILY OF FIVE AND A ROLLING HOOP IN STRASBOURG, FRANCE (CABINET CARD)

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A well dressed family of five pose for their portrait at Emile Lorson’s photographic studio in France. The business was located in the town of either Strasbourg or Schlettstadt (now known as Selestat). The father of this family is not pictured. Perhaps he is away or deceased. The family in the photograph includes a mother, three sons, and a daughter. The oldest boy is holding his mother’s arm while she is supporting her daughter’s position on the wall. The youngest boy is holding a toy rolling hoop. Note his high top shoes. An inscription on the reverse of the photograph states ” Uncle Michael’s 3 Boys”. I wonder why there is no mention of the little girl? Possibly, she did not survive to the point in time that the inscription was written. Once again, I ask, “Where is Uncle Michael”? The answers to my questions are lost to history.   SOLD

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Published in: on August 9, 2016 at 2:48 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS RENEE MAYER: CHILD ACTRESS AS PUCK IN “THE SLEEPING BEAUTY RE-AWAKENED” (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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This vintage real photo postcard features child actress, Miss Renee Mayer, posing in character for photographers Foulsham and Banfield. She is photographically captured in her role as Puck in the theatrical production of “The Sleeping Beauty Re-Awakened”. Note the cute little puppy that she is holding. Mayer was a child actress and dancer who made her stage debut in 1910 as the Pearl Fairy in “The Goldfish”. She is most noted for her performance as Puck in three revivals of “Sleeping Beauty” (1912, 1913, 1914). She acted in pantomimes throughout her teenage years and appeared in films in the early 1920’s including “A Bachelor Husband” (1920). Miss Mayer was born in 1900 which informs us that she was somewhere around thirteen years old when she posed for this photograph. The New York Times (1915) mentions Renee Mayer in an article about a play called “Masque of War and Peace”. Looking at the roster of cast members in this production, it becomes clear that the show had an all-star cast. Performers included Mme Rejane, Lily Elsie, Edna May, Viola Tree, Elsie Janie, Lily Langtry and of course Miss Mayer. The show was performed at the Drury Lane Theatre to raise money for “The American Women’s War Relief Fund”. Great Britain’s National Portrait Gallery has twenty real photo postcard portraits of Miss Mayer. Three of the images are photographs by Foulsham and Banfield and published by Rotary Photo (just like the image above). This postcard is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 6924 B) and was printed in Britain.

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Published in: on August 7, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ADORABLE SIBLINGS IN KENTON, OHIO (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

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The children featured in this vintage photograph are absolutely adorable. The oldest child is a frizzy haired little girl and her younger sibling’s gender is indeterminable. The baby’s outfit looks feminine but baby boys and girls wore similar gowns during the cabinet card and early post cabinet card era. The children are sitting on a fur draped chair.This wonderful portrait was taken by Samuel Mitchell John (1860-1935) who operated a photographic studio in Kenton, Ohio. John was born in Ohio. John is mentioned in the Photographers’ Association News (1916) and his address is listed as Detroit Street. The 1910 US census reveals that John was a photographer who operated his own studio. In addition, we learn that he was widowed (after a 21 year marriage to Florence Almeda Larue John 1867-1892) and lived with his son Gala (age 20) and his daughter Rhea (age 18). He was also listed as a widowed photographer in the 1900 US census. He appears in the Hardin Business Directory (1916) as a photographer in Kenton. At the time of his death, he was married to Lydia Matilda Lesher John. His obituary appeared in the Lima News (1935) and points out that his wife  found him dead in his studio after he failed to come home for dinner. Clearly, he was still working as a photographer at age 75. He is buried in Grove Cemetery in Kenton, Ohio.  SOLD

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Published in: on August 6, 2016 at 9:29 am  Leave a Comment  
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BEAUTIFUL BRITISH STAGE ACTRESS: OLIVE MORRELL (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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This vintage real photo postcard features a very beautiful British stage actress named Olive Morrell. She was a successful enough actress to merit having six portraits of her included in the United Kingdom’s National Portrait Gallery. She performed in England and toured in Australia. She was  born as Olive Miller; Morrell was her stage name. In 1908, she married Willie Kelly (1877-1960), an Australian politician. The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (1905) highlights her career including her role in “The Spring Chicken” at the Gaiety Theatre. In researching the play, I was struck by the number of well known actresses appearing alongside her. The cast included Kitty Mason, Kate Cutler, Gaynor Rowlands, Ethel Oliver, and Gertie Millar. This was certainly an all star lineup and any collector of theatrical postcards will be familiar with these actresses. Collectors will also note that these women were  quite pretty and their postcard images were, and still are, very collectible. Miss Morrell is also the subject of an article in The Play Pictorial (1905) which mentions her appearance in a theatre production called “The Talk of the Town”. This postcard was produced by Rotary Photo as part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 1547 C). It is truly a special portrait of Miss Morrell. After viewing many postcard images of this actress; I believe this portrait is one of the finest portraits of Olive Morrell that a postcard collector can find. This photograph captures her beauty as well as provides a close look at fashion during the turn of the century.

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Published in: on August 4, 2016 at 4:17 pm  Comments (2)  
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