A young couple pose for their wedding portrait in Mankato, Minnesota. The photographer is the Snow Art Gallery. The reverse of the photograph has an inscription that states “Mrs Fred Drury”. Presumably, Mrs Drury is the woman seen in this image. John R. Snow, the proprietor of the Snow Gallery, was born in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1868. At nine years old, he and his family moved to Maine where he finished common school. After graduating, he went to work in a sardine and lobster factory. He left Maine for Wisconsin and it is there that he began his photography career as a tent photographer. He travelled in this capacity and covered the area between Wisconsin and Kentucky. He later had studios in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Zumbrota, Minnesota. He bought a studio in Mankato in 1893. His addresses in Mankato included 118 East Jackson (1893-1902), and 313 South Front Street (1912-1919). The 1910 US Census lists both John and his wife Margaret as Mankato photographers. Their son, Cecil J. Snow (1894-?), worked as a photographer in Mankato in the 1920’s and 1930’s.
A YOUNG WEDDING COUPLE IN MANKATO, MINNESOTA
ADORABLE LITTLE BOY WEARING A SAILOR SUIT (PHOTOGRAPH BY W. AND D. DOWNEY)
A little boy wearing a sailor suit poses for his portrait in London, England. The boy is adorable and he is posed beautifully sitting on a faux rock with his arms folded against his chest. He is wearing a straw hat and a terrific grin. The photographer is the W & D Downey studio. This studio was well known and highly respected in England. They advertised themselves as photographers specially appointed to photograph the imperial and royal families of Europe. To view other photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Downey”.
PORTRAIT OF STAGE ACTRESS VILLA KNOX IN ROLE OF DAISY BLOSSOM (PHOTOGRAPH BY JACOB SCHLOSS)
This cabinet card has a lot to say. First, the photograph features an actress named Villa Knox. She appeared in productions in the United States, England, and probably a number of other places. She acted in at least two Broadway shows. She appeared in the musical comedy “Boccaccio” (1898) and in “Apollo, or, The Oracle of Delphi” (1891). Second, the photographer of this image is the well known celebrity photographer, Jacob Schloss. At the time that this photograph was taken, the Schloss studio was located at 467 and 469 Fifth Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets in New York City.. To view more of his photographs click on the category “Photographer: Schloss”. A third aspect of this photograph is that it has the pencilled name “Daisy Blossom” on the front of the card. Thanks to a little luck in my research, I learned that “Daisy Blossom” is a character in a play called “London Day by Day” (1893) which was reviewed by The Sydney Mail. This portrait likely captures Miss Knox in costume for that role. The fourth interesting fact about this image is the stamp appearing on the front of the card that states “Vignettes All Around For Segar Label”. It appears that this photograph was used as a vignette photograph for a cigar box label. The last feature I will mention concerning this image is that it has all the signs of once residing in someones photograph album. The cabinet card truly tells a number of stories and is in good condition. SOLD
AN ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOLL IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
An adorable little girl poses for her portrait at Lenhart’s Studio in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She is wearing a cute bonnet and is clutching her prized doll. A look at her eyes reveals that she is taking in the entire scene around her. She is sitting on a large cushion on what appears to be a wicker chair. To view other images by Thomas Lenhart and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Lenhart”.
A YOUNG AND HANDSOME FAMILY POSES FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN DAVENPORT, IOWA
This vintage photograph features a handsome family posing for their portrait at the F. A. Free Studio in Davenport, Iowa. This good looking and well dressed couple had their hands full with three children so close in age to each other. It is possible that the two older children are twins. Whatever the case, all three children are adorable. Note their boots, bows, and ruffles. The photographer, Frank A. Free, is the subject of an article in the Quad-City Times (2010). The newspaper reports that a Free Photographic Studio estate sale was being held. Frank Free had already left thousands of portrait negatives to the Putnam Museum (located in Davenport) and to the Davenport Library. Frank died in 1968 and his wife Lois continued operation of the studio through part of the 1990’s. Frank Free’s name is mentioned in a number of photographic journal articles. An article in the Bulletin of Photography (1922) states that he won a silver cup in a photographic exhibition in London. He was also involved at the beginning stages (1909) with a Iowa photographers group called Cameracraftsmen. (SOLD)
PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL LOVINGLY HOLDS HER BISQUE DOLL IN TOLEDO, OHIO
This vintage photograph is from the early post cabinet card era and features a precious bright eyed little girl holding her bisque doll. The little girl and her doll are both elaborately well dressed. The photographer is the Griffith studio which was located on Summit Street in Toledo, Ohio. E. L. Griffith is mentioned by The American Amateur Photographer (1891) as being the Vice President of the Toledo Camera Club. In addition, research reveals that there was a Toledo photographic studio named Griffith & Nichoson. It is likely that the Griffith in the partnership was the same man responsible for this wonderful portrait. SOLD
PORTRAIT OF THEATER ACTRESS LILLIE THORNE
The attractive woman in this photographic portrait is named Lillie Harris Thorne. Her name is printed on the reverse of the image. There was a theater actress named “Lillie Thorne” who performed during the cabinet card era and the subject of this portrait is likely the same Lillie Thorne. The Golder & Robinson studio was located on Broadway in New York City and was known for it’s celebrity photographs. Unfortunately, preliminary research yielded little information about Lillian Thorne.
PORTRAIT OF A WEDDING COUPLE IN AUSTIN, MINNESOTA
This wedding portrait was produced by the Fairbanks studio in Austin, Minnesota. The bride is wearing a beautiful dress and veil. The groom is a handsome and wearing a fancy suit with a white bow tie. The wedding couple are wearing flowers galore. The photographer of this image is likely one of the Fairbanks brothers. In 1891,Henry Durant Fairbanks started a photography studio in Austin. He was joined by his brother, Guy L. Fairbanks in 1894. Henry Fairbanks appears in the US census (1900, 1910, and 1920). The census reveals that he was born in Vermont circa 1870. At the time of the three censuses he was married to Katie Fairbanks and was working as a photographer.
AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF TWO YOUNG SISTERS IN CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card photograph, by the Evans and Balsinger studio, does an excellent job of capturing the love between two adorable sisters. The older sister has an expression of apprehension. She does not seem to be thrilled about having her picture taken. The previous owner of this image asserted that the two subjects in this image are of Hispanic origin. That appears to be just a guess on his part although these girls do appear to be “ethnic”. The Pallet seen next to Evans and Balsiger’s name indicates that the photograph was produced in 1890. Advertising on the reverse of the cabinet card indicates that their studio was located on the Tompkin’s Block in Centralia, Illinois. (SOLD)
FASHIONABLE COUPLE IN RENSSELAER, INDIANA
A fashionable couple poses for their portrait at the Sharp studio in Rensselaer, Indiana. It is possible that this image is a wedding portrait. Joseph A. Sharp (1846-1903) was born in Frankfurt, Kentucky. He married Martha (Mattie) Stively (1849-1936) in 1874. Sharp’s obituary appears in the Semi Weekly Rensselaer Republican. The article states that Sharp began his photography career at age 21 while living in Ballfontaine, Ohio. He later lived in Kenton, Ohio and moved to Rensselaer in 1877. He worked about a year as a travelling photographer but the rest of his career he operated a studio in Rensselaer. The obituary asserts that one of the reasons he chose photography as a career was because at a young age he developed a hip disease which left him lame and unable to pursue a more active occupation. Sharp is buried in the Weston Cemetery in Rensselaer. Look below to see a photographic portrait of Joseph Sharp as well as an image of the tombstone he and his wife share.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 