Here is a man with character. This older gentleman is quite an intense looking man. He has a great looking beard. The beard has a layered cut appearance. The studio that produced this photograph is Holcombe & Alvord of Detroit, Michigan. Research reveals little about the men that operated this studio. Their full names were found to be Burton J. Holcombe and Charles E. Alvord. An article appearing in “The Photographic Times” (1884) announced that the partners had opened a new gallery at 220 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Advertising on this cabinet card reveals that the studio at some point had been located next door at number 22 Woodward Avenue.
PORTRAIT OF AN INTENSE MAN WITH CHARACTER IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
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.
ATTRACTIVE FAMILY POSES FOR PORTRAIT IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
John D. Strunk , a photographer from Reading, Pennsylvania, produced this portrait of an attractive young family. Mother and father pose with their four young children. The children are so close in age that it is possible that two of them may be twins. The two girls in the front of the photograph are wearing similar but not identical dresses. Perhaps their mother made them with the same materials and creatively gave them some variation. This image is an excellent family portrait which manages to capture each child in a reasonably good pose. An advertisement on the reverse of the photograph boasts “Instantaneous Portraits of Children Successful Specialty”. The self promotion appears to be well deserved. To view other photographs by the Strunk gallery, click on the category “Photographer: Strunk”.
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)”.
A GIRL AND HER LARGE DOLL IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
A young girl and her doll are the subjects of this cabinet card photograph. The doll is nearly as tall as the little girl. The studio that produced this image was Blaul & Baumgardner. Louis Blaul was a well known Philadelphia photographer who operated two studios in the city by 1890. Adolph J. Baumgardner was his business partner for a time in 1889. By 1890 Baumgardner was working with Louis H. Helbing at a studio on Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia. Louis Blaul was succeeded by his son in the photography business. The son, Louis Adolph Blaul (1884-1954) was a law student at the University of Pennsylvania when his father died. He left his law studies to take over his fathers business.
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”.
CUTE KIDS ON BROADWAY (NEW YORK CITY)
Two adorable kids pose for photographer Rud Bachmann whose studio was located on Broadway in New York City. The older child is holding a walking stick. It is very likely that the children are siblings. The photographer’s full name is Rudolph Bachmann. He was born in 1850 in Switzerland. He came to the United States in about 1880 and by 1884 was operating a photography business at 1437 Broadway in New York City. The gallery remained at that address until 1922 when the studio was relocated to 6 East 14th Street. Cabinet cards published after 1914 indicate that he was joined in business by his son.
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.”.
GENTLEMAN WITH PINCE NEZ EYEGLASSES IN SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
This cabinet card features a very interesting looking and nicely dressed gentleman. He is wearing a straw hat and pince nez glasses. He has the appearance of someone well educated. The subject of this portrait has a unique looking beard. To view other distinctive beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best). The photograph was produced by the McDonald Studio of South Bend, Indiana. The McDonald studio remains in business today. It is the oldest photography studio in the Michiana area. What is Michiana? Michiana is a region in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan centered on the city of South Bend.. Albert J. McDonald founded the gallery in 1861. He operated the business for 41 years and was succeeded by his son. The Bulletin of Photography (1917) printed McDonald’s obituary. The article reports that he was born in Rochester, New York in 1841. His family moved to South Bend when he was nine years of age.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 