A beautifully dressed couple pose for their portrait at a studio in Spring Valley, Minnesota. The photographer is Lucious M. Schofield who operated out of Spring Valley between 1889 and 1894. . Schofield’s gallery was taken over by E. G. Washburn. The couple in this photograph is dressed for a formal occasion and the quality of their clothing indicates that they are likely financially secure.
FORMALLY DRESSED COUPLE IN SPRING VALLEY, MINNESOTA
CANADIAN MAIDEN POSES IN MONTREAL
A Canadian maiden poses for her portrait in Montreal, Canada. She clearly is trying to look a bit sexually provocative in this photograph. She manages to succeed in her effort; but one must remember, a respectable turn of the century woman would not assume a more risque pose than the one she has taken in this photograph. Note the wicker furniture in this photograph. The photographers are Larin and Stidworthy of Montreal, Canada (2202 Notre Dame Street). The Larin in this partnership is Henry Larin.
FOUR ADORABLE SIBLINGS IN ZWEIBRUCKEN, GERMANY
Four adorable siblings pose for their studio portrait in Zweibrucken, Germany. The three sisters and their young brother/sister are pictured with some toys. Note the ball and a book. The oldest girl is holding the youngest child. Three of the children have bows in their hair. The photographer is E. Marr. Marr is mentioned in the American Journal of Photography (1890).
PRETTY LADY IN COLD WATER; MORE SPECIFICALLY, COLDWATER, MICHIGAN
A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the Gowdy Brothers Art Studio. The studio was located at 22 Chicago Street in Coldwater, Michigan. The subject of this photograph looks to be quite serious. Note the woman’s neckerchief. One of the Gowdy brothers is likely Albert G. Gowdy and a 1900 publication reports that the Gowdy Brothers studio was established in Coldwater in 1888 and that the studio was known nationally for its work producing photographic buttons and medallions.
TWO TEENAGE GIRLS POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN AUSTIN, MINNESOTA
Two pretty teenage girls pose for their portrait at the studio of J. O. Booen, in Austin, Minnesota. The seated girl is holding a photograph on her lap. The girls appear to be wearing identical long dark dresses and are likely sisters. Research has revealed little about Booen. He apparently operated out of Sanborn and Austin, Minnesota, and later, out of Winnebago City, Minnesota. He may have been a traveling photographer at one point and did some work in British Columbia, Canada. Booen has a panoramic photograph in the Library of Congress.
FAMILY PORTRAIT IN GREAT FALLS, MONTANA
A family of four poses for their portrait at the Elite Studio in Great Falls, Montana. Everyone is dressed in their nicest clothes for their day at the photographic studio. Note how the older daughter is posed. Her love for her dad is quite evident. Father’s pride in his family is also evident in this photograph. This family has the appearance of a Scandinavian family and in fact, the photograph is from the estate of a Norwegian immigrant family that settled in North Dakota and Montana. It is not clear who operated the Elite Studio at the time of this photograph. The Bulletin of Photography (1916) reported that “Louis Heyn of the Elite Studio sold an interest in his business” to employee Harry J. Keeley. It is likely that the studio belonged to Heyn at the time of this photograph.
ORIGINAL PLAYBOY BUNNY POSES IN TUNSTALL, ENGLAND
A young woman poses for her portrait at the studio of J. Addison & Company in Tunstall, England. Why didn’t the photographer or a family member tell this woman that her outfit made her look like a bunny rabbit? She is dressed in white, and her hat has two white feathers that point straight up like rabbit ears. Apologies to all those visitors looking for the original playboy bunny.
PRETTY WOMAN IN FRILLY CLOTHING IN TOLEDO, OHIO
A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the studio of Van Loo, in Toledo, Ohio. The woman possesses a beauty and a poise that may indicate that she is a theatrical actress. She is dressed in frills and has an elaborate and interesting hat. Van Loo’s studio was located at 183 Summit Street, in Toledo. William F. Van Loo (1856-1913) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and his family moved to Toledo in 1864. He left school at age 14 and worked as a salesman. He later went to work for a sign and landscape company, Yost Brothers. After learning sketching and drawing he studied portraiture with Professor Thompson of the Philadelphia Art School. He began his photography career in 1873, He trained in Chicago, Illinois; and in 1876 he he went to Toledo and purchased a failed photography studio which he made very successful. In 1882 his gallery averaged 400 prints daily; it was the largest studio in Toledo. In 1888 he formed Van Loo and Trost, with photographer Frederick J. Trost. Van Loo was also very active in the Toledo Masons.
PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN IN NORWICH, NEW YORK (1884)
This cabinet portrait captures a pretty young woman with wonderful deep dark eyes. The photographer is A. E. Hotchkiss ( c 1846-1907) of Norwich, New York. Alston E. Hotchkiss cane to Norwich in 1872 at the age of twenty-six. He ran the most popular photo gallery in town and it is reported that he took on the persona of an artistic and cultured gentleman. His wife played a major role in his running the studio and at one point, he employed at least twenty workers. To view other photographs by Hotchkiss, click on the category “Photographer: Hotchkiss”.
YOUNG GIRL AND HER HUGE ST. BERNARD IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK
A young girl poses with her huge St. Bernard at the studio of Albert L. Werner in Buffalo, New York. The long haired young girl in her dark dress sits with her arm partially around the outstretched dog. The dog appears to be a St. Bernard. The studio backdrop is faux garden or park type setting wall. Albert L. Werner’s name is still prominent in Buffalo. The Werner Photography Building stands in the Genesee neighborhood of Buffalo. The building is considered a work of “artistic architecture”. It was constructed in 1895 and was designed by internationally prominent Buffalo architect, Richard A. Waite. Werner was a popular photographer of German descent who began operating a photographic studio in 1890, He relocated his business into the Werner Building in 1896. Some historians believe that the building may have been designed with him and his business in mind and the building certainly was assigned his name. Werner left the building in 1899, but his name remained on the building throughout modern times. The signage with his name was recently repainted. To view other photographs by Werner, click on the category “Photographer: Werner”.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 