This cabinet card features an adorable little girl standing on a wicker chair as she poses for her portrait. She is barefoot and has a radiant smile. The photographer is Carl Thiel, of Duluth, Minnesota. Thiel was located on Ingalls Block, in Duluth, between 1887 and 1891. His studio moved to 105 West Superior, in Duluth, between 1891 and 1901. It is also known that he had a studio in Hibbing, Minnesota, in 1914. Research reveals that he was a close friend of Feodor von Luerzor (1851-1913), an Austrian born landscape painter who immigrated to the United States in 1886. Thiel, a former actor, occupied a studio in the same building that Von Luezor had his painting studio. Thiel’s cabinet card work is favorably cited in Anthony’s Photographic Bulletin (1888).
CUTE LITTLE GIRL STANDING ON A WICKER CHAIR IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA
UNREMARKABLE PORTRAIT BY MISS GARRITY: FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card is a very ordinary profile portrait of a middle aged woman. She is nicely dressed in a high collar dress with lace trim. The only thing remarkable about this cabinet card is that the photographer, Miss Garrity, is a woman. Miss Garrity’s studio was located in Chicago, Illinois. To see other photographs by this photographer; click on the category “Photographer: Garrity”.
MRS. TURNER POSES IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
A nicely dressed, handsome woman poses for her portrait at the studio of Howie, in Detroit, Michigan. Penciled on the reverse of the card is the name “Mrs. Turner”. Also written are the words “Bennett Brothers Show”. Hopefully, a visitor to the Cabinet Card Gallery can shed some light on the identity of the “Bennett Brothers” and possibly Ms. Turner.
PAOLA MARIE: FRENCH OPERA STAR, NEWS OF HER IMPENDING DEATH PROVES FALSE
Paola Marie was a well known and talented French opera star. She was the sister of opera star Irma Marie. The publication “Every Saturday” (1874) tells an interesting tale about the performer. She was appearing in Bordeaux, France when an oversight or practical joke occurred in the printing of a notice advertising that her engagement was about to come to an end. The sign said that “Mlle Paola Marie was expiring on “friday next”, and there would be only four more performances of “The Perichole”. The notice should have said that the performance of the opera was about to expire. Upon reading about the star’s impending death, her faithful fans came out in mass, carrying many bouquets of flowers, to pay their “last homage” to the popular actress. The photographer of this cabinet card, Mora, was a celebrity photographer located on Broadway, in New York City. To see other photographs by Mora, click on the category, “Photographer: Mora”.
SALVATION ARMY LADY AND BIBLE IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
A young woman dressed in her Salvation Army uniform poses for her portrait in a Brooklyn, New York photographic studio (262 Columbia Street). The woman appears to be holding a bible and her Salvation Army badge is evident on her collar. The name of the photographer is difficult to interpret but it appears to be Thelou & Co. Research reveals that another photographer, named Leeds, also operated at the Columbia Street address, and that in 1883, the studio was put up for sale.
BRASS BAND IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
The Boys in the Band gather for this cabinet card photograph by photographer John Strunk, in Reading, Pennsylvania. The uniformed brass band consists of four member. A consultation from the Cabinet Card Gallery’s unpaid research department would be helpful, but for the time being, I will identify the bandsmen’s instruments as being a clarinet, trumpet, french horn and a flute. To view other photographs by Strunk, click on the category of “Photographer: Strunk”.
THE MAN WITH THE STEEL WOOL BEARD IN EXETER, ENGLAND
A well dressed man poses for his portrait at the studio of Charles Keeping in Exeter, England. The subjects beard looks remarkably similar to a Brillo pad. Pity his poor wife during their amorous times together. The photographer, Charles Keeping (1842-?) was born at Lymington in Hampshire. He first worked as a photographer in Exeter in about 1870.He set up a studio at New Bridge Street after moving to Exeter from Torquay between 1867 and 1870. The studio moved to the address listed on this cabinet card (1, Exe Bridge) in 1873. Keeping also had a number of branch studios. In the mid to late 1880’s the business was known as the “Exonia Studio”. The available history indicates that this image was produced between 1873 and the late 1880’s. The subjects steel wool type beard is his ticket to enter the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Beards (Only the Best). Click on the category to see an amazing collection of unusual and interesting beards.
SALVATION ARMY COUPLE IN POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card photograph features a couple dressed in Salvation Army Uniforms. They are likely a married couple considering the familiarity evident by the woman resting her hand on the mans shoulder. The man is holding his hat on his knee and is wearing a Salvation Army Badge. The photograph was taken at Lachman’s Studio in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A photographic journal (1894) cites a studio called Isaac S. Lachman & Son located in Pottstown. Anthony’s Photographic Bulletin (1901) reports the “recent death” of Isaac Lachman.
HANDSOME GUY IN A FUR COAT IN TORONTO, CANADA
A good looking young man, adorned in a fur coat, poses for his portrait. The photographer is J. Fraser Bryce and his studio was located on 107 King Street West, in Toronto, Canada. Bryce was born in 1852 in Dundas, Ontario. After completing his education he went to Toronto and studied photography with Thomas Hunter. He supplemented his training with then acclaimed photographers, C. C. Randall of Detroit, Michigan, and J. F. Ryder of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1884, Bryce located permanently in Toronto buying Hunter’s studio. Bryce is cited in the American Annuals of Photography (1887) as a member of the executive committee of the Photographic Association of Canada.
J. B. TITUS AND HIS BEARD IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
A gentleman, identified as J. B. Titus (on the reverse of the cabinet card) is the subject of this photograph by G. E. Lawrence, of Los Angeles, California. George E. Lawrence was also a member of the California National Guard and was listed as holding a rank of Major and as being a Signal Officer. The military information is listed in a publication of the California Adjutant General’s Office (1906). The subject, Mr. Titus, has an interesting thick and scraggly beard which qualifies him to join the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Beards (Only the Best)”. Click on the category to view multiple photographs of remarkable beards.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 