This cabinet card portrait features a smiling young woman wearing unusual attire. Is she wearing a uniform? If her clothing is a uniform, is she wearing it for work or is she part of a sports team? Note that her cap matches her jacket and that the style of her blouse is atypical for the cabinet card era. Hopefully, some cabinet card gallery’s visitors will leave a comment speculating or informing the rest of us about the fashion worn in this photograph. The Hawkins studio, located in Montpelier, Ohio, produced this image. Research reveals that there was a photographer in Montpelier named George B. Hawkins. At some point, there was a studio in Montpelier called Hawkins & Marsh. It is likely that George Hawkins once partnered with Mr. Marsh. The reverse of the cabinet card has an inscription which states “Cousin to Marian” and “Kelly-girl”. Clearly, the subject of this portrait is a cousin to Marian and it is likely that the subject’s last name is “Kelly”. The term “Kelly-girl” took a different meaning many years after this photograph was taken. In 1946, Russell Kelly started a business providing temporary employees to local Detroit businesses. His employees called themselves “Kelly Girls” to distinguish themselves from their temporary office coworkers. Russell Kelly’s novel business idea gave birth to the modern staffing business. SOLD
YOUNG WOMAN WEARING UNUSUAL ATTIRE IN MONTPELIER, OHIO
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 