This cabinet card portrait captures two siblings posing for their portrait at the New York Art Gallery, in Davenport, Iowa. The photographer is M. M. Ormsby. Note the children’s hats. Big sister’s straw hat is next to her and it features a ring of daisies. Little brother is holding his hat and looks very cute in his bow tie. Both are dressed up in their finest for their day at the photographer’s studio.
ADORABLE SIBLINGS POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN DAVENPORT, IOWA
ASIAN MAN IN DAVENPORT, IOWA (IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO!)
This photograph features a gentleman of Asian appearance posing in the studio of Jarvis White, in Davenport, Iowa. The subject may not actually be of Asian descent; the hypothesis is certainly debatable. The gentleman has a fantastic and well tended mustache and beard. The photograph has remarkable clarity. The reverse of the photo has a pencilled inscription of a woman’s first name (Grace) and an illegible last name. The card is also dated November, 1898. To view other images of interesting facial hair, click on this site’s categories of Beards: (Only the Best) and Mustaches (Only the Best). The photographer of this image established his photographic studio in 1874 and was the successor to Hastings, White & Fisher, of 320 Brady Street, in Davenport, Iowa.
HUSBAND AND WIFE POSE FOR INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS IN KEOKUK, IOWA
A very handsome couple pose for individual portraits at Libby’s New Photograph Parlors in Keokuk, Iowa. The reverse of the card has a penciled inscription indicating the location was Keokuk, and research confirms that Libby’s was located there. This couple is beautifully dressed and have stylish hairstyles. They have the appearance of prominent citizens of Keokuk. It is also possible that they are important visitors to the town.
BABY IN A CARRIAGE IN IOWA CITY, IOWA
This cabinet card features a baby in an ornate baby carriage. The child is covered by a fur blanket and has a comfortable looking pillow. The photographer is P. D. Werts of Iowa City, Iowa. Werts is mentioned in two photography journals from 1894. One of the journals includes one of his photographs of Iowa’s Governor and the Governor’s wife.
BABY IN AN ORNATE CARRIAGE IN WAUKON, IOWA
Baby Isabella sits up and peers out of her ornate baby carriage. She has a terrific smile. The photographer is Robert I Steele (1861-1945) of Waukon, Iowa. His obituary, in the Waukon Democrat, indicates that he was born in Pennsylvania and his family settled on a farm in Waukon in 1864. He began working as a photographer as a young man. In 1902, he sold his studio to Bert Hewitt, who worked as his assistant for the previous two years.
RUFFLES AND STRIPES: TWO CUTE KIDS IN SHELL ROCK, IOWA
Two adorable kids pose for their cabinet card portrait at the studio of Myer, in Shell Rock, Iowa. The children are most likely siblings; possibly even twins. They are sitting on a large wicker chair. The young girl is smiling and wearing a cute striped dress. The young boy appears less happy than his sister and is wearing a white shirt with ruffles.
“I PUT A SPELL ON YOU”…. AN ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING GUY AND A HYPNOTIZED WOMAN IN CEDAR FALLS, IOWA
This cabinet card is a portrait of a man, reminiscent of Svengali, and a woman who appears as if she is under an evil hypnotic trance. This photograph is surreal. The lighting makes the man look as if his head is aglow and the woman being positioned close behind the man is quite unusual. The photographer is Sorensen who operated a studio in Cedar Falls, Iowa in 1880 and then again in 1895 through 1896. To view other photographs by Sorensen, click on the category “Photographer: Sorensen”.
COOL LONG HAIRED MAN IN FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA (WILLIE NELSON TYPE)
This Cabinet Card photograph is an image of a very interesting looking man. His long hair and beard makes him look like Willie Nelson. This gentleman is from Faribault, Minnesota; or perhaps he was from elsewhere and just “on the road again”. The photographic studio was Peavey and Peterson of Faribault, Minnesota. Louis Peavey (c1832-1902) was a photographer active in Decorah, McGregor, and Ossion, Iowa (1864-1870). He opened a studio in Faribault, Minnesota in 1870 and partnered with Christian Peterson in about 1878 until near the end of the 1890’s.
DUTCH MAN IN DUTCH TOWN PHOTOGRAPHED BY DUTCH PHOTOGRAPHER IN ORANGE CITY, IOWA
This Cabinet Card presents some interesting questions. Who is this man? What is his ethnicity? What is his story? The answers are lost to history but we can hazard some guesses. Perhaps the history of Orange City, Iowa can provide a little helpful information. Orange City was originally called Holland when it was founded in 1870 by settlers from Pella, Iowa who were looking for better and cheaper land. History books refer to Orange City as being known as the “Dutch Garden” or one of the “Dutch Colonies”. The photographer of this cabinet card is J. Jelgerhuis of Orange City, Iowa. The photographer’s last name indicates Dutch ethnicity. My hypothesis is that the subject of this photograph is a Dutch man, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it. This is an especially good idea since I don’t have a farm. It sure would be terrific if a visitor to this site can identify historical details concerning this gentleman’s hat. I am quite sure that such information will illuminate the issue of his ethnic origin.
HANDSOME BEARDED MAN IN DES MOINES, IOWA
This Cabinet card is an addition to this blogs extensive beard category. The gentleman subject of this photograph is identified as Jud Henshaw. The photographer is W. C. Edinger of Des Moines, Iowa. Edinger was an accomplished photographer. His work appeared in the Photo Beacon Magazine (1897) and he is mentioned in Photo-Miniature Magazine (1901). Edinger was also the Secretary of the Photographers Association of Iowa.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 