A nicely dressed old woman poses for her portrait at an unknown studio in an unknown locale. Her dress has beads and lace. Her hat is quite interesting. Her pose makes her appear to be a very serious and stern woman.
A NICELY DRESSED OLD WOMAN
PRETTY WOMAN IN DES MOINES, IOWA
A pretty woman poses for her cabinet card portrait in Des Moines, Iowa. The photographer is named James; his first name is unknown. The young woman is wearing a scalloped lace collar and a serious expression.
PRETTY WOMAN LACED IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (CIVIL WAR HERO PHOTOGRAPHER)
The attractive woman in this cabinet card is adorned with a lace cap and lace collar. Her outfit is a bit unusual but she would look beautiful no matter what she was wearing. The photographer of this image was F. W. Guerin, and his studio was located at 627 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri. Guerin received a medal for his work at the World Exposition in Paris (1878) and was similarly honored at the St. Louis Worlds Fair (1904). Fitz W. Guerin (1846-1903) was an excellent photographer but he was also a hero during the American Civil War. He was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Guerin was a private in Battery A, 1st Missouri Volunteer Light Artillery. His citation states that along with two of his comrades, he voluntarily took a position aboard the steamer, Cheeseman, in which he took charge of all the guns and ammunition. He took this role while the steamer was unmanageable and under heavy enemy fire. After the war he became an apprentice photographer and later had a successful career photographing the well-to-do citizens of St. Louis. Guerin took many wonderfully posed photographs of beautiful women; he seems to have had an eye for the ladies.
TODDLER WITH PRETTY WHITE LACE GOWN IN UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO
This cabinet card is a portrait of a toddler in a very pretty white lace gown. The child is also wearing black boots. The photographic studio is McCannon’s Art Gallery of Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
CALIFORNIA DREAMING AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY (PRETTY WOMAN IN SANTA ANA)
An attractive and well dressed west coast woman poses for her cabinet card photograph at the studio of E. Bowman in Santa Ana, California. She is looking quite pensive as she sits for her photographic portrait. Note her lace collar and hair ornament. Little information can be found about the photographer except that a photography magazine from 1894 announced that Ed Bowman bought the photography studio of Harry Hamaker in Santa Ana.
BEHIND THE LACE CURTAIN: TWO BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED WOMEN IN COMANCHE, TEXAS
This unusually posed Cabinet Card was photographed by Wright, in Comanche, Texas. Two beautifully dressed woman wearing long white dresses, pose behind a frilly lace curtain. The dresses are embellished with lace, flowers, and possibly fur or feathers. The woman on the right is holding a fan and wearing a cape. Who would have thought that these Comanche, Texas women could make such a beautiful fashion statement. Comanche, Texas is located in Central Texas and is the site of the saloon where gunfighter John Wesley Hardin killed a deputy in 1874. The Comanche Chief, the local newspaper, wrote in 1880 that James L Wright was the best photographic artist in Texas outside of some photographers in Galveston and Dallas. This claim sounds like a compliment with reservations.
Chavita: Beautiful Paris Stage Star
Chavita is captured in this Cabinet Card by famed Paris Photographer, Reutlinger. This beautiful woman is wearing a mantilla and holding a spanish fan. She is wearing a Spanish lace dress and is clearly in a corset. She danced at the opera=comique and was known for her “spicy numbers”. More information will be added when research uncovers further biographical information on this star of the Paris stage. To view other photographs by Charles Reutlinger, click on the category “Photographer: Reutlinger”.
Cute Little Girl with Big Lace Bonnet in Astoria
This wide eyed cute little girl is posing for her portrait at the Crow studio in Astoria. Note her her terrific curls. Research was not productive to determine whether this is the Astoria that is located in Queens, New York; or another Astoria, such as the one in Oregon. The only certainty is that the little girl is adorable as she dons her large lace bonnet for her sitting at the photographer.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 