An attractive young woman poses for her portrait at the Gray Studio in Boston, Massachusetts. Take special note of the detail of the subject’s face. The photographer did an excellent job with lighting and posing the subject. The image portrays her skin and facial features with accuracy and clarity. Note her bright eyes and how the photograph details the young lady’s hair. George E. Gray’s (1856-?) studio was located on historic Tremont Row. The 1900 US census lists Gray as living with his wife Minnie and his children Stanley (age 10) and Doris (age 5). He is listed as being born in Maine, although other sources report New Hampshire. The family also had a Swedish live-in woman (age 24) who was their “servant”. The census stated that George and Minnie married in 1889 and George was working as a photographer. The 1920 US census finds 64 year-old George and 50 year-old Minnie living with their son and George was still working as a photographer. In fact, Boston business directories confirm that George worked as a photographer from at least 1882 through 1931. SOLD
This cabinet card is a family portrait of a nicely dressed young couple and their baby. Mom and dad are wearing flowers and mom appears to be holding a cane or umbrella. The photograph was produced by the Flodin & Thyberg Photographic Art Studio in Worcester, Massachusetts. The photograph is dated 1889. Photographer, Ferdinand Flodin was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1863.He came to America in 1883 and studied photography in Boston with a well known photographer named Ernest Ritz. He then studied under renowned Boston photographer, William Notman. He moved to Worcester in 1887 and partnered with August Thyberg in opening a gallery. After a time, Thyberg withdrew from the business. Flodin was a very productive writer. He had several articles published in photography journals. He also wrote an illustrated book on Sweden. In addition, he wrote an article which appeared in “Photographic Mosaics: Annual Record of Photographic Progress” (1895). The article was entitled “Our Reception-Room Showcase”. The Wilson Photographic Magazine (1903) reported that Flodin returned to Sweden in 1898 and operated a studio in Stockholm. The magazine article includes some excellent photographs of the Swedish gallery. August Thyberg was born in Sweden in 1863. He immigrated to the United States in 1884. His wife, Alma, was also Swedish. The United States census provides further information about Thyberg. In 1900, he was living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and working as a merchant. In 1910, he lived in Springfield, Massachusetts and worked as a blacksmith. In 1920, he lived in Minneapolis and owned a shoe business. The 1930 census finds Thyberg retired in Minneapolis. It is safe to say, that unlike his one-time partner, Flodin; Thyberg had a difficult time sticking to an occupation. To view more photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Flodin & Thyberg. (SOLD)
This cabinet card offer a clear and crisp image of a uniformed member of a fraternal organization. Hopefully, a visitor to the cabinet card gallery will be able to identify which organization the gentleman represents. The photographer of this image is Edward P. Fowler and his studio was located in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Listings of his photography business indicate that he operated at least between the years 1869 and 1880. During that time period he operated his business on Main Street and on Merrimack Street, apparently not simultaneously.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 