RISQUE PORTRAIT OF BURLESQUE ACTRESS KATE EVERLEIGH BY WARREN’S PORTRAITS IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

EVERLEIGH

This cabinet card captures the beauty of actress Kate Everleigh. The image is risque for the cabinet card era. Preliminary research reveals no personal details of the life of Miss Everleigh. However, there are many articles citing her theatrical appearances.  In fact, her portrait appears on the front page of  “The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News” in both 1885 and 1886 editions. She is also referenced in the book “A History of the New York Stage” (1903) for appearing in Reese and Farnie’s burlesque production of  “Oxygen” and Lydia Thompson’s Company’s production of “Bluebird”. Everleigh also appeared in the original London cast of  “Erminie” (1885). The magazine “The Theatre” (1885) cites her appearances in “Nemesis” and “Family Ties”. Miss Everleigh also performed in the United States. She is mentioned as a performer in a burlesque show in San Francisco called “The Mother, The Maiden, and The Musicianer” (1880). This is a high quality photograph and not surprisingly, comes from a well respected studio in Boston, Massachusetts. The studio is Warren’s Portraits and it was located at 465 Washington Street. The photographer was George K. Warren. Warren’s Studios photographed many celebrities and notable people in Boston. To view other photographs by Warren, click on the category “Photographer: Warren”.

Published in: on December 9, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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GRADUATION PICTURE OF YOUNG WOMAN IN EAST SUMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS

A young girl in a fancy dress poses for her graduation portrait. She is holding a rolled diploma which is pressed against the keyboard of a piano. There are scattered books atop the piano. A ribbon hangs over the books and the ribbon has lettering on it. Magnification indicates that part of the wording says “Class of 1887” and has a drawing of a building on it (is the building a school?). The photographer of the image is B. F. Freeman whose studio was located At 42 Broadway in East Somerville, Massachusetts. Freeman was listed as a photograher in the Somerville City Directory (1883) and the New England Business Directory (1889).

Published in: on October 31, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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COUPLE SITS IN FRONT OF A FIREPLACE IN COMFORTABLE LIVING ROOM IN WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS (EXTRAORDINARY BACKDROP)

This cabinet card photograph captures a couple sitting in front of fireplace in a comfortable looking living room. The photograph is quite remarkable. First, the photograph features a setting that could easily be perceived as a real living room. It is as if the photographer went to this couples house to photograph them. The cabinet cards on the mantelpiece is a great touch of realism as is showing the woman with a crochet project on her lap and the end of the crochet hook in her mouth. She is either sucking or chewing on the hook, the way many people mouth a pencil or pen. There isn’t much to say about the man in this photograph. He seems oblivious to the photographer and intent upon staring at his wife. It looks as if he is admiring his wife and wondering how he found such a great woman. Back to the photograph’s setting. Upon close observation, it is apparent that this is a studio photograph that utilizes an extraordinary backdrop. This may be one of the best backdrops I have seen in cabinet card photography. The photographer of this wonderful image is William Alexander Webster (1857-?) and his studio was located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Webster was born in Ontario, Canada. He married Sheloa (also spelled Schola and Shelor on census) Slipp in 1879. Photographs he took in the early 1890’s of the American Waltham Watch Factory are considered important historic records of the company and the city of Waltham. At the time these images were taken, Webster operated his gallery from 111 Moody Street in Waltham.  Mr. Webster was not only an able photographer, but he was also very politically involved in photography organizations. The Anthony Photographic Bulletin (1899) stated that Webster was on the “Committee on Nomination of Officers” for the Photographic Association of America. According to Wilson Photographic Magazine (1908), he was the Vice President of the Photographers Association of New England. A number of sources report that he was the organization’s President in 1909.

Published in: on October 12, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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ATTRACTIVE AND FASHIONABLE COUPLE IN LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS (FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER WITH PHOTOGRAPHIC GENES)

An attractive and fashionable couple stand in front of the camera in this portrait by Duclos. The gallery was located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The couple in this photograph are very well dressed and likely affluent. The couple are unidentified. This is a lovely image but there was an error made in setting up the couple’s pose. Take a close look and see if you can find the photographer’s mistake. I will describe the error in the second-to-last sentence of this paragraph. There is only sketchy information about the photographer of this image. However, the information is pretty amazing. An article in the Nashua Telegraph (1909) is entitled “DUCLOS FAMILY OF PHOTOGRAPHERS: THREE GENERATIONS OF PICTURE TAKERS”. The story reveals that the family of Mr and Mrs Alphonse Duclos of Lowell,was a family of photographers. Both father and mother were photographers and each of their six children “have charge” of photography studios. Each of the married children were married to photographers and the one and only grandchild (age 12) was considered a prodigy photographer. The article reports where each of the members of the Duclos family worked as photographers. Sadie Duclos is the family member who operated studios (2) in Lowell. When setting up the pose and while photographing this image, Sadie did not notice one of the woman’s shoes sticking out from under her dress. To view the work of other female photographers, click on the category “Female Photographers”.

Published in: on August 8, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (4)  
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION MAN WITH A FEATHER IN HIS HAT IN EAST CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

A gentleman poses for his portrait in the full uniform of his fraternal organization. The name of his fraternal organization is unknown to me but hopefully a visitor to this image will be able to identify it. I am sure that the crossed canes (which aren’t likely really canes) on the sash and jacket sleeves will be the major clue in accurate identification of the group. The uniform’s hat has a feather and I wonder if that is a tassel we see over his left shoulder or if it’s a turn of the century mullet. Note the man’s belt buckle and sword. The sword has an elaborate handle. Legibility problems interfere with identifying the photographer who produced this portrait. It is not an infrequent occurrence when fancy script makes it impossible to identify a photographers name on a cabinet card. Sometimes one can find the photographer’s name in such circumstances by researching the studio’s address. Such a search was done in this case but it was not productive.

Published in: on July 13, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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ATTRACTIVE COUPLE IN HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS

This cabinet card features an attractive couple posing for their portrait at the studio of W. B. Miles, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The gallery was located at 151 High Street. The attractive and shapely young woman is wearing a corset and beautiful dress. The gentleman is holding a walking stick; and a chain from his pocket watch is evident under his jacket.To view other photographs by Mr. Miles, click on the category “Photographer: Miles”.

Published in: on October 1, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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TURN OF THE CENTURY CARPENTER AND PAINTER IN WARREN, MASSACHUSETTS

This occupational cabinet card features two men dressed in work garb. The man on the left appears to be a painter and he is equipped with his paint pail and brush. His stained overalls show that he is a veteran painter. Note the large clean brush in his shirt pocket. The gentleman on the right seems to be a carpenter. He is holding a saw and rule which he is resting on a sawhorse. He is wearing an apron and both men have caps to keep their hair clean. The photographer is Penfield and the location of the studio is Warren, Massachusetts. Daniel Edward Penfield (1842-1914) was born in Meriden, Connecticut and died in Warren, Mass.

Published in: on May 12, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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MILITARY MAN IN FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS

A clean cut young man poses for his portrait while wearing his dress military uniform. He  is either in the military or he is a cadet in a military school. Perhaps a visitor to the site can make the final determination. The photographer of this cabinet card is J. C. Moulton of 368 Main Street, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Joseph Carr Moulton (1824-1914) was born in Sandwich, Mass. to farming parents. He was a descendant of the famous Revolutionary War officer, General Moulton. He left home at 21 and went to Newton, Mass. where he worked in a machine shop. The job didn’t suit him, so he began working as a photographer. He arrived in Fitchburg in 1848, and one of his studios was located at 159 Main Street (1876-1900).  Moulton was involved in many aspects of Fitchburg’s community life. He was the superintendent of his church’s sunday school, he was a Mason, and he was the first President of the local YMCA.

Published in: on February 19, 2011 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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CUTE CURLY HAIRED GIRL IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

A cute girl poses for her portrait at the studio of Latto, of Boston, Massachusetts. The youth is wearing a lot of jewelry; including a necklace, bracelets, and rings. She is also wearing a ribbon as well as an interesting belt and button sweater. She has moderately long hair and it is quite curly. The photographer, John C. Latto is listed as a photographer in the 1873 Boston Directory. At that time, he was partnered with George T. Rand. A publication of the South Boston Citizen’s Association(1900) mentions the “recent” death of Latto and the sale of his business to photographer, Lester Ayer. The publication also cites Latto as one of the leading photographers of Boston.

Published in: on January 28, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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LACE ABOUNDS IN PORTRAIT OF TWO SIBLINGS IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

This cabinet card is an image of siblings posing for their photograph at the studio of Herman Buchholz of Springfield, Massachusetts. The children are dressed in their finest clothing and the oldest is carrying a beaded purse. The photographer, Herman Buckhholz (1839-?) was born in Berlin, Prussia.  His studio was located at 365 Main Street when he produced this cabinet card. He was an active photographer between 1869 and 1896.  He found time to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1890-1891.

Published in: on August 26, 2010 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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