A couple and their two young children pose for the photographer at the “The Two Johns” studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple is dressed in western clothing. The woman’s outfit looks suspiciously like a salvation army uniform. The woman is holding an umbrella. The little girls couldn’t be sitting any closer. Their straw hats can be seen on the floor. Note how elaborate the backdrop is in this photograph.
FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHED BY “THE TWO JOHNS” IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
CLASS PHOTO IN FRONT OF RURAL SCHOOLHOUSE IN PRAGUE, NEBRASKA
This cabinet card offers a glimpse back into historical times of the American education system. This image dates back before “teaching for the test” was standard policy for many school districts. Sixteen children are posed in front of their schoolhouse. Their young teacher stands behind his class. The children seem to have dressed nicely for “picture day”, but at least a couple of the boys are barefoot. F. H.Svoboda was the photographer of this image and his studio was located in Prague, Nebraska. At one time, Svoboda published the first, and only, Czech juvenile magazine in Nebraska. He was a school teacher and later engaged in photography. In 1909, he began to publish the Schuyler Messenger, which existed until 1920. The Messenger was a weekly newspaper in Schuyler, Nebraska. The town of Prague has an interesting history. Its early inhabitants included many Czech settlers who arrived in America seeking prosperity during the 1880’s. In 1887, the town was built to support a newly established railroad station. The town was built by the Lincoln Land Company and became a thriving community catering to the agricultural economy of the area. The largest business in the town was a lumberyard. The town’s name, Prague, is named after the capital city of Czechoslovakia.
THE BOYS IN THE BAND: TWO TUBA PLAYERS IN GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
This cabinet card features two uniformed band members and their instruments, which according to my limited musical knowledge, are tubas. Note that the instruments have the written music attached via musical symbol clips. Hopefully, a visitor to this site can leave a comment explaining the significance of the design of the clips. The musicians are handsome men and appear very serious as they pose for their portrait. The pin on the band members cap has the letters “DCB”. The meaning of this abbreviation is unknown. The photographic studio that produced this image was W. F. Kilborn of Grand Island, Nebraska.
BEARDED MAN IN TECUMSEH, NEBRASKA
This cabinet card photograph captures a bearded man posing for his portrait at the studio of Hover & Shaw in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Hover & Shaw were active photographers in the 1890’s. The gentleman in this image wears a beard that is nicely groomed and he gains entry into the Cabinet Card Gallery’s “Beards (Only the Best)” category. Check out the category for some interesting adventures in the beard world.
HANDSOME COUPLE IN FREMONT, NEBRASKA (1888)
A handsome and well dressed couple pose for their portrait at the studio of F. E. Dwight in Fremont, Nebraska. Dwight operated his photographic studio in Fremont during 1888 or 1889. A viewer of this photograph described the gentleman’s tie as simply “smashing”.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 