This cabinet card features two attractive young women, obviously sisters, posing in white clothing and wearing dark leather caps. What is the story concerning the caps? The headwear is certainly quite unusual to be seen in a photograph from this era. Are the caps part of an occupational uniform? One wonders if the caps are driving caps, but the automobile was likely not around all that long when this photograph was taken. Any theories about the hats would be welcome from cabinet card gallery visitors. Please leave a comment with your theories. This cabinet card was photographed by the Baker Art Gallery of Columbus, Ohio. To learn more about the gallery and to view other photographs by the Baker’s, click on the category “Photographer: Baker Art Gallery”.
TWO PRETTY YOUNG WOMEN: SISTERS WEARING LEATHER CAPS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
VICTORIAN STAGE ACTRESS IN COSTUME IN STEUBENILLE, OHIO
A young woman poses for her portrait at the studio of Filson & Son in Steubenville, Ohio. The woman is likely a stage actress and is dressed in a somewhat daring fashion. She is carrying a picnic basket as she prepares to walk through a swung open gate. The basket has a checkered napkin covering the food she is carrying. To learn more about the Filson & Son studio, and to see other photographs by Filson, click on the category “Photographer: Filson”.
YOUNG CHILD AND LITERARY DOG POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN MOUNT VERNON, OHIO
Photographer, Fred S. Crowell published this cabinet card portrait of a child and his/her pet dog. The dog appears to be an English Springer Spaniel. Writing on the reverse of the card indicates that the child’s name was Caroll Clucas and the dogs name was Peredeo. The canine’s name was not completely legible and Peredeo is a “best guess”. Peredeo is actually a name that comes from the story of Rosamund. Rosamund, the wife of King Alboin plotted to have her cruel husband killed. It was suggested to her that she employ Peredeo, “a very strong man”, to accomplish the murder. Peredeo refused to kill his King, but that night, he mistakenly slept with a disguised Rosamund. As a result of this adultery, Peredeo agreed to kill Alboin, in order to avoid retribution for sleeping with Rosamund. Now lets jump many centuries forward to the mid to late 1800’s. The photographer did an excellent job of photographing the dog; no easy task. Crowell’s studio was located in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Fred Crowell (1844-?) was born in Huron County, Ohio. He began his career as a salesman in a bookseller and stationers shop. He next worked for a jeweler. His first photography job was in Mt. Vernon but he also worked in Norwalk, Sandusky, and Cleveland, Ohio. His photography jobs included a stint in Erie, Pennsylvania. Crowell rose in his career to own photography galleries. He operated in Frederickstown, Ohio (1866-1869) and Mt. Vernon (1869-1889). To view other photographs by Crowell, click on the category “Photographer: Crowell”. Little information could be found about the identity of Caroll Clucas. It appears that his parents names were William G. Clucas and Ida Cassel Clucas. He had a sister, Fenella Viola Clucas (1887-?).
UNIFORMED MAN WITH A LANTERN (OCCUPATIONAL CABINET CARD)
This cabinet card is a staged portrait of a man at work. The man is wearing a uniform and most likely he is a railroad worker. He may be an engineer or possibly a conductor. He is holding a brass lantern and writing on a pad. The man’s facial expression seems to say that he means business. One can easily imagine seeing him standing next to a train at a railroad station taking notes. The photographer of this cabinet card is Lyman & Wells, of Columbus, Ohio.
A VERY STERN LOOKING YOUNG BOY FROM CANTON, OHIO
This cabinet card features a young boy who is very fashionably dressed and is carrying a walking stick. Note his cap, large bow, and pocket handkerchief. Also look at his short suit. His very stern look and his outfit makes him look much older than his actual age. The photographer of this image is F. A. Jewell of Canton, Ohio. He was active in Canton during the early 1890’s. He specialized in portraits and photographs of large family groups.
AMBIVALENT FOX HUNTER AND HIS PET FOX IN KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA
This cabinet card features a fox hunter, posing in his hunting clothing, and his double barreled shotgun. He is also posing with his pet fox and his bounty from his hunt, a dead fox. He is holding the pet fox by a chain. This is a very ambivalent hunter. On one hand, he hunts and kills foxes, and on the other, he keeps a fox as a pet. The hunter appears to have been a very conflicted young man. The photographer of this cabinet card is Frank D. Sullivan of Kendallville, Indiana. The Bulletin of Photography (1922) announced the purchase of Sullivan’s studio to A. D. Conkle, “formerly of Kenton, Ohio. The journal also reported that Sullivan and his wife had moved to Portland Oregon.
PRETTY WOMAN IN TOLEDO, OHIO PHOTOGRAPHED BY FRUGAL PHOTOGRAPHER
This cabinet card is a portrait of a pretty dark haired woman. The photographer is Hill, and the photograph was taken at his studio at 417 Summit Street, in Toledo, Ohio. The photographer formerly operated a studio in Detroit, Michigan. That studio was located at 47 & 49 Monroe Avenue. Hill clearly was a frugal man which is apparent by his using the printed card stock from his Detroit studio at his new location in Toledo. Hill simply crossed out his old address and stamped the front and the reverse of the card with his new studio address. His changes were printed in red.
CHRISTINE HUDSON IN BABES IN TOYLAND
This Cabinet Card features stage actress Christine Hudson in costume for her role in “Babes in Toy Land”. The New York Times (9/10/1905) reports that the show was appearing at the West End Theatre and the cast included May De Sousa. An earlier edition of the New York Times (1902) announces her appearance in “Princess Chic”. The reverse of the cabinet card has an affixed label stating that the photograph is number H-16 of the “Oral M. Heffner Theatrical Collection” and the property of the Franklin County Historical Society. Research sheds some light on the Heffner collection. The Ohio State Archeological and Historical Quarterly (1953) writes that the first showing of the Oral M. Heffner Theare Collection was in 1953 and that the collection included over 700 rare photographs of early actors and actresses “who visited Columbus years ago”. The label on the front of this photograph blocks the name of the photographer. The name of the photographer etched on this image appears to be “Hall”. There was a Hall Studio located in New York City at a different Broadway address and it is possible that the studio was once at the Broadway address listed on this cabinet card. However, confirmation is needed and any verification help from a visitor to this site would be appreciated. To see other images by Hall, click on the category “Photographer: Hall”. To see other cabinet cards from the Heffner Collection, click on Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Oral M. Heffner Theatrical Collection”.
ALERT BABY SITTING IN A BABY CARRIAGE IN OTTAWA, ILLINOIS.
This scalloped edged cabinet card captures a baby sitting in a carriage in the studio of J. A. Wilson & August F. Gerding, in Ottawa, Illinois. The attentive baby seems to be intensely surveying the studio. A blanket sits neatly atop the carriage. To see a collection of baby carriage cabinet cards, click on the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Baby Carriage”.
JOHN AND MINERVA SUMMERS: ATTRACTIVE COUPLE IN FORT RECOVERY, OHIO
John and Minerva Summers pose for their portrait at the studio of Harry McDaniel (1868-?) in Fort Recovery, Ohio. The couple is beautifully dressed for this cabinet card portrait. The photographer, McDaniel, was boorn in Gibson City, Illinois. He was known to be an active photographer in Fort Recovery around 1900. Fort Recovery is a very old town. It was established by the US Army in 1794.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 