A pretty young wasp waisted woman, holding a muff and wearing gloves, poses for what is likely a winter portrait at the Jarvis studio in Ottawa, Canada. According to an inscription on the reverse of the photograph, the corseted woman is named Mary Devlin and the photograph was taken in 1890. The photographer, Samuel J. Jarvis was a famed Ottawa photographer who opened a studio with partner Alfred Pittaway in 1882 while both were still teenagers. In 1890 they split up and became competitors. They joined forces again in 1907 and worked together until Pittaway’s retirement in 1928. Their studio did photo portraits, photojournalism, and operated a photographic supply shop and developing studio. The pair hired an artist who created elaborate sets and backdrops. The Ottawa Citizen (1948) published a feature story about Jarvis and his pioneering days in photography. Samuel J. Jarvis should not be confused with his photographer uncle, Samuel Jarvis.
PRETTY, YOUNG, AND WASP WAISTED IN OTTAWA CANADA: PORTRAIT OF MARY DEVLIN (1890)
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”.
TWO CUTE KIDS STANDING ON CHAIR IN WAPOKONETA, OHIO
Two cute kids, probably, sisters, are seen in the Cabinet Card posing on a chair for photographer W. E. Potter of Wapakoneta, Ohio. Both girls look a bit intimidated by their experience in front of the camera. The youngest girl is leaning close into her sisters shoulder, perhaps out of fear rather than the photographers instructions. Wapokoneta was an important site to Ottawa Native Americans and they were later replaced by the Shawnee. In 1883 the Shawnee and Seneca Native Americans were forced to leave the town. This primarily agricultural town also developed an oil and natural gas drilling industry during the 1880’s.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 