PORTRAIT OF AFFECTIONATE BUDDIES IN ASHLAND, WISCONSIN

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This terrific vintage photograph exudes warmth and friendship. These guys look like buddies. They seem to be quite happy to have an opportunity to have their friendship preserved in a photograph. During the cabinet card era men were more comfortable with physical displays of affection between them. At least it appears that way after viewing many cabinet card portraits of pairs and groups of young men. The young men in this portrait appear quite self-confident and charismatic. The photographer that produced this image is either Carl or Christian (Christopher) Raven (1854-?). Both men are listed as photographers in Ashland County, Wisconsin. According to one source, Carl operated a studio between 1905 and 1906 while Christian worked as a photographer between 1897 and 1908. Christian was born in Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1867 and was married to Lizzie Raven. Whichever Mr. Raven took this photograph, he certainly had an eye for creating a spirited image.

Published in: on March 28, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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VERY PRETTY FASHIONISTA IN SPARTA, WISCONSIN

richardsonThis cabinet card features a very pretty woman wearing a feathered hat. The feathers are likely ostrich feathers. She is wearing a beautiful dress and has flowers pinned to it in two places. She is wearing something that looks like a scarf wrapped around her neck and running down the dress’s front. Her hat is also beautiful. This woman would be considered a fashionista if she lived during the present era. She exudes stylishness. The woman has curly hair and an inquisitive expression. The Richardson Brothers photography firm produced this cabinet card and is mentioned in the Wisconsin Business Directory (1919).The brothers first names are cited as “Fred” and “Frank”. The “Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin ……….” (1895) provides a different first name than Frank. It states that H. N. Richardson was born in 1854 in Sparta, Wisconsin. His father was a wagon maker turned farmer. H. N. was the youngest of five children.At age 21 he left the family farm and went to work in a Sparta marble works. At 23 years of age he moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was employed for three years n a Marble Works there before returning to Sparta. He joined his brother Frank in a photography business named “Richardson Brothers”. The brothers operated the gallery together for four years. Then H. N. moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin and established his own studio. He eventually developed branches in Plainfield, Scandinavia, and Hancock (all in Wisconsin). H. N. Richardson married Miss Jennie A. Linneman of Minnesota and they had four children. The “St. Louis and Canadian Photographer (1900) reported that Richardson Brothers Studio in Sparta was destroyed by fire. Research also revealed that at one time Fred Richardson was partners with Fred Foster in a studio in Sparta named “Richardson and Foster”.   SOLD

Published in: on February 20, 2015 at 2:29 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FOUR YOUNG SIBLINGS AND A HARMONICA IN STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN

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Four young children pose for their portrait at the O. R. Moore gallery in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. It is close to certain that the children are siblings. The two oldest kids are girls and they appear to be wearing dresses made from the same fabric. It is not uncommon to see siblings wearing identical clothing in cabinet card photographs. One would guess that the reason for this practice was simply economics. The older girl is securely holding her youngest sibling securely on a chair. The baby has a harmonica in her/his hands. This image was taken in 1895. In 1891 Orville R. Moore worked as an operator for Sturgeon Bay photographer W. A. Drumb before opening his own studio. He opened his own studio by 1898. Some years later he sold his business and it became the Rieboldt Studio. Moore is mentioned in a number of photography journals. The “Photographic Times” (1898) cites him as competing in a photography competition sponsored by the Photography Association of Wisconsin. The “Bulletin of Photography” (1924) reports that Moore had returned to Sturgeon Bay after a fifteen year absence and opened a new photography studio.   SOLD

Published in: on February 19, 2015 at 11:50 am  Comments (2)  
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THE ROTHSCHILD PARK TROLLEY AND TWO CONDUCTORS IN WAUSAU, WISCONSIN

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This wonderful vintage photograph gives us a view of an important mode of transportation in America’s past. The Rothschild Park trolley was operated by the Wausaw Electric Railway. This photograph features a trolley car and two uniformed conductors. In 1906 the Wausau Street Railway Company was organized to bring electric transportation to Wausau. Sometime around 1915 the railway became the Wisconsin Valley Merrill Railway and Lighting Company. Note the sign stating “Rothschild Park” on the front of the trolley car. The story of Rothschild Park is quite interesting. The park was located, unsurprisingly, in Rothschild, Wisconsin which was about six miles from Wausau. Rothschild Park was owned by the Wausau Electric Railway and must have been quite a fun place to visit. The park offered 40 acres of water, islands and land. Attractions included a roller coaster, dance floor, catering hall, and more. In 1912 it cost ten cents to get to the park from Wausau. The photographer of this terrific image is unknown.  (SOLD)

Published in: on January 12, 2015 at 11:58 am  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF THREE YOUNG SALVATION ARMY WOMEN IN OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN

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This vintage photograph features a portrait of three uniformed young female salvation army workers. The woman on the left is wearing a salvation army badge at her collar while the the bespectacled woman in the center is wearing a celluloid pin with a woman’s photograph on it. These young ladies look quite serious as they pose for their photograph. An inscription on the reverse of the image indicates that this photograph was taken at a studio in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. To view more photographs of salvation army members, click on the category of “Salvation Army”.

 

 

 

Published in: on October 28, 2014 at 11:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
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WELL DRESSED COUPLE IN MONROE, WISCONSIN

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A well dressed couple pose for their portrait at the White studio in Monroe, Wisconsin. Both individuals are wearing corsages creating a question as to whether this image is a wedding portrait. The couple are posed with the gentleman sitting and the lady standing.It is understandable why the lady isn’t sitting. It is unimaginable that she could fit in a chair while wearing such a bulky dress. I wonder if women in such dresses ever got a chance to sit down at social occasions or if they were compelled to stand for long periods of time. The reverse of this cabinet card photograph has an inscription stating “Mamie’s mother and father (Milton Schreckengost)”. Mr. Schreckengost is extremely likely to be the gentleman pictured in this photograph. Interestingly, the German translation of “Schrecken” is “something scary”. However, research found nothing scary about Milton S. Schreckengost. He was born in 1861 in Winslow, Illinois. The 1900 US census finds Milton to be living with his wife Susan and their four year old daughter, Gladys. He and Susan had been married in 1894 and Milton was working as a farmer. The family was living in Buckeye, Illinois. The couple remained in Buckeye during the 1920 and 1930 census. Milton’s occupation was listed as laborer in both surveys but he was likely a farm laborer. On 8/5/1940, Milton died in Buckeye and was buried in Cedarville, Illinois. Susan died around three years earlier. Milton’s death certificate lists his occupation as “farmer”. Further research found that Milton’s marriage to Susan was actually his second marriage. His first marriage was to Mary Musser of Orangeville, Illinois. The couple had one daughter. Mary died in 1890. In 1894 he married a second time (to Susan Kahly). The union with Susan produced Milton’s second daughter. It is not clear whether the woman in this cabinet card is Mary Musser or Susan Kahly.  If your wondering why so much of  Milton’s life took place in Illinois yet this photograph was taken by a Wisconsin photography studio, I have a rational answer. Buckeye, Illinois and Monroe, Wisconsin, are only 15.1 miles apart. The photographer of this image is Horatio G. White who was born in Oldtown, Maine in 1834. He was listed in a Wisconsin business directory (1875) as a photographer.   SOLD

 

Published in: on May 6, 2014 at 11:22 am  Comments (3)  
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TWO SIBLINGS AND THEIR PET DOG POSE FOR A PORTRAIT IN EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

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Two young children and their pet dog pose for their portrait at the Bonell studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Big brother and little sister look intently at the camera as does their canine friend. In fact, the dog must have been well trained to sit on a stool for a long enough time to be photographed. The children are well dressed. It is unusual to see a boy as young as the subject in this photograph wearing a suit and accessorizing with a pocket watch. The kids in this image are cute but the dog steals the show. The photographer of this image is Frederick Bonell. In addition to having a studio in Eau Claire, he also conducted business in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. At the time of this photograph his Eau Claire studio was located on the corner of Barstow & Gibson Streets. One source states that Bonell worked as a photographer between 1879 and 1890. To view other photographs by Bonell and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Bonell”.  SOLD

Published in: on February 22, 2014 at 11:59 am  Comments (2)  
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UNIFORMED FIREMAN IN SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN

steinhaus f_0010This photograph features a handsome uniformed fireman posing for his portrait at the Steinhaus studio in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It is unknown whether this fireman was a member of the Sheboygan fire department or some other department. The badge on his hat displays the #2 which is likely his unit within his department. Note that his badge displays a fire hydrant, crossed axes, hose nozzles, and hook and ladder. The photographer of this image is Roland A. Steinhaus. Interestingly, research revealed where Mr. Steinhaus received his training. The Professional and Amateur Photographer (1900) has an article which announces the “arrival for January term” of a group of students for the purpose of attending the Illinois College of Photography. Steinhaus was listed as one of these students and his hometown was reported to be Sheboygan. The town of Sheboygan was founded in 1846 and by 1849 was noted for its German population. Steinhaus, judging by his last name, was part of this German population. To view other photographs of firemen, click on the category “Firemen and Policemen”.

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Published in: on February 15, 2014 at 11:39 am  Comments (1)  
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TWO WISCONSIN DANDIES VISIT THE PHOTOGRAPHER IN RICE LAKE, WISCONSIN

Two well dressed men pose for their portrait at T. H. Webster’s studio in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The fellow with the walking stick is wearing striped pants and a top hat. The other gentleman is wearing a rather odd hat. Perhaps one of the Cabinet Card Gallery’s visitors will be able to inform the rest of us about the unusual hat. These Wisconsin dandies appear to be enjoying themselves while having their image taken. T. H. Webster is listed by internet photographer directory Langdon Road as operating in Rice Lake during the 1880’s. However, another source reports that he sold his studio to photographer Homer C. Reed in 1893.

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Published in: on December 1, 2013 at 11:41 am  Leave a Comment  
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FAVORABLE ODDS IN BERLIN, WISCONSIN

favorable oddsThe gentleman in this photograph has the good fortune to be posing for his portrait with four lovely and well dressed women at the Field studio in Berlin, Wisconsin. One wonders how these five individuals are related. Are they friends? Could they be family? Are they attendees at a match.com stir event? The nature of their relationship is unknown but it is clear that at least two of the women in this image are “swingers”. That is, they are sitting on a swing. The photographer of this image is Julius Herman Field. He was born in 1869 in Waupun, Wisconsin. He was interested in photography and was self trained but talented enough to win photography contests and publish his images. He eventually was trained by a Waupun photographer and soon bought a studio in Berlin. He hired an assistant named Minnie Bell Dies (1879-1971). She eventually became his wife. In 1913 the couple moved to Fayettville, Arkansas where he continued to work as a photographer. He attended the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1933. In 1936 he died after a series of heart attacks. He was cited in the American Amateur Photographer (1905) and in other photographic publications. Many of his photographs are held in the University of Arkansas Library collections.

Published in: on October 27, 2013 at 12:27 pm  Comments (1)  
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