Thursday, February 9, 2023

John K Stevens


Photographer: Stevens Art Studio
McVickers Theater Bldg, Chicago

John K Stevens
(1838 Jul - )
Over 700 ads were found for the Stevens studio the name varying between J. K. Stevens, J. K. Stevens Co. and J. K. Stevens and Son. They seem to overlap between 1881 and 1900. There is some evidence that J. K. Stevens himself died as early as 1901 though no documentation has been found. His son Lester probably kept the business going. It appears the studio name carried on until 1905 when it was changed in court to Gibson, Sykes and Fowler studios.

1838 July
Stevens born in Erie, NY
1858
Stevens starts as helper in Alfred Pattiana’s old portrait studio at 75 Lake; res on State st
1858 Jul 04
marriage to Mary Brown in Knox, IL
1860
Stevens opens own studio at West Madison st, Chicago, IL
1863 Dec 15
Son Lester Webb Stevens born in Chicago, IL
1864
Misawaka, IN, gazetteer as photographer on Main
1866
daughter Mary Grace born in Indiana
1870 - 1874
Chicago city directory as photographer; res 163 Halstead, Chicago, IL

1876 Jul 24
Chicago Tribune news item announcing J. K. Stevens to retire turning the studio over to W. A. Armstrong at 75 Madison st

Chicago (IL) Tribune Sun - 24 Jul 1876

Chicago (IL) Tribune Sun - 08 Oct 1876


1877 Jan 27
Inter Ocean news item his “retirement” obviously a ruse, J. K. Stevens opens new location at Madison and Robey sts

Chicago (IL) Inter Ocean - 7 Dec 1877

1877 Jul 08
Chicago Tribune as for studio at 85-87 Madison, opposite McVickers Theater
1878 Mar 10
Chicago Tribune Sun party at residence of J. K. Stevens, 271 Park av
1878 Jul 13
Inter Ocean ad studio at 85-87 East Madison st over Hershey Music Hall; 271 Park
1880
Chicago Tribune 3 ads for studio at 786 West Madison
1881
Chicago Tribune 20 ads for studio at 108 Dearborn, Chicago, IL

1881 Oct 25
marriage to Addie B. Cater
1881 Apr 10
Chicago Daily Tribune ad studio at 108 Dearborn and 786 W Madison
1881 Aug 07 - 1882 Jan 08
Chicago Daily Tribune ad as JK Stevens, studio at 108 Dearborn st
1883 Jun 17
Chicago Tribune ad/news item puts Stevens studio at 108-110 Dearborn st
1885 Jan 13
Inter Ocean ad for studio 106-108-110 Dearborn st; later same year moves to McVickers Bldg
1887 Jan 27 - 1892 Oct 12
Inter Ocean many ads for J K Stevens at McVickers Building
1889 Oct 04 - 1900 Jul 18
Inter Ocean news ads now as J. K. Stevens and Son
1890 Jan 18 - 1900 Aug 13
Inter Ocean ads Stevens and Son at McVickers Building
1892 Jan 31
Chicago (IL) Tribune Sun news item establishing photographic business incorporated, J. K. Stevens, Charles H. Stevens and Addie B. Stevens (The relationship of Charles H. Stevens to the rest of the family is unknown at this time.)

Chicago Inter Ocean - 13 Jan 1885
Chicago Inter Ocean - 04 Oct 1889

1895 May 30
Chicago Inter Ocean Sun, son Lester Webb Stevens opens gallery at 699 Washington blvd
1900 Jun 01
Chicago, IL, US census lists photographer John K. Stevens, wife Addie B. and son Harry K.
1901 Feb 10
Chicago Inter Ocean news item short bio about J. K. Stevens
1902
Chicago, IL, city directory NO listing for any of the family; odd entry in business section as Stevens and Son, 78 Madison
1904 Jan 12
Chicago Inter Ocean news item death of Harry Kimble Stevens, aged 20, funeral at residence 690 Washington blvd
1905 Apr 12
Inter Ocean news item J. K. Stevens & Sons, Chicago; Name changed to Gibson, Sykes and Fowler studios

The cabinet card represented here must have been finished between 1885 and about 1900.


Chicago (IL) Inter Ocean - 10 Feb 1901


Photographer: Stevens Art Studio
McVickers Theater Bldg, Chicago
example from auction site


Photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater Bldg, Chicago
example from Flickr member T Conrad

reverse of the cabinet card on the left

Photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater Bldg, Chicago
example from Flickr member T Conrad

reverse of the card on the left


photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater building
example from T Conrad on Flickr

reverse of the card at the left

photographer Stevens, Chicago, IL
example from the
Pierce/Vaubel genealogy website
owner's estimated date c 1880

photographer Stevens, Chicago, IL
example from the
Pierce/Vaubel genealogy website
owner's estimated date c 1885


photographer: Elite Studio, J K Stevens
108 Dearborn Street, Cor Washington,
Chicago, IL (poor scan)
example from Slices of Time
Finished between 1881 and 1885

reverse of card at left

photographer: Elite Studio
108 Dearborn Street, Cor Washington,
Chicago, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left
photographer: J K Stevens Elite Studio
108 Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL
example from contributor B Shelton
reverse of card at left
Note this is the same imprint design
as the card in the row just above
but larger and clearer

The example at the left shows typical trimming done to a cabinet card to ease the slide into the snug paper album sleeves of the time.

This example shows the missing parts of the card.


photographer: Stevens
108-110 Dearborn St, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
probably finished 1881-1885

photographer: Stevens
McVicker's Theater Bldg, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
(note the same backdrop in the following example)

photographer: Stevens
McVicker's Theater Bldg, Chicago, IL
example from Flickr member William Creswell


photographer J K Stevens
CDV example from auction site

photographer: Stevens
McVickers theater, Chicago, IL
example from Flickr member James Agnew

reverse of card at left

photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theatre Building, Chicago, IL
example from RedLead


photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater Building
example from Slices of Time
Finished between 1885 and 1889 before Stevens' son is added as partner

photographer: J K Stevens and Son Co.
McVickers Theater Building
example from Slices of Time
Finished after 1889 when Stevens son was added as partner


photographer: J K Stevens
McVickers Bldg, Chicago, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left
(Note the reverse imprint is smaller than other examples. This card is also gilt edged.)
photographer: J K Stevens
McVickers Theater Bldg, Chicago, IL
example from contributor CPrentice

From CPrentice: This is a photograph of my grandmother (1884-1980) and her younger sister. Must have been
taken circa 1888.


photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater Building, Chicago, IL
example from auction site

Photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater, Chicago, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Stevens
Vickers Building, Chicago
example from Facebook

Photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater, Chicago, IL
example from auction site


photographer: J K Stevens and Son Co.
McVickers Theater Building, Chicago, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

Photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
photographer: Stevens
McVickers Theater Building, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
photographer: J K Stepvens
McVickers Theater
example from contributor B Grigg
reverse of card at left
photographer: J K Stevens
McVickers Theater
example from auction site
reverse if card at left
photographer: J K Stevens
108-110 Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
photographer: J K Stevens
McVicker's Theatre, Chicago, IL
example from TCDb
Photographer: J K Stevens and Son
McVickers Theater Buildingm Chicago, IL
example from Donna Cashion
Photographer: J K Stevens and Son
McVickers Theater Buildingm Chicago, IL
example from Donna Cashion
reverse of two cards at left

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

This is a work always in progress.

Additional information and new examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

All submissions should be free of glare and shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.

Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.

20 comments:

  1. Found and bought a photo of a mix race family taken by Stevens. I will be happy to send a digital copy of it and even the original.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks much! A good scan including the edges would be appreciated and added to the page with credit to you in any way you like. phase65 at yahoo dot com

      Delete
  2. Are thesehoto cards valuable i have a photo album full???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To a collector an album full of cabinet cards can be quite valuable. To a family member they would be priceless.

      Delete
  3. On the off chance that somebody needs another household item, the principal intuition is to stroll in to a readymade furniture store and simply collect it when conveyed. Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry. I do not understand how this is related to old photographs.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  4. Is there any significance to where John K. Stevens placed his logos? I have a copy of cabinet card photo that places the "McVicker's Theatre Building" on the lower left side of the photo, followed by Stevens Chicago". Many are labeled "Stevens" on the left side and "McVicker's" on the right. I'm trying to date the photo and I'm just wondering if this has any significance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good question!

      So far I have discovered three basic ways that the cabinet card blanks were developed. The blank cards were often ordered pre-printed from a photo supply company or a printer. The printer has all the equipment necessary to cut the cards to size and print the desired identification and information on each. These cards often have a border line all the way around the edge of the card or have significant printing on the reverse side.

      Another way was to print each card as needed with a small hand operated press similar to a notary public’s seal. For photographers that moved from town to town, this would be a requirement. The logo or monogram could be pre-cast at a foundry or a print shop equipped for such work. Other parts, like town names, could be added with movable type or pre-cast slugs of a particular name, using the same ink color. These static parts could be moved left or right in the frame of the hand press and the cards printed as needed.

      A third method would combine pre-printed cards purchased in bulk, with hand printed parts added later. It appears Stevens had most of his mounting cards pre-printed on the reverse with additional identification added to the face of the card later.

      Your variation might have had a significant run of several months or was just a whim of the day. Stevens worked at the McVickers Building beginning January of 1885. By 1887 he was advertising as “Stevens and Son”. Best guess would date your card within those two years.

      No example like you describe has been found so far. If you send a clear scan or photograph of it, including the edges, I will add it to this page. Use the email address in the profile, link at the bottom of this page. Perhaps someone else will have the same version with a known date.

      Thanks for your question!

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much for your quick response. Great information and I really appreciate it!

      I have one more question for you if you don't mind. I have a digital copy of a cabinet card photo that I obtained from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Massachusetts. It's a photo labeled Alexander Hancock (great grand-father of author Ernest Hemingway) and it was published as him in the book "The Hemingways Past & Present and Allied Families" by Patricia S. Hemingway.The problem is the photo has the "McVicker's Theatre Building" logo on it and Alexander died in 1864. This raised a red flag for me. My question is could someone in the family have taken an old photo of Alexander and had it remounted at a later date by Stevens while he was in the Theatre Building (explaining the logo on the photo). I'm not sure if this was common practice or even possible back then. If not then this is not Alexander in the photo. I appreciate any help!

      Delete
    3. Making additional prints from filed negatives was big business. Also, copying an old print for reprinting in different format was also done a lot.

      And a popular item was a portrait with a “Ghost” of a deceased loved one hovering in the background. It was done in the darkroom combining the new negative with an old one in separate exposure times. The “Ghost” might be a current negative shot for the purpose of that print or more likely a copy of an existing print or a negative that could be 20 years older. Here are some examples of both: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rookno17/albums/72157628595974541

      And copyright laws were somewhat lax back then. Photographers were known to do copies of other photographer’s work and sell them as “views” in the lobby of their own galleries. Famous people, events and buildings were popular subjects. Remember in that day, just a photograph was a novelty, regardless of subject.

      It sounds like a reprint to me. That’s about all I can add without seeing the actual item. I hope this helps.

      Thanks!

      Delete
    4. Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it and this helps a lot. The "Ghost" images are a little creepy lol....but very interesting.

      Cheers!

      Allen

      Delete
  5. I have a cabinet card photograph of some ancestors taken in Rolla, Missouri in about 1870 - 1871. Across picture's bottom border are the words "ROLLA Stevens, Missouri."
    Do you know anything about this Stevens?
    Thanks,
    Tom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your note. Sorry, I have no information on that photographer. There are no city directories available to me for Rolla, MO, so I can't look him up. In 1870, the population of Rolla, MO, was only about 1,300 so it is quite possible that this Stevens was an itinerant photographer based in another larger city.

      Delete
  6. I inherited a cabinet card of one of my ancestors taken by J.K. Stevens, is there a good way to send you the scanned images if you want them for the site? The backside has the same print as the poor scan in pink when he operated from 108 Dearborn St, Cor. Washington. This blog has been very helpful in my genealogical research, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the kind words! I am glad that this project has helped your research. Yes I would be happy to add your example to the page. Send a clear scan including all edges, to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page. Thanks again!

      Delete
  7. So I recently learned my family history and JK was a family member of mine. Also JW Stevens, who built the largest (at the time) hotel in the world era 1927.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well! You come from a family of doers and shakers!

      Delete
  8. I have one of these photo cards. Are there collectors? Hate to toss if there is interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Any way I can submit a photo of a photographers signature to try to identify?" Yes. Using the scanning recommendations found on each page, send a complete scan or photograph to the email address found in the profile found at the bottom of this page. Cabinet cards can be quite valuable depending on subject and source. Posting on this page might help identify and date.

      Delete

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I am 4' 3", eat small insects, dress in the dark and take annual showers. phase65@yahoo.com