Photographers of the 19th Century - Index

Find the photographer's name you are researching in this list and follow the link to that page







For an extensive list of 19th century Philadelphia and New Jersey photographers, see the HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY website,



67 comments:

  1. Just found this blog. Have no idea who created and manages it, but wonder if you accept additions and how you want that information sent? Jim.

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    1. Thanks Jim. Yes, I have added contributions outside of my own collection in the past. Using the email address found in the profile, (bottom of page) send a good scan of the face of your card and the reverse unless it is blank. Include any information you have about the date and place of origin of the cabinet card. I will research the photographer and add a page to the index. Thanks again.

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    2. I've been scanning and researching my family photos. They are extensive. Some of my ancestors apparently were rich before their children squandered it. lol. Anyway I've got a Google Picasa site with some of the scans (front and back) that you might find interesting. You may use them on this site. Here is a sharing link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/R84iFNkJiVEVoWP78
      They include Indiana photographers W. J. Conner (Roann), Lentz Brothers (Peru), E. R. Donaldson (Wabash), Harvey (Greenfield), H. T. Biel (Terre Haute), Devos (Warsaw) and Williams (Wabash). There is also a couple by H. M. Atherton of Topeka, Kansas - actually the two most interesting ones. I've tried researching these on Newspapers.com and other locations to help me date as very few (naturally) of the photos have dates or names associated with them. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I'm fairly confident almost ALL of the these photos are of the Wards and Schulers of Indiana. Mostly of the Wards. My Great grandmother Ella Ward (married name Schuler) had these in her photo album. I've not scanned the other side the family yet (Deming, Gray, Snyder/Schneider). Thanks!

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    3. Thanks Graysailor for your offer. I am always happy to add any examples of photographers to the Cabinet Card Photographer pages. Your link takes me to one photograph but I cannot figure how to get past that one. It has been a long time since I worked with Google Picasa. I'll get back to you when I figure it out.

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  2. Thank you for the detailed research you are doing! I have been researching 19th and early 20th century photographers who worked in East Liverpool, Ohio, also using newspapers ads and obituaries, city directories, family trees,etc. to piece together a chronological reference for each of their lives. One I am still somewhat stuck (finding him after 1930) on - a William Clarence Wells, who was born in Wisconsin in 1868 and operated Wells Studio in East Liverpool from about late 1905 to early 1922. Another website incorrectly connected "my" William Clarence Wells with the W C Wells in Margengo, Illinois, that you have featured. You have saved me a LOT of time with your account of WALTER C Wells so I can eliminate him as being the same photographer that I am researching.

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    1. Thanks, Penny for your kind words. It is your sort of recognition that makes the hours of research well spent. Only another researcher can appreciate the fascination and frustration of the work. We benefit from the mental exercise too. Thanks again and if you ever need another pair of eyes to look at/for something, let me know!

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  3. Wow! What a great resource! I have a portrait from Cumming & Son, Corsicana, Texas. It is of my great grandfather, his brother and mother. I'm guessing to date close to 1890. I have been trying to track down if this picture was actually taken in Corsicana, as that may alter some of my family research. If you have a way to confirm that this business was in fact in Corsicana (versus was some kind of traveling studio), I would certainly appreciate it!

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    1. Thanks for your interest. Cumming had ten children but only one son worked with him in Corsicana, TX. Please email a good scan of the face and reverse of your cabinet card including the edges and I will add a page to the web site for this interesting photographer. A clear photograph of your card will do as long as there is no glare or shadows to obscure the image. Credit for the photograph will be given in any way you prefer. Email to phase65 at yahoo dot com.

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  4. I am trying to find who owned the cabinet card photo that says Texas Art Co. on left side and on the right side it says Chariot Studio. I have tried to find it and where it was, but no luck.

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    1. That's a good question. I don't know. I will look into it and if I find anything, I will get back to you.

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    2. Did you ever figure out where this studio was located? I also have a photo labeled "Texas Art Chariot. Main street between 8th and 9th." I'm scanning photos and I suspect this could be a photo of a family that lived in Acton, Hood County, TX in the early 1870s and they died in Weatherford, TX. I suspect the photo is from Granbury or Weatherford.

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    3. Well it's been a three years since I last looked at that one. Deserves another look. I will leave a note here if I find something new.

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    4. Came across this and thought I'd reply... "Texas Art Co." - "Chariot Studio" is most likely "D. Whittaker" in Weatherford, Texas. I have a few D. Whittaker photos that have Weatherford, Texas printed on them and the photographer scribbled a number on the back in the same handwriting as the Texas Art Co. photos I have, which are also of the same family.

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    5. Also, I have an older cabinet card from Weatherford, Texas printed "Whittaker & Kennedy"

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  5. I am doing genealogy for my son-in-law's family and have a photo of an unknown WWI Army soldier in uniform and the photo mounting has Bell Girard Kansas. Certainly it was taken sometime after his registration on June 5, 1917 in Brazilton, Kansas. This is near Girard, Ks and was probably the closest photographer. I will e-mail you the photo in hopes you can add it to your site. Would there be any records or negatives from the photographer's shop that may still survive somewhere, perhaps at a local genealogy library since this would be about 100 years old or more. Love what you are doing. Thank you for your work. Drenda

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  6. If I were to send you a photo would you be able to guess an approximate date? How can I get it to you?

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    1. I could give it a try. Email address in in the profile at the bottom of this page.

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  7. I have lots of these old photos from San Francisco, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Los Angeles. In some I know who the people are, others I don't. The logos are often quite lovely. I think if I can find out when or where the photographer was in business, I might be able to determine who some of the other (family) people are. Would they be helpful to you to enlarge your database, or are you pretty full already of businesses to research? kjn

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    1. Thanks very much for your offer. Yes, there have been several guest contributions to the collection. To the address found in the profile, email a good scan, including the edges. The edges sometimes tell something about the age. Send one scan at a time and include any details you may have about the card that might contribute to the time frame. A scan of the reverse is not necessary unless it is imprinted with the photographer’s name and address or shows information that will assist in dating. Each photographer will be given a unique page showing research is pending. That can take a least a day but usually several.

      Also include how you would like the contribution credited. This could be anything from a coded screen name to an email address or a link to another web site.

      Thanks again for your generous offer. Looking forward to hearing from you.

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  8. Hello, I recently bought at auction a photograph or etching that is on a cabinet card of Abraham Lincoln. The bottom of the card has Gross 1001 S. B'Way St. Louis Mo. which I presume has to be Julius Gross. I know that he worked with Gustav Cramer starting in 1864, however ever cabinet card that I have seen so far of them working together was #1 at a different address, and #2 did not have the same subheader at the bottom. Can you tell me possibly when he would have used just the "Gross 1001 S. B'Way" Subheader so that I can narrow down the date of when this was created?

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    1. The back side of the cabinet card is printed "The Picture from which this Photo. is made, is in possession of Mr. Henry Kuhleman, 704 S. 6th Street, St. louis. Address him for information"

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    2. Thanks for your note. I am working on a page for Julius Gross. I should have something finished in a few days. Gross took over the studio at 1001 s Broadway in about 1888 after Cramer went into the photographic supplies business exclusively. I can’t find much on the Broadway address after 1902. Send a clean scan or photo of your card, including edges, and I’ll include it on the page.

      My email address is in the profile at the bottom of the page.

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  9. I have a photo of my Great Grandfather. The back of the card calls out the address as 429 Montgomery Street and notes: "The only elevator connected with a photograph gallery in the world." My question is would this photo have to have been taken in San Francisco? It is far more likely to have been taken in a studio in Roseburg, Oregon. Thanks.

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    1. That would be photographers Bradly and Rulofson. They bought the studio at 429 Montgomery, San Francisco, CA, from Robert H Vance in 1863. In 1872 they installed an elevator in the building. Bradly retired in 1878 so your photograph would likely have been done between 1872 and 1878. It’s possible the photograph was done a bit later as the studio did continue under the Bradley and Rulofson name, operated by John H Dall, until about 1883

      I found no evidence that they ever operated in Oregon. It’s possible but probably not. They are the only photographers I know of that advertised their elevator.

      It is also possible that your card is a copy. Copying existing photographs and reprinting them in “modern” formats was big business in the cabinet card era. If it was done well, it would be difficult to detect. If this happened, it would only look like it was photographed by Bradly and Rulofson because the print was on one of their cards.

      Thanks for the question. Hope this helps. If you want, you can send a copy of your cabinet card to the address in the profile. Photograph or scan it, including the edges, no cropping, as the edges sometime tell a bit about it. I will add it to the Bradley Rulofson page if you like.

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  10. Hi,

    I am looking for a photographer who did work in New Philadelphia, Ohio in the early to mid 1800's named J.B. Mathias. He took a picture of an ancestor and my family doesn't know who it is. Is there any way to track down the photographer's family to see if they have records of the photos taken? Or did photographers not keep notes like that? Any guidance would be much appreciated! Thank you, Terra

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    1. Looks like John B Mathias was a cabinet card photographer for only a few years. The cabinet card format began about 1860. In March of 1868 Mathias sold his studio to J L Philips and went into the dry goods mercantile business. Most likely any records and stock went to the new owner Phillips, who apparently didn’t stay in the business very long either. If your photograph is a cabinet card format, it is a bit of a rarity. And chances of records remaining are pretty thin.

      The negatives and records of the more prominent photographers of that era, such as Sarony, Newsboy, Brady, Mora and many others are preserved in local museums and university archives. Some are still retained by family descendants. When a photographer retired or died, the records and stock were often sold or given to another local photographer still in business. Of course many such records have been lost in fires and other natural disasters. In the odd case of Theodore Gubelman, his sister piled his negatives in her back yard and set fire to them. If any records still exist for a photographer of that era, they would possibly be in the hands of descendants or local historical societies or museums.

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  11. That is amazing that you have that information! Thank you for sharing it with me :-) Sincerely, Terra

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  12. Hi,

    I would like to pass along the names of several cabinet card photographers that had studios in "Osage City, Kansas" in the late 1800's & early 1900's...I have researched each of them thru the census and newspaper records...Facts as to when each was purchased or sold to a different photographer. To top it off, I have a cabinet card of one of wife's great uncles that was taken by O.F. Young studio in Osage City around 1880-1885..Here are the missing names from your list: J.H. Newby, O.B. Sanders, George H. Weigel, T.E. Surtees, Emily B. Eral, F.A. Trader, A.A. Hallberg, Denson's and Wehe..All of whom done business at Osage City, Kansas beginning about 1880 thru the early 1900's...Hope you can add these..I am still trying to locate repositories for the photographer's works if any exist...

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    1. Thanks very much for your comment. I see some potential in your offer.

      When I began Cabinet Card Photographers the goal was to develop a page for each photographer credited on a cabinet card (approx. 4.5 X 6.5 in.) from my own personal collection. There are nearly 600 separate photographers from several states, mostly in central US, in this collection. The whole purpose, of course, was to gather information that would assist others in dating their cabinet cards by showing where a photographer was working and when.

      After about a decade of that plan, I have expanded a bit, adding contributions such as yours. Each page requires a scan or photograph, including the edges, (no cropping), of each card. A scan of the reverse should be included if it shows the photographer’s imprint or any other information that will assist in the dating of the card. Biographical sketches should be in a format that includes a timeline that points out “when” a photographer was “where”. Use the email found in the profile.

      Full credit for the page will be yours. Your own contact information will be included so that you may be reached directly with any comments or questions.

      Also, Langdon’s List (https://www.langdonroad.com/kansas) is working on a comprehensive list of all of the early photographers, by state. It’s a huge task.

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  13. Wow, wow, wow. You have done more in a few short months than I have done in years! Kudos to you. My great-grandfather Edw A Brooks and grand-father George (A or H) Campbell
    so well documented. One comment though, I believe the 1910 census mentioned Edward A Brooks with daughter Lily and Grand-Son Edward Campbell, George had died by then. Monor correction to valuable information. I'm still searching for George Campbell's origin.

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    1. Right you are! It always helps to have an interested proof reader. There was a LOT of detail in their histories. Thanks again!

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  14. Ive come across several Downing Ardmore, Indian Terr that my grandmother and great grandmother had saved. Just trying to get an idea of who this person was and the time period he was taking photos.

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    1. Thanks for your note.

      I have reviewed photographer George Downing who lived in Topeka, KS. At the bottom of that page I added a CDV that I found at an auction site, finished by a Downing of Ardmore, Indian Territory. I can find no evidence that George Downing ever worked outside of Topeka, KS. I am convinced that the Downing of Ardmore, IT, is a different photographer. To date, I have found nothing about the Ardmore photographer. I will look at it again today.

      If you send a scan or photograph of your cards, I will add the examples to the Downing page and perhaps something will turn up about this photographer. In your scans, be sure the edges show, no cropping, as the edges sometimes tell a lot about the age of the card. If sending photographs of the cards, avoid shadows or glare. Send to the email address in the profile at the bottom of the page.

      Thanks again!

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  15. I am looking for information about a cabinet card photographer named Chas Whitney. I have one from Jewell City, the corner is missing but i think Kansas!

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    1. Thanks for the comment. I know of only two photographers from the cabinet card era that fit that name: Charles H Whitney of New York and Charles Whitney of Florida. There was an R C Whitney who worked in Junction City, KS. And of course there might be others that I don’t know about.

      There is a Jewel, Kansas. I know of a Jewel City in Illinois. Also San Francisco, California, is sometimes referred to as Jewel City. And there are probably others.

      If you will send a scan or photograph of the card to the email address in the profile, I will look into it further. Be sure to include all of the edges of the card. If photographing, avoid shadows and glare. Thanks!

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  16. Does anyone know any information on c. A. Markey? I have a photo of an Apache chief with his back mark.

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  17. On my website http://saretzky.com I have long lists of 19th century New Jersey and Philadelphia photographers, with addresses and dates, that may be of interest to you.

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    1. You have a fine collection of photographers listed. I have added a link on this page. In the weeks to come, I will also add a link on 19th Century Photographer blog pages covering photographers from that area. Thanks for the tip!

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  18. Hello! Just found this page while researching an ancestor, whose photo is on a cabinet card with the address 161 Strand, "Short's Studio", Rondout, NY! I am so excited to find this background on the photographer and to see the timeline. I'd love to upload the photo to your collection if possible?? I'm guessing, based on timeline, it was taken between 1889-1892. Thank you!

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    1. I would be happy to include your card on the page. Every bit helps in the identification and dating process. Send a clean scan or photo of your card including the edges to the address in the profile. If photographing, avoid glare or shadows. Thanks in advance for your contribution.

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  19. How does one submit a cabinet card photo of Oliver Franklin by Carson, Hillsdale, MI that was sent to my great-grandparents, George & Jennie (McDonel) Fink of Fostoria, Ohio.

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    1. I will be happy to include your example on the Carson page. Just send a scan or photograph of the card to the email address in the profile (near the bottom of the page) Be sure to include all of the edges of the card. If photographing, avoid shadows and glare. Thanks!

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    2. The email address is near the bottom of this page, where it says "View my complete profile". Click on that and then on "EMAIL" to find the email address.

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  20. In 2006 I published a list of photographers who photographed & recorded the Dakotas- 1853 to 1920. The were not sectioned by format. the book Title is THEY CAPTURED THE MOMENT. R E Kolbe

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    1. Nice to hear from you! I have not encountered your book yet but it certainly might be helpful in my efforts. My goal 20 years ago was to find when a photographer was where, to help pinpoint the date a cabinet card was made. I realized that I would not be able to research ALL of the photographers so I limited myself to photographers for cards that I had in my own collection. I have not added any for some time now as it has become a daily task to answer the mail and comments. Thanks for your note!

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  21. Hi, what an interesting site! Thanks for all of your hard work in putting this info together. Hermann Vaupel, full name Herman Maximillian Vaupel, was my great grandfather. I recently came across all of our old family photos and have been trying to find more info on him. Of course, I have lots of family legend including that he drank the black death (took poison) on a park bench in the 1930's. I also have his original camera and tripod which are both in perfect condition, leather shutter cover included with a Kodak lens dated 1867. Thought you might enjoy seeing a portrait of his son, my grandfather, Arthur Vaupel circa 1891. Nor sure how to upload a picture.

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    1. Thanks for your kind words! It is indeed a lot of hard work. It is the input like yours that helps put life into it. You will find an email address in the profile (SEE: "view my complete profile") near the bottom of this page. Attach your photographs to an email. Be sure to include the edges of a photograph or mounting card as they often help tell the age.

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    2. I emailed the photo to you. I'm pretty sure of the date since I know when my grandfather was born and how old he was in the photo.

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  22. Love your site and extensive studio documentation. Like others, I'm scanning large numbers of family photographs, going back to the mid-1800s. I was hoping to find information on a studio in Augusta, Ga. that has a printed logo on cabinet cards of "Bigelow, The Augusta Photo Co." with an address of 702 Broad Street in Augusta. I only saw one "Bigelow" on your listing and that studio wasn't in Augusta. Not aware of how to send you an image but if you let me know I'd be happy to share an image if it helps get information on the studio, particularly the years of operation, as I'm hoping the cards with no names on the back of the subject can be at least narrowed down to a possible range of years. Thanks!
    Stratton Hicky

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    1. Thanks very much for your note.

      I would be happy to add any cards to the Bigelow page. I will add an information box with your example and credit the addition to you. Give some thought to how you want the credit line to read. (Example from … )

      Be sure scans include the edges of the card, no cropping. The edges are often important clues to the age. The email address is included in the profile link at the bottom of this page.

      Thanks again!

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    2. Wow! I did some preliminary research on Bigelow. Turns our your card is rather rare! When you send your example I think I will do a page on Bigelow.

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  23. Great site! Thx!
    I have a card that I can’t find the photographer for in your list. I couldn’t find the email to send a pic. Can you send yours along? Thanks much, Robert

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    1. Thanks for your comment. The email address is in the profile link at the bottom of this page. When scanning your card be sure to include the edges, no cropping. If photographing, avoid shadows and glare. The edges sometimes give a clue to the age of the card. Thanks!

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  24. I have another you may add
    Prewitt
    1214 O St.
    Lincoln, Ne.
    I have an old photo from abt 1913 from this studio. I also have others. How may I see that this gets loaded onto your platform?

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    1. Thanks for your comment! Prewitt is mentioned on the Jefferson Grant Speake page. I would be happy to add an example there. Be sure scans include the edges of the card, no cropping. The edges are often important clues to the age. The email address is included in the profile link at the bottom of this page.

      Thanks again

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  25. J.A. Tarr should be added to your list. He lived and worked in New Auburn, WI. (New Auburn was originally named Cartwright's Mills, then Cartwright) I have copies of family photos taken by him. The originals are in the hands of the Chippewa County Historical Society. Another family member may also have worked as a photographer.

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    1. Thanks for your suggestion. Tarr sounds interesting. There were simply thousands of photographers in the cabinet card era. I decided at the outset that I could not review all of them. Sometimes the research on a photographer goes on for days. I finally decided to limit myself to the photographers found in my own personal collection and those related (partners and family). So, for now I will not be stepping outside that limit. Updates and additions to the current 600+ biographies take all of my time currently. Thanks again.

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  26. I don't know if this website is still active. But I know a great story about J Moegle, a well-known photographer that resided in Thun, Switzerland. I have a couple of his original cabinet card photographs. My grandfather gave me all of the old family photographs and I have two boxes full of cabinet photos.

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    1. Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, the blog is still active. It is composed mainly of the examples found in my own personal collection. I have had a few guest contributions recently. If you will email me at the address found in the profile at the bottom of the page, we can discuss the possibility.

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  27. I have a baby picture of my grandmother, picture taken by this studio. She was born in the late 1800s. Hellen K. Stone.

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    1. Thank you for your comment! If you would like this treasure added to the photographers page, send a good scan or photo of it, including the edges, to the email address found in the PROFILE near the bottom of this page. Thanks again!

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  28. Any way I can submit a photo of a photographers signature to try to identify?

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  29. I have recently bought at auction some big boxes of photos, many from the late 1800's and early 1900's. I am in the process of cataloging them. If they have names, I am trying to find descendants. If they don't I plan to sell them. I notice that I have some that are in your files and considered pretty rare. Is there a better place to sell them than on ebay.. where people might be more knowledgeable about them.

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    1. Good luck with your project! No, I don't know of any other way to sell your collection. It might help to do good scans and build a website for lost photographs. You could collect them on Flickr too.

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