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 - 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
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.)
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.
Photographer: Stevens Art Studio
McVickers Theater Bldg, Chicago
example from auction site
reverse of the cabinet card on the left
reverse of the card on the left
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 Studio108 Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL
example from contributor B Shelton
reverse of card at leftNote 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
reverse of card at left
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.)
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.
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
McVickers Theater Building, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
McVickers Theater
example from contributor B Grigg
McVickers Theater
example from auction site
reverse if card at left
108-110 Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
McVicker's Theatre, Chicago, IL
example from TCDb
McVickers Theater Buildingm Chicago, IL
example from Donna Cashion
McVickers Theater Buildingm Chicago, IL
example from Donna Cashion
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.
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.
ReplyDeleteThanks 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
DeleteAre thesehoto cards valuable i have a photo album full???
ReplyDeleteTo a collector an album full of cabinet cards can be quite valuable. To a family member they would be priceless.
DeleteOn 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
ReplyDeleteSorry. I do not understand how this is related to old photographs.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteIs 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.
ReplyDeleteGood question!
DeleteSo 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!
Thank you so much for your quick response. Great information and I really appreciate it!
DeleteI 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!
Making additional prints from filed negatives was big business. Also, copying an old print for reprinting in different format was also done a lot.
DeleteAnd 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!
Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it and this helps a lot. The "Ghost" images are a little creepy lol....but very interesting.
DeleteCheers!
Allen
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."
ReplyDeleteDo you know anything about this Stevens?
Thanks,
Tom
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.
DeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteThank 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!
DeleteSo 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.
ReplyDeleteWell! You come from a family of doers and shakers!
DeleteI have one of these photo cards. Are there collectors? Hate to toss if there is interest.
ReplyDelete"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