William F Kedney

photographer: Kedney, Artist,
Sturgis, MI
(very faint)

One mention of a W F Kedney, cabinet card photographer, was found in the David V. Tinder cabinet card collection, University of Michigan. This account says that the photographer’s actual name was William F Kidney, not Kedney, although “’W. F. Kedney, Sturgis, Mich.” was the actual printing on some cabinet mounts.’“

Whichever is correct, the name variation was held consistent by associated names, dates and places.

William F Kidney or Kedney
(1863- )
Timeline
(Sources: US census, city directories, Tinder, David V. Directory of Early Michigan Photographers

1840 Apr
William F Kidney born in New York, NY
1860
New York, NY, US census as artist
1865 May
New York div 8, dist 7, tax roll, occupation not shown; res at 118 Cannon
1868
Poughkeepsie, NY, NO listing

1869
Poughkeepsie, NY, as photographer; res 47 Washington
1870
Poughkeepsie, NY, US census, city directory, as photographer; res 42 Washington
1876
Poughkeepsie, NY, as photographer; res 47 Washington
1873-1874-1875
Poughkeepsie, NY, city directory as photographer; res 42 Washington
1876
Poughkeepsie, NY, NO listing
1877
Chicago, IL, city directory, NO listing
1878
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer; res 719 Superior
1882
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer; res 667 w VanBuren; not listed in business pages
1884-1888
Adrian, MI, Tinder’s Directory, as photographer at 10 & 12 e Maumee st
1885 Jul 14
Adrian, MI, newspaper item in Buffalo, NY, Evening Telegram mentions W F Kidney is in Adrian, MI

1885
Chicago, IL, city directory, NO listing
1887
Saginaw, MI, city directory NO listing
1888-1889
Saginaw, MI, Tinder’s Directory, as photographer at 113 s Jefferson st
1889
Saginaw, MI, city directory, as photographer at 113 s Jefferson; res same
1890
Battle Creek, MI, Tinder’s Directory, as photographer
1891
Kalamazoo, MI, Tinder’s Directory, as photographer as 120 e Main, third floor
1892
Sturgis, MI, Tinder’s Directory, as photographer
1900 Jun 08
Brooklyn, NY, US census as photographer, res 187 Penne st

William F Kidney moved around a lot. One document did put him in Sturgis, MI, in 1892. By 1900 he was in Brooklyn, NY. So there is a possible 9 year span when the cabinet card shown here was finished.

Documentation on this photographer is rather thin. Suggestions are welcome.

The (Buffalo, NY) Evening Telegram - 14 Jul 1885

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.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

This is a work always in progress.

Aditional 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.