Photographer: Mary Weigel
Dyersville, Iowa
example from LOST GALLERY
Mary Weigel
(15 Oct 1859 - 08 Jul 1933)
1859 Oct 15
Wisconsin, state records, Mary Weigel is born to Henry Weigel and Mary Weber
1870 Aug 02
Dubuque, IA, US census, father Henry Weigel as photographer/Jeweler; Mary at 12 years old
1878
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Henry Weigel NOT listed
1880 Jun 02
Dubuque, IA, US census, Mary Weigel, age 21, living at home, listed as photographer, her father Henry is listed as watchmaker
1881, 1885
Dubuque city directory, Mary Weigel, no occupation shown, res: 30 W 14th
1885
Dubuque, IA, US census as Maria (Mary A. probably) living at home as photographer
1886-1888
Dubuque, IA, city directory no occupation shown; res 30 W 14th
1899
Dubuque, IA, city directory no occupation shown; res 442 Windsor Ave
1895
Dubuque, IA, state census, Mary Weigel living at home, no occupation or address shown
1896
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Mary Weigel, no occupation shown, not in bus section
1900 Jun 06
Dubuque, IA, US census, Mary Weigel, no occupation shown,
1901
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Mary Weigel (as Miss Mary Weigle) no occupation shown; not in bus section
1902
St Louis and Canadian Photographer publication: Mary Weigel purchases the Freyman Gallery in Dyersville (in Dubuque)
1903
Dubuque, IA, city directory, no occupation shown, 442 Windsor Ave; not listed in business section
1905
Dubuque, IA, state census, Mary Weigel as no occupation shown
1908 - 1909
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Mary Weigel as no occupation; res 442 Windsor Ave
1911
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Mary Weigel NOT listed
1913
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Mary Weigel as no occupation at “Iowa Home for the Friendless”; not listed in bus pages
1916
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Mary Weigel as photographer no address given
1918
Dubuque, IA, city directory Mary Weigel as photographer listed in res and bus sections
1920 Jan 06
Dubuque, IA, US census, Mary Weigel as photographer on Main st, (New Wine, IA)
1921, 1923
Dubuque, IA, city directory, Weigel NOT listed
1925
Bulletin of Photographers (publication) Mary Weigel takes over her former studio in Dyersville
1929
Dubuque, IA, city directory Mary Weigel NOT listed
1930
Dubuque, IA, US census, Mary Weigel, no occupation; res at 224 W Main, New Wine, Dubuque, IA
1933 Jul 08
Dubuque, IA, death certificate, Mary Weigel dies at age 74; listed as photographer on certificate
The Dubuque city directory made a habit of not listing a business for single females apparently. The available documents make it only marginally clear that Mary Weigel was a photographer from 1880 to about 1920. This cabinet card was probably finished around 1902 when she purchased the Freyman Gallery.
Dyersville “is part of the Dubuque, Iowa, Metropolitan Statistical Area.”
Large "water color" prints could be made from a regular card. The original cabinet card portrait could be photographed, and from that negative, an enlarged version of the portrait could be printed. Then the copy could be tinted by an artist with watercolors. The results were often quite striking.
Because of their size, not a lot of these water color enlargements have survived. Seen here on the reverse of this example, are insturctions for the "Imperial Portrait Co" of Chicago, to reprint in 16x20. Also see eye, complexion and hair color suggestions for the artist.
Reverse of card at left(Severely trimmed card but interesting because of the reverse)
photograher: Mary Weigel
Dyersville, IA
example from auction site
(Poor scan)
photograher: Mary Weigel
Dyersville, IA
example from auction site
(Poor scan)
photograher: Mary Weigel
Dyersville, IA
example from auction site
(Poor scan)
photographer: M Weigel(very faint blind-stamp in lower right corner)
Deyersville, IA
example from auction site
(technically not a cabinet card but is almost exactly the right size)
Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.
New examples and additional information 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.
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.
Did Mary's first name and/or first initial (M.) always appear on her cabinet cards? I have cabinet cards from Dubuque from late 1880s that have only the last name Weigel.
ReplyDeleteVery good question. In the 1880’s, Women often used only their last name in business. It just saved a lot of headache. It was rare before 1900 that women were even allowed to own their own business or vote or seek an education. I suspect, at least at first, Mary Weigel leaned heavily on “carrying on” her father’s business to keep the name. Of course, if your card is old enough, it may actually be by her father. It appears Henry Weigle turned more to watchmaking in 1880 according to the 1880 census, while Mary is listed as photographer. This Weigel page is in the process of an update. It would be great if your example could be added to the page.
DeleteHow do I go about adding an example to the page? Thanks!
DeleteSee the scanning recommendations just above the comment section. Email to the address found in the profile, below, at the bottom of the page. Always glad to get new examples!
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