George W Varney

photographer: Varney - Chicago

reverse of cabinet at left

George William Varney
(1860 - 1925)

Sources: US census, city directories

1860 Mar 04
George W Varney is born in York County, Maine
1870
Berwick, ME, US census, at ten years old
1878
Chicago, IL, city directory, No listing in business pages or residential pages
1880
Denver, CO, US census, at 20 no occupation listed; voter registration is in Chicago, IL
1882
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer; bds 1057 Monroe; not in business pages
1883, 1884
Chicago, IL, city directory not available
1885
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer with Perry and Varney, 3800 Cottage Grove av; res same; Henry B Perry res Hyde Park

1886
Chicago, IL, city directory not available
1887
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer at 189 Wabash; res bds 3802 Langley
1888, 1889
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer at 3915 Cottage Grove; res 4919 Champlain; 1889 - 1890 photography business pages missing, no res pages after “Q”
1890
Chicago, IL, voter registration, res 4519 Champlain
1891 through 1899
Chicago, IL, city directories are either incomplete or unavailable
1900
Chicago, IL, US census as photographer; res 4849 Langley; city directory: pages after Merriman not available
1901
Chicago, IL, city directory pages after McCollum not available
1902, 1903
Chicago, IL, city directory NOT listed in business section or residential

1904 - 1907
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer at 3937 Drexel; res same; directory starts at Mut-Man
1908
Chicago, IL, city directory many pages missing
1909
Chicago, IL, city no residential pages; directory Not in business pages
1910
Chicago, IL, US census, as photographer; res 4504 Forestville
1911 - 1917
Chicago, IL, city directory, as photographer at 3945 Drexel; res 4504 Forestville
1916
Chicago, IL, city directory, no listing in business pages; no residential pages
1918 - 1919
Chicago, IL, city directory, NOT listed in business pages, No residential pages available
1920 Jan 13
Chicago, IL, US census, as photographer; res 4504 Forestville; no listing in city directory business pages

1921, 1922, 1923
Chicago, IL, city directory NOT listed in business pages. No residential pages available
1924
Chicago, IL, city directory, not available
1925
Chicago, IL, city directory, not listed in business pages; no residential pages
1925
Jan 09 Chicago, IL, G W Varney dies of a heart attack while visiting a photography shop on s 63rd st, Chicago

The only document that finds him outside of Chicago, IL, is in 1880 when he was in Denver, CO, and even then his voter registration is still in Chicago. The address on the reverse of the card is 3915 Cottage Grove Avenue dating it to about 1888-1889. Chicago city directories 1890 through 1899 are unavailable or incomplete so it is not certain how long he was at that address. By 1900 he had moved to 4849 Langley.

Also this card stock has gilt edges, a feature popular between 1866 and 1890.

photographer: Varney, Chicago, IL
This one would have been finished around
1911 to 1917.
Example found on the Pinterest - no credit shown

Abel Photographic Weekly - 06 Oct 1912 Camera Craft Vol 19 - 08 Dec 1012

photographer: Varney
Chicago
example from auction site
(This is a folder style mounting, gaining popularity in the early 1900's.)

photographer: Varney
3915 Cottage Grove Av, Chicago, IL
CdV ecample from Auction site
(Probably finished between 1888 and 1889 but possibly as late as 1899; see timeline)

photographer: Varney (G W V)
Chicago, IL
example from auction site

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.

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