Dating a cabinet card from Ephraim Clements will be fairly easy.
After starting in the business at “17 9th, bet P and Q”, he then
operated a photograph studio he called the “Legislative Gallery” at
129 s 11th in Lincoln, NE, from 1883 to 1912. It looks like he lived
in the same residence all that time too. Then he and his wife moved to
Eugene, OR, and apparently retired from business.
Ephraim G. Clements
(1843 - 1926)
1843 Jul 13
Sennett, NY, state records Ephriam G Clements is born to George
William Clements and Harriet A Richards
1861, 1862
Marcellus, NY, Military service
1865
Marcellus, NY, state census, Ephraim G Clements as student
1866 Dec 10
New York, NY, state records, E G Clements marries Dora M Conine
1869 Oct 23
Weeklky Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, NE) small item mentions
Clements and a partner Andrews with their studio on 10th st
1870 Dec
Location uncertain, wife Dora M Conine dies at age 27
1871 Sep 06
Lincoln, NE, state records, E G Clements marries Mary Angeline
Scoggin
1873
Lincoln, NE, city directory, Ephraim G Clements as Grocer; 17 9th, bet
P and Q; res s Q bet 8th and 9th
1875
Lincoln, NE, state census, E H Clements as farmer; wife M A
Clements
1878
Lincoln, NE, city directory E G Clements as photographer, P street
east of 9th fr New York, res cor 8th and Q streets
1879 Jan 01
(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal small item mentions E G Clements
without a partner, that he has been "in and out of business” for
several years
1880
Lincoln, NE, US census E G Clements as photographer, wife Mary A; res:
P street
1881 Nov 25
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star small item says Clements new gallery is over
the Kleutsch Saloon
1882 Sep 08
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star small item says Mrs L Carter, spirit
photographer is in town at Clements Gallery on 11th st
1882 Nov 23
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star small item says Arthur Alexander is now
working at Clements gallery
1883
Lincoln, NE, city directory, E G Clements as photographer, 129 s 11th;
res 630 n 13th
1883 Sep 04
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star, small item says Miss Kate Merrill will be
in charge of the gallery on 10th street while Clements is away
1884 Jun 20
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star, small item says E G Clements has 11th
street gallery
1886, 1887
Lincoln, NE, city directory E G Clements as photographer, 129 s 11th;
res 646 n 13th
1887 Jan 11
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star small item mentions Clements gallery at 129
s 11th
1889
Lincoln, NE, city directory George Clements as photographer 129 s
11th; res 646 n 13th
1891, 1893, 1894, 1897
Lincoln NE, city directory, Ephraim G Clements as photographer at 129
s 11th; res 646 n 13th
1899, 1900
Lincoln NE, city directory, Ephraim G Clements as photographer
(proprietor of the Legislative Gallery) 129 s 11th; res 646 n 13th
1900 Jun 14
Lincoln, NE, US census, E G Clements as photographer; res 646 North
13th
1900 Jul 04
Lincoln, NE, state records, wife Mary Angeline Scoggin dies at age 55
(see below for obit)
1901, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910,
Lincoln NE, city directory, Ephraim G Clements as photographer
(proprietor of the Legislative Gallery) 129 s 11th; res 646 n 13th
1910
Lincoln, NE, state records, E G Clements marries Eliza S Brooks
1911, 1912
Lincoln NE, city directory, Ephraim G Clements as photographer
(proprietor of the Legislative Gallery) 129 s 11th; res 646 n 13th
1914
Eugene, OR, city directory, Ephraim G Clements and Eliza; res 1144
Charnelton; no occupation shown
1918
Eugene, OR, city directory, Ephraim G Clements and Eliza; res 1417
Olive; no occupation shown
1920
Eugene, OR, US census E G Clements no occupation shown
1921
Eugene, OR, city directory Ephraim G Clements; res 1417 s Olive; no
occupation shown
1923 Apr 08
Lane, OR, state records, wife Eliza S Brooks dies at age 80
1925
Eugene, OR, city directory Ephraim G Clements; res 1417 Olive
1926 Aug 28
Eugene (OR) Guard news item says E G Clements was struck by a car and
it resting easy
1926 Oct 15
Eugene, OR, state records, Ephraim G Clements dies at age 83
(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal - 23 Oct 1869
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 20 Jun 1882
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 30 Aug 1882
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 08 Sep 1882
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 04 Sep 1883
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 02 Jan 1884
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 20 Jun 1884
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 08 Oct 1891
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star - 16 Jun 1892
photographer: Clements
129 S 11th, Lincoln, NE
This also is labeled Ephraim G Clements
example from Geni.com
photographer: Clements
Corner of Fifth and Broadway, Lincoln, NE
example from the
Nebraska State Historical Society
photographer: Clements
129 South Eleventh Street, Lincoln, NE
example from the
Nebraska State Historical Society
The example at the left may not be the same Clements. No evidence has been found so far that E G Clements was in Ottumwa, IA. But, Ottumwa, IA, is only 223 miles from Lincoln, NE, and probably both were on the same rail line. Given the similarity of the imprints, it is possibly the same Clements, from between 1860 and 1869.
Clements and Ross. This Clements would be Edward N Clements. No connection has been made to Ephraim G Clements of Lincoln, NE.
Other photographers named Clements:
Clements Brothers (E. G. & I. N. Clements), 11 Savings Bank Building,
Syracuse, NY
Clements, I. N. (Clements Brothers), Syracuse, NY
Clements, E. G. (Clements Brothers), Syracuse, NY
Clements & Ross, Denver, CO
Edward N. Clements, photographer, Harrison Ave., SE cor 4th OR 105 E
4th OR 613 Harrison Ave., Leadville, CO. OR 1617 Champa, Denver, CO
Clements, Ed N., photographer, SE cor Fourth & Harrison Ave.,
Leadville, CO
Clements, E. G., between 9th and 10th, OR 129 s. 11th, Lincoln, NE
Clements, Ephraim G., 129 s 11th, Lincoln, NE
Clements, William A., 24 Union, Lewiston, Androscoggin Co., ME
Big thanks to Langdon Road
Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's
INDEX by name.
ONLY Cabinet Card photographers found in
LOST GALLERY
are reviewed here.
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.
I have a "Clements Lincoln Neb." photo like the one shown above, "The photographer's name and city are hand written on a hand cut card." Any idea what years this was being done? My best guess is that the photo is about 1895. I really appreciate this source for help in identification of my photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. These pages are made better by questions and contributions like yours.
DeleteMy first thought would be the board was simply slightly trimmed to fit one of those tight paper sleeve albums popular at the time. But, the hand-written studio and location identification changes that thought. And, as you can see, there is one like you describe on the page already.
Most of the card blanks, I think, were relatively expensive, pre-printed stock from a printing firm. However, many were hand printed in the studio with what I visualize was a bit like a notary seal. I have never seen one so it is just speculation. The itinerant photographers had to use a method like that with movable type, so the imprint could be changed from town to town.
I speculated that the card shown on this Clements page was just a rare case where the imprinter was not available or broken. And perhaps, Clements just ran out of pre-printed cards that day and had to improvise. And, of course, maybe it was just a special cost-cutting measure for a customer who couldn’t afford the pre-printed, pre-cut cards. Your card might be the same.
I’d love to add your example to the page alongside the example already there. If you can, send a scan or photo to the email address in the profile at the bottom of this page.
Thank again!
The Missouri State Museum in Jefferson City has a cabinet card with "Clements & Co." embossed at the bottom front. The subject is unidentified, but it was purchased because it was believe to have been taken in Missouri but there is really no proof of that. I can send a copy of it if you want to see it contact me at collections.statemuseum@dnr.mo.gov
ReplyDeleteThat would be great! Every bit of information helps. Please send a copy to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.
DeleteI have two family photos that I think were also taken by the same photographer with the hand-written name in the corner. I can send copies of them to you if you would like them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment! Yes, new examples are always welcome. The photographer must have run out of his pre-printed stock and had to improvise. Great example! Using the recommendations just above the comments, email them to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page. Also, let me know how you would like your credit line to read. Thanks again!
Delete