Photographer: G. W. Hutchings
Home Galleries
816 Frederick Ave., and 717 Edmond St.
St. Joseph, Mo.
John Stout Hutchings and Elizabeth Ann Ribble had twelve children. At
least three of these children were photographers: Samuel H Hutchings,
George Washington Hutchings and Otis Lincoln Hutchings.
The three brothers Samuel, Otis and George, worked in and around
Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. It will not always be
easy to tell which brother was the actual photographer for a cabinet
card stamped “Hutchings”. Only a comparatively few cabinet cards were
imprinted with the first name or location.
G W Hutchings was an aggressive businessman and advertised a lot. G W
Hutchings, over time, worked in the R R Photo Car and also maintained
several stationary galleries at the same time, often managed by hired
assistants.
The Hutchings R R Photo Car location can often be documented exactly,
sometimes even to the week through a multitude of small newspaper ads.
The ads announced his arrival in a town, or warned of his departure,
piled accolades on his own work and demeaned and discredited his
competitors, sometimes by name. Some of these ads are included here.
At the outset, the car seems to be the enterprise of G W Hutchings,
the earliest ads placing it in Columbus, NE.
Then he called it “Chicago car”. Later, in Kansas, it appears Otis L
Hutchings and an assistant operated the car most of the time. By then
it was called only “R R Photo Car” in the advertisements.
Unfortunately, the R R Photo Car cabinet card imprints seldom, if
ever, included location or a date. The R R Photo Car, by nature,
travelled a lot and apparently a generic design card was better than
imprinting individual cards for each town where it was located.
What remains are a large array of his imprints but no way to date when
they were made. When an example appears that has been dated by the
family or owners, it can be compared to the various imprint designs.
Then at least a general date might be decided based on the design of
that card.
To further add to the confusion, in following the lives of these
photographer brothers, there was at least four other men named G W
Hutchings in the same area, including a politician and an a preacher.
There were other S H Hutchings in the Midwest, including a lawyer, an
electrician, a carpenter and a travelling salesman.
Samuel H Hutchings (1845 - 1918
George W. Hutchings (1848 - 1904)
Otis Lincoln Hutchings (1860 - 1920)
1845 Oct 10
Muncie, IN, state records, G W Hutchings older brother, Samuel H
Hutchings is born
1848 Jan 30
Perry, Delaware, IN, US Census, George Washington Hutchings is born to
John Stout Hutchings and Elizabeth Ann Ribble
1856
Berry, IA, state census, G W Hutchings at age 6 yrs
1860 Apr 01
Selma, IN, state records, Otis Lincoln Hutchings is born
1860 Jul 18
Liberty, IN, US census Hutchings at 12 yrs
1870
Nodaway, IN, US census G W Hutchings as school teacher at 22
1878 Sep 06
Burlington (KS) Democrat item says G W Hutchings has purchased Clark
Photograph Gallery
1879 Feb 14
Leavenworth (KS) Workingman’s Friend item says G W Hutchings Gallery
is at 3rd and Neosho
A lot of material was found about the Hutchings photographers. Some of it was over-lapping or contradictory and keeping it organized was difficult.
1879 Sep 11
Wellington, KS, Sumner County Press, item says G W Hutchings has
established a gallery in Wellington, KS, but will be in Wellington
only about three weeks
1879 Nov 27
Newton KS Weekly Republican news item says G W Hutchings has located
his “99 cent art gallery” on a vacant lot in the Vickrey Block
(Speculating here that Hutchings is operating out of a tent or a
wagon.)
1880 Jan 02
Hartford (KS) Call small display ad says “F” H Hutchings “Parlor
Gallery” is located over Sanfords’s new store in Burlington, KS
1880 Jun 09
Villisca, IA, US census G W Hutchings as photographer; wife Alice,
daughter Mabel; next door is listed Luke Smith, photographer and wife
Sarah
1885 Feb 07
Columbus (KS) Telegram includes several small ads announcing imminent
arrival of Hutchings R R Photo Car; One blurb says the Hutchings Photo
Car is bound for the Pacific Coast which is unlikely
1886 Aug 27
Hanover (KS) Democrat and Enterprise item says G W Hutchings formerly
of the Chicago Photo Co Takes charge of the Hanover Photo Gallery
1888 May 12
Washington (KS) Weekly Post, item says O L Hutchings has rented rooms
over C O Graves hardware store for a photo gallery
1888 May 30
Washington (KS) Weekly Post, news item says O L Hutchings is opening a
gallery in Washington
1888 Jun 06
Washington (KS) Weekly Post, longer article mentions “Hutchings Bros”
as proprietors of the railroad car (this is probably G W and O L
Hutchings)
1888 Oct 18
Downs (KS) Chief small item says Otis L Hutchings and Mary Crum are
married; Hutchings is a resident of Washington, KS
1889 Jan 25
Washington (KS) Republican small display ad says Hutchings, the
photographer, is on the west side of the square
1890 Jul 17
Abilene (KS) Weekly Reflector, a public notice from J A Hansbrough,
photographer, outlining a feud with G W Hutchings; shows G W Hutchings
is in Abilene, KS, apparently with the R R Photo Car
1890 Aug 07
Enterprise (KS) Eagle, small display ad says G W Hutchings is in
Enterprise, KS, with R R Photo Car
1891 Jan 04, Jan 18, Jan 19, Jan 26
St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun several small items say photographer G W
Hutchings studio is on Frederick Avenue in St Joseph, MO; he has
“returned” from his western business trip to take “full control”
1891 Jan 18
St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun news/ad says G W Hutchings has a “new”
gallery on Frederick av in St Joseph, MO
1891 Jan 18
St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun small item says G W Hutchings has sold his
Edmund Street gallery to an “eastern syndicate”; Mr Sargent was
retained as operator
1891 Jan 19
St Joseph (MO) Herald news item tells of “new” gallery in Junction
Block on Frederick Avenue
1891 Jan 21
Manhattan (KS) Mercury small ad says Hutchings Railroad Photo Car will
be in Manhattan on Jan 30 for a short time; (Note that this is
probably the time when Otis Lincoln Hutchings takes over the operation
of the R R Photo Car, with a hired assistant)
1891 Jan 21
St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun, story tells of G W Hutchings arrest for
mail tampering; obviously a feud with another photographer
1891 Jan 23
Washington (KS) Register, news item says O L Hutchings is recovering
from an accidental gunshot wound
1891 Jan 25
St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun, news item outlining the feud between G W
Hutchings and L A Byarlay
1891 Jan 26
St Joseph (MO) Hearld small ad shows G W Hutchings is still on
Frederick Avenue
1891 Jan 27
St Joseph (MO) Gazette Herald small news item tells of L A Byarlay’s
side of the mail tampering case against G W Hutchings
1891 Jan 29
St Joseph (MO) Herald news item says photographer G W Hutchings was
arrested for mail tampering and is not out on bond
1891 Jan 31
St Joseph (MO) Herald news ad says Hutchings is still making photos
for 1.25 a dozen
1891 Feb 03, Feb 04
St Joseph (MO) Herald small ad says G W Hutchings is still making
photographs in St Joseph, MO
1891 Feb 05
St Joseph (MO) Weekly Herald small item says G W Hutchings was held to
the US Court on a charge of destroying L A Byarlay’s mail
1891 Feb 05, Feb 11
Manhattan (KS) Mercury news ad says Hutchings makes photos for 99
cents per dozen; this would be the photo car now at Manhattan, KS;
although the newspapers say G W Hutchings, it is probably operated by
Otis L Hutchings
1891 Feb 13
Manhattan (KS) Nationalist news item G W Hutchings ruffles his
competitors again
1891 Feb 18
St Joseph (MO) Herald news ad says G W Hutchings is photographer at
Junction Block, corner of Felix Street and Frederick Avenue
1891 May 08
Beatie (KS) Star news item says the R R Photo Car is in Beatie, KS,
only 8 days
1891 May 26
Marysville (KS) Evening Democrat small item G W Hutchings promotes the
“Celluloyd” photograph
1891 Jun 12 and Jun 19
Hanover (KS) Democrat and Enterprise, news item says G W Hutchings is
to be in Hanover for eight days
1891 Jul 06
Seneca (KS) Tribune items says Hutchings R R Photo Car is leaving July
13th
1891 Jul 17
Washington (KS) Republican, display ad says Hutchings studio is on
west side of square, Washington, KS (This is probably Otis L
Hutchings)
1891 Sep 10
Hiawatha (KS) Democrat news item says G W Hutchings R R Photo Car is
at Hiawatha, KS, abusing his competitors again
1891 Sep 18
Hiawatha (KS) Brown County World, G W Hutchings in multiple news items
insults competitors
1891 Sep 18
Hiawatha (KS) Brown County World, L A Byarlay retaliates to Hutchings
accusations
1891 Oct 02
Hiawatha (KS) Brown County World, G W Hutchings has moved the R R
Photo Car from Hiawatha to Atchison, KS
1891 Nov 06
Concordia (KS) Times news item says Hutchings and Crum arrived with
new Palace Rail Road Photo Car (This would likely be O L Hutchings and
an in-law probably)
1892 May 06
Washington (KS) Republican news item says O L Washington sells his
gallery to R G Smith
1892 Nov 24
Downs (KS) Times news item shows O L Hutchings and R R Photo Car is in
Downs, KS
1892 Dec 29
Glen Elder (KS) Sentinel item says O “M” Hutchings and R R Photo Car
is in Glen Elder, KS
1893 Jan 12
Glen Elder (KS) Sentinel item says O L Hutchings and R R Photo Car is
in Glen Elder, KS
1893 May 19
Washington (KS) Register item says Hutchings R R Photo Car is in
Washington, KS (probably Otis L Hutchings)
1893 Sep 08
Frankfort (KS) Review item says O L Hutchings is found not guilty of
violating a license ordinance for the R R Photo Car
1894 Jun 16
Logan (KS) Republican news item says Mrs O L Hutchings, Hattie, has
died
1894 Aug 16
Downs (KS) Times item says infant child of O L Hutchings has died
1895 Jun 24
Iola (KS) Register display ad for Hutchings Photo Co R R Photo Car at
Iola, KS
1896 Feb 27
Jackson (MS) Weekly Clarion Ledger small item says G W Hutchings has
Palace Railroad Card there; insults local photographers again
1896 Jul 17
Florence (KS) Bulletin, display ad says Hutchings R R Photo Car is now
in Florence, KS
1897 Jun 25
Centralia (KS) Times news item says photographer Decker has partnered
with Routh, formerly of the Hutchings R R Photo Car, to work in
Centralia, KS, studio and the Sunflower Photo Car parked in
Vermillion, KS
1897 Jun 17
St Louis (MO) Globe Democrat news item says George W Hutchings and
wife announce the marriage of their daughter Maybelle Hutchings in St
Louis, MO
1899
Omaha, NE. city directory, G W Hutchings not listed
1899 Nov 03
Clifton (KS) News item shows the Chaudet & Son R R Photo Car is in
Clifton, KS
1900
Omaha, NE, city directory, G W Hutchings as photographer with Mutzen
at 1406 Farnam
1900 Apr 27
Marshall (MO) Republican news story mentions S H Hutchings of St
Louis, MO, and O L Hutchings of Marshal, MO, have teamed up in the
“College of Practical Photography”
1900 Jun 01
Omaha, NE, US census, G W Hutchings as photographer; wife Aithen (?)
daughter Mabel, son George
1900 Jun 02
Marshall, MO, US census, Otis L Hutchings and Samuel H Hutchings at
same address both as photographers
1900 Sep 28
Chanute (KS) Blade news item says the O L Hutchings Gallery at
Marshall, MO, was destroyed by fire
1901
Omaha, NE, city directory, G W Hutchings as photographer at 1406
Farnam
1902
Omaha, NE, city directory, no Hutchings listed
1903 Nov 28
St Joseph (MO) News Press Gazette small display ad says Hutchings
Studio is at King Hill Building (This is probably O L Hutchings)
1904
St Louis, MO, city directory G W Hutchings as photographer at 720
Olive; res Maplewood
1904 Apr 13
St Louis Globe Democrat small item George W Hitchings death notice,
funeral private
1905
St Louis, MO, city directory, G W Hutchings as photographer at 720
Olive; there is little doubt that the studio carried on under the
Hutching name;
1906 Aug 09, Aug 11, Sep 30
St Joseph (MO) News Press Gazette item says Hutchings, photographs,
9th and Francis, in St Joseph, MO
1906 Sep 30
St Joseph (MO) News Press Gazette item says Hutchings photographs
studio is at 9th and Francis
1919 Apr 14
Jefferson, MO, state records, Samuel H Hutchings dies
1920 Aug 19 and Aug 26
Chanute (KS) Humbolt Union display ad for Hutchings photographer in
Chanute, KS
1920
Iowa, state records, O L Hutchins dies
Here is a photograph of a typical
Railroad Car Photograph Studio
and a cabinet card credited to the "Hutchings Brothers" photography.
And look at the blog
Forgotten Faces and Long Ago Places
for a couple more examples.
Here are two more examples of
Hutchings Railroad Car
Another example on
Who Were They?
Here is a photograph of
another Railroad Photo Car.
There is a large collection of
Hutchings photographs HERE.
There are hundreds of small ads and blurbs about the Hutchings
photographers. Following are just a few to help place them.
Burlington (KS) Democrat - 06 Sep 1878
Leavenworth (KS) Workingman Friend -14 Feb 1879
Sumner County (KS) Press - 11 Sep 1879
Probably a printer's error
Burlington (KS) - 26 Aug 1881
Columbus (KS) Telegram - 07 Feb 1885
Columbus (KS) Telegram - 07 Feb 1885
Washington (KS) Weekly Post -
12 May 1888
06 Jun 1888
Washington (KS) Republican - 25 Jan 1889
St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun - 04 Jan 1891
St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun - 18 Jan 1891
Manhattan (KS) Mercury - 21 Jan 1891
Washington (KS) Register - 23 jan 1891
St Joseph (MO) Herald - 31 Jan 1891
St Joseph (MO) Herald - 03 Feb 1891
St Joseph (MO) Weekly Herald - 05 Feb 1891
Manhattan (KS) Mercury - 05 Feb 1891
Manhattan (KS) Mercury - 11 Feb 1891
Manhattan (KS) Nationalist - 13 Feb 1891
St Joseph (MO) Herald - 18 Feb 1891
Beatie (KS) Star - 08 May 1891
Marysbille (KS) Evening Democrat -
26 May 1891
Hanover (KS) Demcrat - 12 Jun 1891
Hanover (KS) Demcrat - 19 Jun 1891
Sabetha (KS) Herald - 10 Jul 1891
Washington (KS) Republican - 17 Jul 1891
Brown County (KS) World - 18 Sep 1891
Brown County (KS) World -
18 Sep 1891
18 Sep 1891
Brown County (KS) World - 18 Sep 1891
Brown County (KS ) World - 18 Sep 1891
Brown County (KS ) World - 18 Sep 1891
Brown County (KS ) World -
18 Sep 1891
02 Oct 1891
Concordia (KS) Times - 06 Nov 1891
Downs (KS) Times - 24 Nov 1892
Downs (KS) Times - 24 Nov 1892
Glen Elder (KS) Sentinel - 12 Jan 1893
Washington (KS) Register - 19 May 1893
Brown County (KS) Times -
16 Aug 1894
Jackson (MI) Weekly Clarion - 27 Feb 1896
St Joseph (MO) Press Gazette - 28 Nov 1903
St Joseph (MO) News Press Gazette -
11 Aug 1906
St Joseph (MO) News Press Gazette -
30 Jun 1906
19 Aug 1920
This would be an ad for Otis Lincoln Hutchings who lived until 1920.
More than one Rail Road Photo Car operated in the Kansas, Nebraska
and Missouri area in 1891.
From mostly newspaper ads the following itinerary has been
assembled of the car operated by Hutchings. From these newspaper ads
it is apparent that the Hutchings Photo Car was operated most of the
time, by Otis Lincoln Hutchings, the youngest brother of G W
Hutchings. The actual ownership of the car is still not certain.
Some overlaps in dates can be explained by remembering that the ads
sometimes preceded the arrival of the photo car by a few days.
1886 Oct 08 to 1886 Oct 29 - Centralia, KS
1886 Dec 04 to 1886 Dec 18 - Jamestown, KS
1887 Jan 14 to 1887 Feb 18 - Jewell, KS
1887 Feb 18 to 1887 Feb 22 - Downs, KS
1887 Mar 17 - Gaylord, KS
1887 Mar 18 - Smith Center, KS
1887 Apr 14 - Gaylord, KS
1887 Apr 21 to 1887 Apr 28 - Logan, KS
1887 May 05 to 1887 May 19 - Logan, KS
1887 Jun 10 - Stockton, KS
1887 Jul 06 - Alton, KS
1887 Jul 22 to 1887 Aug 18 - Downs, KS
1887 Aug 12 to 1887 Aug 27 - Jamestown, KS
1887 Aug 24 to 1887 Sep 14 - Mankato, KS
1887 Nov 02 to 1887 Nov 09 - Clyde, KS
1887 Dec 16 to 1888 Jan 27 - Greenleaf, KS
1888 Feb 17 to 1888 Mar 30 - Centralia, KS
1888 Apr 02 to 1888 Apr 26 - Wetmore, KS (as Hutchings Bros Photo
Car)
1888 Apr 27 to 1888 May 04 Waterville, KS (as Hutchings Bros R R Photo
Car)
1888 May 13 to 1888 Jun 04 - Mankato, KS (est)
1888 Jun 06 - Washington, KS
1888 Jul 19 - Marysville, KS
1888 Aug 03 to 1888 Aug 17 - Hanover, KS
1888 Jul 19 - Marshall, KS
1888 Sep 01 to 1888 Sep 08 - Sabetha, KS
1888 Sep 20 to 1888 Oct 04 - Seneca, KS
1888 Nov 15 to 1888 Nov 28 - Greenleaf, KS 111
1889 Jan 25 - Washington, KS (O L Hutchings has established a gallery
on the west side of the square)
1889 Nov 01 to Nov 08 - Hiawatha, KS
1889 Nov 13 to 1889 Nov 27 - Clyde, KS
1889 Nov 29 to 1889 Nov 30 - Severance, KS (as Palace Rail Road
Car)
1889 Dec 11 to 1889 Dec 25 - Clyde, KS (as Hutchings Bros R R Car)
1890 Jan 01 to 1890 Jan 15 - Clyde, KS
1890 Jan 31 to 1890 Feb 21 - Centralia, KS
1890 Apr 04 to 1890 Apr 18 - Wetmore, KS
1890 Apr 18 to 1890 May 07 - Manhattan, KS
1890 May 30 - Havensville, KS
1890 Jun 06 to 1890 Jun 07 - Valley Falls, KS
1890 Jul 17 - Abilene, KS
1890 Sep 04 - Cottonwood Falls, KS
1890 Oct 30 to Nov 13 - Alma, KS
1890 Aug 07 to 1890 Aug 14- Enterprise, KS
1890 Aug 16 to 1890 Aug 23 - Carbondale, KS
1890 Aug 26 - Hope, KS
1890 Aug 29 - Scranton, KS (advertised as “Hutchings Brothers rail
road photo car”
1890 Aug 28 to 1890 Sep 04 - Cottonwood Falls, KS
1890 Oct 30 - Alma, KS
1890 Nov 06 to 1890 Nov 15 - Alma, KS
1890 Nov 21 - Scranton, KS
1890 Nov 28 to 1890 Dec 19 - Louisville, KS
1890 Dec 19 - Louisville, KS
1890 Dec 31 - Howard, KS
1891 Jan 02, Jan 14 - Howard, KS
1891 Jan 08 - Saint Mary’s, KS
1891 Jan 21 to 1891 Feb 14 - Manhattan, KS
1891 Feb 26 - Randolph, KS
1891 Apr 03 to 1891 Apr 10 - Axtell, KS (car parked apparently at
Seneca but advertised in both papers)
1891 Apr 02 to Jul 09 - Seneca, KS
1891 Apr 24 - Axtel, KS (much advance advertising was done while in
Seneca, KS, but it looks like it was not actually in Seneca until
about the 24th)
1891 May 07 - 1891 Jun 12 - Marysville, KS
1891 Jun 12 to 1891 Jun 26 - Hanover, KS
1891 Jun 26 - Summerfield, KS
1891 Jul 02 - Baileyville, KS
1891 Jul 10 to 1891 Jul 17 - Sabetha, KS
1891 Jul 09 - Seneca, KS
1891 Aug 27 10 1891 Sep 18 - Hiawatha, KS
1891 Sep 24 to 1891 Oct 01- Strong, KS
1891 Oct 01 - Cottonwood Falls, KS
1891 Oct 08 to 1891 Oct 09 - Washington, KS
1891 Oct 23 - Concordia, KS
1891 Nov 03 to 1891 Dec 01 - Downs, KS
1891 Nov 06 - Concordia, KS (car now called Hutchings and Crum Palace
Photo Car)
1892 Jun 23 to 1892 Jul 21 - Alton, KS (ad says the photo car is
leaving Alton, KS on 01 Aug 1892)
1892 Aug 04 to 1892 Aug 11 1892 (for 15 more days) Alton, KS
1892 Sep 22 - Logan, KS
1892 Nov 03 to 1892 Dec 08 - Downs, KS (adv says “Last Stop in
Downs”)
1893 Jan 03 to 1893 Jan 19 (from ad published on 29 Dec 1892) - Glen
Elder, KS
1893 Feb 09 to 1893 Mar 27 - Beloit, KS (O L Hutchings)
1893 Mar 29 to 1893 Apr 21 - Abilene, KS
1893 Apr 26 - Solomon, KS (O L Hutchings)
1893 May 12 to 1893 Jul 14 - Washington, KS (after about Jul 03, the
car located at Greenleaf, KS
1893 Jul 06 to 1893 Jul 21 - Greenleaf, KS (overlap)
1893 Aug 18 - Centralia, KS
1893 Aug 24 to 1893 Sep 29 - Frankfort, KS
1893 Sep 07 - Eskridge, KS (billed only as “the Railroad Photo Car)
1893 Oct 26 - Frankfort, KS (closing and moving to Waterville, KS)
1893 Nov 03 - Washington, KS (news item says finally closed and moved
to Frankfort, KS)
1893 Dec 05 to 1894 Feb 24 - Concordia, KS
1894 Feb 26 to 1894 Apr 20 - Scandia, KS
1894 Apr 27 to May 25 - Republic City, KS (another story says O L
Hutchings arrives 02 May 1894)
1894 Jun 29 to 1894 Jul 06 - Courtland, KS (O L Hutchings)
1894 Sep 06 to 1894 Oct 21- Howard, KS
1894 Nov 16 to 1894 Dec 14 - Grenola, KS
1895 Jan 11 to 1895 Feb 01 - Longton, KS (adv in Howard, KS, also)
1895 Apr 05 to 1895 Apr 26 - Cherryvale, KS
1895 Apr 26 to 1895 Jun 10 - Thayer, KS (O L Hutchings)
1895 Jun 14 to 1895 Jul 05 - Iola, KS
1895 Jul 24 - Florence, KS
1895 Jul 27 to 1895 Oct 05 - Humboldt, KS
1895 Oct 18 - Colony, KS
1896 Jan 03 - LeRoy, KS
1896 Jan 31 - Madison, KS
1896 Feb 28 - Leroy, KS
1896 Mar 13 to 1896 Mar 27 - Neodesha, KS
1896 May 19 to 1896 May 21 - Winfield, KS
1896 May 29 to 1896 Jun 12 - Augusta, KS
1896 Jul 17 - Florence, KS
1896 Sep 03 - Cottonwood Falls, KS
1896 Sep 04 - Strong City, KS
1897 Jan 15 - Axtel, KS (Note: All ads in 1897 spell the name
“Hutchins” without a “G”.
It is only speculation but it is possible that the Hutchings sold
their interest and the new owners tried to cash in on the name.
After this point, "Hutchings" (with a "G") is not mentioned in any
ads.)
1897 Apr 08 to 1897 Apr 22 - Miltonvale, KS
1897 Jun 11 to 1897 Jun 15 - Centralia, KS
1897 Jul 16 - Courtland, KS
1898 Mar 12 - Leavenworth, KS
1898 Apr 09 to 1898 Apr 29 - Valley Falls, KS (note: All ads in 1898
omit the name Hutchings or Hutchins)
1898 Aug 03 to 1898 Aug 17 - Burlingame, KS (advertised in Scranton,
KS, also)
1898 Sep 23 to 1898 Oct 21 - Manhattan, KS
1899 All ads omit the name Hutchings or Hutchins. The railroad car is
now managed by Chaudet & Sons, Art Co.
It is just speculation, but the Hutchings Brothers probably got out
of the Rail Road Car business about November or December of 1896.
The Hutchings brothers apparently worked together a lot but very
intermittently. Due to the restlessness (some would say "Shifty")
ambition of G W Hutchings, O L Hutchings was often left to operate the
R R Photo Car with an assistant. The advertisements still carried on
in the name of G W Hutchings which adds to the speculation that he was
actually the owner of the business, and the owner/leasor of the R R
Car itself.
Hutchings Brothers
Rail Road Photo Car
Consequently, the imprint rarely reflects the "Hutchings Bros" as it
is in this example.
Here is an example and note
from C Stuart:
"Hello. I have a photo you can use - your website said the Hutchings
Bros imprint is rare. I do not know the date of the photo (I was
trying to figure it out when I came across your website!) Robert
Wilson Attwater was born Sept 1854. He moved to Logan Kansas between
1882 and 1887 and was there until after 1920."
photographer: Hutchings BrothersR R Photocar
example from C Stuart
photographer: Hutchings
This card is imprinted only "Hutchings" but it probably comes from the
Rail Road car era.
photographer: Hutchings
photographer: HutchingsNW Cor Square, Marshal, MO
example from auction site
This card was likely finished in 1900 when O L and S H Hutchings were
in Marshal, MO.
Note also, the imprint on this card differs from all other cards on
this page.
Photographer: HutchingsWashington, KS
example from auction site
This card would have been finished between 1888 and 1891.
See timeline at top.
photographer: HutchingsRail Road Photo Car
example from Forgotten Faces
photographer: HutchingsRail Road Photo Car
example from auction site
THREE
photographer: HutchingsRail Road Photo Car
example from auction site
G W Hutchings had a long and productive career. Any corrections, suggestions or new information it always welcome.
photographer: HutchingsRail Road Photo Car
example from auction site
Photographer: Hutchings
Rail road Photo Car
example from LOST GALLERY
Photographer: Hutchings
Rail Road Photo Car
example from pinterest
(Note that this card imprint design is the same as the card on the left)
FOUR
photographer: Hutchings
photocar
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Washington, Kansas
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Washington, Kansas
Example from pinterest, source unknown
FIVE
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Car
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Car
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Car
example from Portland Art Museum
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Car
CDV example from USGnet
photographer: Hutchings Railroad Photo Co
example from picclick
photographer: Hutchings
Rail Road Photo Car
Hutchings Railroad Photo Car
Hutchings Railroad Photo Car
SEVEN
Hutching
Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Art Studio
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photocar
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photocar
example from pinterest
EIGHT
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photocar
example from FivePrime
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photocar
example from pinterest
Railroad Photocar
example from aucton site
photographer Hutchings Bros
Railroad Photocar
example from auction site
NINE
The name of the Hutchings R R Photo Car changed several times. Here
it is called the Flying Art Gallery. Other titles found were
"Traveling Photographic Art Gallery" "Chicago Photo Gallery" "Palace
Art Gallery" and "Sunflower Photo Car".
photographer: G W Hutchings
Flying Art Gallery
CDV example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
example from pinterest
This example differs from all others on this page. Only the name
"Hutchings" is imprinted on the card.
photographer: Hutchings
St Louis, MO
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Washington, KS
example from pinterest
TEN
photographer: Hutchings and Crum
Railroad Photo Car
example from pinterest
This card was probably done in November of 1881 when the photo car
was in Concordia, KS.
Since Otis Lincoln Hutchings married Mary Crum in 1888, one could
safely speculate that the "Crum" in this imprint is either the wife or
an inlaw.
The Smith in this partnership might be with Luke Smith who lived next door to G W Hutchings in Villesca, IA, during 1880. And perhaps it was R G Smith who purchased the Washington, KS, gallery from O L Hutchings in May of 1892. Or perhaps it was another Smith entirely. More research pending.
photographer: Hutchings and Smith
Traveling Photographic Art Gallery
example from pinterest
Photographer: Hutchings
Burlington, KS
This one probably comes from either September of 1878 or January of 1880 when G W Hutchings had an established studio in Burlington, KS.
This example differs from all of the others on this page. The
Hutchings name is imprinted on the right side of the card.
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photo Car
example from pinterest
ELEVEN
photographer: Hutchings
Frederick Avenue, St Joseph, MO
example from pinterest
These four probably come from early 1891.
photographer: Hutchings
Frederick Avenue, St Joseph, MO
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Frederick Avenue, St Joseph, MO
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Frederick Avenue, St Joseph, MO
TWELVE
This one is from Smith Center, KS. Hutchings advertised in Smith
Center, KS, in March of 1887.
photographer: Hutchings
Smith Center, KS
example from pinterest
Photographer: Hutchings
Smith Center, KS
example from pinterest
The obvious problem here is that the simple style card above was more
commonly used in the late 1870's to early 1880's. The deckled edge,
gilt card on the left appears to be more from the 1890's. Of course
the usual reason is that the photographer was using up old imprinted
stock.
photographer: Hutchings
Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS
example from pinterest
photographer: Hutchings
Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS
example from auction site
(Note that the card is imprinted with the same design as the card on the left.)
photographer: Hutchings (or perhaps Kutchings)
Durand, Michigan
This may not be the same Hutchings as George W Hutchings. More research required.
photographer: HutchingsRailroad Photo Car
example from auction site
photographer Hutchings photo car
Villisca, IA
This is probably from around June of 1880 when G W Hutchings was living in Villiaca, IA.
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site
photographer: HutchingsSt. Louis
example from pin
(note that the imprint differs from all other examples on this page)
Just below are cabinet card examples with the imprint Rail Road
Photo-Car. Note that the name is "hutchins" not "Hutchings". Could this
be possibly from a period after G W Hutchings gave up the railroad car
and someone else used the approximate name for a while?
photographer: Hutchins
Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site
photographer: Hutchins
Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site
Photographer
Hutchins Railroad Photo Car
photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Car
CDV example from USGnet
G W Hutchings had a long and productive career. Any corrections, suggestions or new information it always welcome.
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.
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.
was Hutchings Photo ever printed on back of cabinet card? That is what I have on the back of a relatives picture. Were they ever in Michigan or Ohio?
ReplyDeleteGood question! I didn’t find the Hutchings Rail Road car in those states at all, but alas, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there, or one like it. There were three brothers in the business. Also, it’s possible that there was another photographer using the name. One photographer even called his business “Hutchins” Photo Car. Is your example a Cabinet Card or other format? That will tell you something. The cabinet card era was fading fast around 1900 and didn’t have near the popularity it did in 1890. Easel-backs and die-cut matting were taking over. And now that you mention it I have never seen a Hutchings cabinet card with an imprint on the reverse. If you can, send a scan or photo to the address in the profile at the bottom of this page.
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