George W Hutchings

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
For an example see
Kansas Cabinet Cards - C
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.

Columbus (KS) Journal - 11 Feb 1885


Burlington (KS) Democrat - 06 Sep 1878


Leavenworth (KS) Workingman Friend -14 Feb 1879


Sumner County (KS) Press - 11 Sep 1879

Hartford (KS) - 02 Jan 1880

Probably a printer's error

Burlington (KS) - 26 Aug 1881


Columbus (KS) Telegram - 07 Feb 1885


Columbus (KS) Telegram - 07 Feb 1885

Columbus (KS) Telegram - 07 Feb 1885


Washington (KS) Weekly Post -
12 May 1888

Washington (KS) Weekly Post
06 Jun 1888

Downs (KS) Chief - 18 Oct 1888


Washington (KS) Republican - 25 Jan 1889

Abilene (KS) Weekly Reflector - 17 Jul 1890

Enterprise Eagle - 07 Aug 1890


St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun - 04 Jan 1891


St Joseph (MO) Herald Sun - 18 Jan 1891

St Joseph (MO)Herald - 19 Jan 1891


Manhattan (KS) Mercury - 21 Jan 1891


Washington (KS) Register - 23 jan 1891

St Joseph (MO) - 25 Jan 1891

St Joseph Gazette Herald - 27 Jan 1891

St Joseph (MO) Herald - 29 Jan 1891


St Joseph (MO) Herald - 31 Jan 1891


St Joseph (MO) Herald - 03 Feb 1891

St Joseph (MO) Herald - 04 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

Axtell (KS) Anchor - 27 Mar 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

Seneca (KS) Tribune - 09 Jul 1891


Sabetha (KS) Herald - 10 Jul 1891


Washington (KS) Republican - 17 Jul 1891

Hiawatha (KS) Democrat - 10 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

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


Brown County (KS ) World -
18 Sep 1891

Brown County (KS) World -
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 - 29 Dec 1893


Glen Elder (KS) Sentinel - 12 Jan 1893


Washington (KS) Register - 19 May 1893

Frankfort (KS) Review - 08 Sep 1893


Brown County (KS) Times -
16 Aug 1894

Iola (KS) Register - 14 Jun 1895

Humbolt (KS) Union - 27 Jul 1895


Jackson (MI) Weekly Clarion - 27 Feb 1896

Florence (KS) Bulletin - 17 Jul 1896

Virmillion (KS) Monitor - 11 Jun 1897

Centralia (KS) Times - 25 Jun 1897

Chanute (KS) Blade - 28 Sep 1900


St Joseph (MO) Press Gazette - 28 Nov 1903

St Louis (MO) GLobe Democrat - 13 Apr 1904


St Joseph (MO) News Press Gazette -
11 Aug 1906


St Joseph (MO) News Press Gazette -
30 Jun 1906

Humbolt (Chanute, KS) Union -
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 Brothers
R R Photocar
example from C Stuart

ONE

photographer: Hutchings

This card is imprinted only "Hutchings" but it probably comes from the Rail Road car era.

photographer: Hutchings

photographer: Hutchings
NW Cor Square, Marshal, MO
example from auction site

This card and the one on the right, was likely finished in 1900 when O L and S H Hutchings were in Marshal, MO.

photographer: Hutchings
NW Cor Square, Marshal, MO
example from contributor

TWO

photographer: Hutchings
Rail Road Photo Car
example from Forgotten Faces

photographer: Hutchings
Rail Road Photo Car
example from auction site

Photographer: Hutchings
Washington, KS
example from auction site

This card would have been finished between 1888 and 1891.

See timeline at top.

Photographer: Hutchings
Washington, KS
example from auction site

THREE

photographer: Hutchings
Rail 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: Hutchings
Rail 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
Avenue, St. Joseph, MO
example from Kansas Memory site

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

SIX

photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photo Co
example from picclick

photographer: Hutchings
Rail Road Photo Car
example from Pinterest

photographer:
Hutchings Railroad Photo Car

photographer:
Hutchings Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site

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

photographer: Hutchings
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
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.

photographer: Hutchings and Crum
Railroad Photo Car
example from pinterest

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.

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 anomaly here is that the simple style card above was more commonly used in the late 1870's to early 1880's. The deckled edge or the gilt edge card on the left appears to be more from the 1890's. Of course the possible reason is that the photographer was using up old imprinted stock. Or perhaps it was just cheaper.

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
Smith Center, KS
example from contributor

photographer: Hutchings (or perhaps Kutchings)
Durand, Michigan
This may not be the same Hutchings
as George W Hutchings. More research required.

photographer Hutchings photo car
Villisca, IA
This is probably from around June of 1880 when G W Hutchings was living in Villiaca, IA.

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

Thirteen

photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site

photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site

photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photo Car
example from auction site

photographer: Hutchings
St. Louis
example from pin

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?

G W Hutchings had a long and productive career. Any corrections, suggestions or new information it always welcome.

photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photocar
example from pinterest

photographer: Hutchings
Railroad Photocar
example from auction site

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

Fourteen

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
example from pinterest

Fifteen

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.