1882
Chicago, IL, city directory Gustave Mattheas NOT LISTED
1885
Chicago, IL, city directory Gustave Mattheas as photographer; res 899 Blue Island av
1887
Chicago, IL, city directory Gustave Mattheas NOT LISTED
Gustav Mattheas appears as photographer in the Chicago, IL, city directory residential section in 1885. He is not listed in the business section indicating he was probably working for a studio other than his own. The next available city directories for Chicago, IL, are 1882 and 1887 where he is not mentioned.
It is quite possible that he changed the spelling of his name due to persistent misspellings by record keepers and others.
Faced with continual phonetic misinterpretations of their spoken names some just gave up an accepted the version given. Thus Gustav could have become Gustaf or Gustave or even Gustoff. Mattheas could be Matthews, Mattheus or Matthis.
He may have been an immigrant. Many immigrants intentionally altered their family names either radically or with slight spelling changes to help them blend with their new countrymen.
In the case of Gustav Mattheas, at this time at least, it is all just speculation because no other trace of him has been found so far using that spelling of his name. His immigration status is unknown.
Any information on Gustav Matteas is welcomed.
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.
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.
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