Zelda Bell

Photographer: Bell
Eastside Square, Girard, Kans.
probably finished between 1888 and 1896 by
James R Bell

While researching this cabinet card, the photographers Zelda Mary Bell and James R Bell were both investigated to determine which Bell was the photographer. The two lived in the same town, Girard, KS, at about the same time but as far as can be determined, they were not related.

James R Bell emerges as the photographer for this card. He was called the “East Side” photographer often in newspaper ads and stories.

Following is the timeline for Zelda Mary Bell, assembled only to prove she was NOT the photographer for this card.

Zelda Mary Bell
(1867 -1953)

Timeline sources: US census, Kansas state census, city directory, newspaper items as shown

1867 Jan 17
Henderson County, IL, Zelda M Bell is born to John McCracken Bell and Mary Faris Hervey
1870 Jul 14
Aledo, Mercer, IL, US census as Mary Bell

1880 Jun 03
Aledo, Mercer, IL, US census as Zelva
1890 Aug 29
Florence (KS) Herald news item says Miss Zelda M Bell is a portrait “paintress”
1891 Dec 24
Marion (KS) Headlight news item says Miss Zelda Bell went to Tecumseh, NE, holidays
1892 Sep 02
Florence (KS) Bulletin news item mentions Zelda Bell in connection with Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor
1894 Dec 27
Peabody (KS) Gazette Herald news item Zelda M Bell of Florence participates at Marion County Christian Endeavor Union convention
1895 Sep 20
Florence (KS) news item says Zelda Bell and Emma Jarvis are engaged in dress making
1897 Feb 26
Florence (KS) Bulletin item says Miss Zelda Bell is secretary of “Kansas Children’s Home So ciety”
1897 Jul 02
Florence (KS) Bulletin item says Miss Zelda Bell is going to a church convention in San Francisco, CA

1898 Aug 12
Emporia (KS) Gazette, news item says Zelda Bell of Florence, KS, is taking photography instructions at Gregg’s Gallery
1898 Nov 10
Burns (KS) Citizen, small ad says Zelda M Bell has opened a studio in Florence, KS
1900 Jun 14
Doyle, Marion, KS, US census as Z M Bell, photographer
1901
Pittsburg, KS, city directory NOT listed
1903
Pittsburg, KS, city directory as photographer in business pages but not listed in residential pages
1905 Mar 01
Girard, KS, state census as photographer; residence at same address as J M Bell, her father
1906 Aug 18
Pittsburg (KS) Daily Headlight news item mentions MISS Bell, photographer
1907 Jan 05
Pittsburg (KS) Daily Headlight news item mentions MISS Bell photographer

continued in next row

1907 Jan 14
Pittsburg (KS) Daily Headlight news item mentions MISS Z M Bell visiting Fort Scott, KS, relatives
1909 Nov 04
Girard (KS) Press, news item mentions Zelda Bell as photographer
1911 Apr 11
Unknown newspaper news item mentions PARK Bell as photographer, disappears
1911 Sep 12
Fort Scott, (KS) Monitor news item mentions MISS Bell the photographer of Girard
1912 Mar 06
Wichita (KS) Eagle news item says Zelda M Bell has registered at the Photographers Convention
1912 Oct 02
Girard (KS) Press news item mentions MISS Z M Bell, photographer
1914 Sep 24
Girard (KS) Press item mentions Zelda M Bell is awarding 2 dollars in photographs as prize in Bread Contest
1915 Apr 08
Girard (KS) Press item says Zelda M Bell is Library Treasurer

1915 May 06
Girard (KS) Press item about death of John M Bell, father of Miss Zelda M Bell
1915 May 15
Rock Island (KS) Argus via FindAGrave site, transcript of obit for John Bell mentions daughter Miss Zelda Bell
1916
Pittsburg, KS, city directory Mrs Sarah J Bell, 1205 N Joplin av
1916 Mar 16
Girard (KS) Press news item mentions Zelda Bell as library treasurer
1918 Mar 02
Kansas Farmer and Mail and Breeze feature article about cats mentions Zelda Bell studio in Girard, KS
1919 Mar 01
Girard, KS, state census as Z M Bell, living alone, no address or occupation given
1919 Jul 11
Pittsburg (KS) Sun item mentions MISS Z M Bell, photographer attends convention
1920 Jan 09
Girard, KS, US census as photographer at 123 Ozark

1920 Feb 08
Pittsburg (KS) Sun, item mentions MISS Z M Bell headed for Wichita, KS, to visit Mr and Mrs A M Bell, her brother and his wife
1921 Feb 17
Girard (KS) Press item says Zelda Bell is treasurer of the library board
1921 Sep 23
Newton (KS) Kansan item says Zelda Bell of Girard, KS, stopped in Newton, KS, en route from Florence, KS
1922 Jul 01
Abel Photographic Weekly, Vol 30: J R Frazier has purchased the studio of Miss Zelda M Bell in Girard, KS
1922 Aug 03
Girard (KS) Press ad says Miss Zelda M Bell has a Detroit Electric Car for sale
1922 Aug 17
Girard (KS) Press item says Miss Zelda M Bell has left for Wichita
1922 Dec 28
Girard (KS) Press item says Zelda M Bell who has been in Wichita, KS, since selling her Studio in Girard, will spend the winter in St Augustine, FL

There is no mention of photography found after this point

1923 Sep 27
Girard (KS) Press item says Miss Zelda M Bell was in Blain, OH, is now in Girard
1923 Nov 22
Girard (KS) Press item says Zelda Bell has Round Oak Stove for sale, inquire at Miss Shannon’s Store
1923 Nov 29
Girard (KS) Press item says Miss Zelda Bell has moved in with Emily Bruce where she will make her home
1924 May 01
Girard (KS) Press news item says Miss Zelda M Bell has returned from a visit in Nebraska
1924 Aug 07 and Sep 04
Girard (KS) Press news item says Zelda M Bell is visiting in Wichita, KS, to go to California later
1922-1926
Wichita KS, city directory NOT listed
1924 Sep 24
Girard (KS) Press item says Zelda M Bell is visiting in Wichita and will go to California later the same week

1926 Sep 18
Catholic Advance (Wichita, KS) item mentions Zelda Bell, living in Fredonia, KS, has purchased property in Wichita, KS
1927
Wichita, KS, city directory, Zelda M Bell at 2206 Maple
1930 Apr 10
Wichita, KS, US census as Seamstress at 2206 Maple
1953 Mar 01
Wichita, KS, City-County census as Zelda Bell, 4700 Arkansas
1953 Jun 10
Wichita, KS, FindAGrave website, Zelda Bell dies at age 86

Florence (KS) Herald -
29 Aug 1890


Marion (KS) Headlight -
24 Dec 1891

Florence (KS) Bulletin -
02 Feb 1892


Florence (KS) Bulletin -
20 Sep 1895


Florence (KS) Bulletin -
26 Feb 1897

Florence (KS) Bulletin -
02 Jul 1897


Unknown newspaper -
03 Jul 1897

Emporia (KS) Gazette -
12 Aug 1898


Burns (KS) Citizen -
10 Nov 1898


Erie (KS) record -
08 Apr 1904


Pittsburg (KS) Daily Headlight
18 Aug 1906

Pittsburg (KS) Daily Head -
05 Jan 1907


Fort Scott, KS
14 Jan 1907


Wichita (KS) Daily Eagle -
06 Mar 1912

Girard (KS) Press -
02 Oct 1912


Girard (KS) Press -
24 Sep 1914


Girard (KS) Press -
01 Oct 1914


Girard (KS) Press -
08 Apr 1915

Girard (KS) Press -
06 May 1915


Girard (KS) Press -
13 Jul 1916


Pittsburg (KS) Sun -
11 Jul 1919


Pittsburg (KS) Sun -
08 Feb 1920

Kansas Farmer and Mail and Breeze
02 Mar 1918

Newton (KS) Kansan
12 Sep 1921


Abel Photographic Weekly -
01 Jul 1922


Girard (KS )Press
03 Aug 1922


Girard (KS )Press
17 Aug 1922

Girard (KS )Press
28 dec 1922


Girard (KS )Press
27 Sep 1923


Girard (KS )Press
22 Nov 1923


Girard (KS )Press
29 Nov 1923

Girard (KS )Press
01 may 1924


Girard (KS )Press
07 Aug 1924


Girard (KS )Press
04 Sep 1924

Catholic Advance
18 Sep 1926

This example is from a contributor
Harms-Tobaben Genealogy. It is not a cabinet card. It is an oval mat in a three panel folder. The imprint says "Bell, Girard, Kansas.

Three panel folder with oval mat
from courtesy of Harms-Tobaben Genealogy (dmfarrell54@yahoo.com)

These folders and other formats gained in popularity as the cabinet card format began to lose favor in the early 1900's. They were attractive and could be printed in a variety of colors, textures and sizes. Best of all, they were much easier and faster for the photographer. No more trimming, gluing, coating and tedious waiting while the card dried. They could just slip the finished print into the dye cut mat and close the folder.

Although the cabinet card format can be found from as late as 1930, it was almost completely replaced by other systems by 1920. Beginning in 1888, Eastman Kodak made cameras available to everyone, making the photograph studio less popular and certainly a less profitable business. The studio photographer began to use more efficient, stable and dependable materials.

The imprint does NOT say
"Eastside Photographer"
which was typical of James R Bell, so this photograph was probably finished by Miss Zelda Mary Bell.

Zelda Bell can be documented in Girard, KS, as late as September of 1924.

photographer: Gregg
Burlington, KS
example from pinterest
(see timeline above, 1898)

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.

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