Included on this special set of pages are Cabinet Card examples from just one state, Kansas. A sort of index. They are presented here in alphabetical order according to location.
Why Kansas?
In 1865, when the Cabinet Card size for photo mounts began its popularity, Kansas had only been a state for 4 years. Even today there are less than 400 towns with a population over 200. Back then, even fewer. Where a Cabinet Card carries the name of the photographer and the town where he was working, the dates of city incorporation will be one clue to the date of the cabinet card.
Cabinet Cards were so popular and well known that in some photographer’s newspaper ads of the era, they were referred to merely as “Cabs”.
Most say they eventually surpassed the popularity of the Carte de Viste format. See a brief history of the Carte de Viste.
Photographers often lived and based in a larger town and “worked” the neighboring smaller towns monthly or weekly. The passenger trains were very handy back then.
Where further information on a photographer is known, a link will be provided.
The central purpose in these pages is to help place a date on cabinet cards done by various photographers in various places. Here’s hoping you spot a card design or imprint that will help you date and identify that card in your collection.
These pages are for educational and informational purposes only. Any helpful suggestions are welcomed.
Kansas Cities, Towns, Burgs and Whistlestops in the late 19th century.
Promoting the care, understanding and collection of this unique format of 19th century photography. They are more than 100 years old. Handle with care.
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.
See also:
Owlcation is an excellent site which examines the Kansas photographers of the 19th century. Follow the link
La Cygne, KS
example from auction site
(note: this card now belongs to mj aux on Flickr)
As you might imagine there were several photographers named Wilson in the cabinet card era and even more named Smith. When more information has been found, it will be added here.
Not only does there appear to have been
more than one "Smith"
and more than one "Wilson",
there was more than one
"Smith and Wilson"
in the area.
From newspaper items it appears the Smith and Willson were partners at least from Nov 1886 to Sept 1890.
Lawrence is the county seat of Douglas County, Kansas, and the sixth-largest city in the state.
photographer: A C Hamilton
Lawrence, KS
example from Kansas Memory
Albert C Hamilton operated his gallery in Lawrence from about 1882 to his death in August 1888.
His brother William Edgar (AKA E W) Hamilton who had been working at the gallery, takes over. E W operates the same location until Feb of 1892 when he sells out to J L Morris. E W Hamilton moves to Oklahoma.
William H Lamon was photographer in Lawrence, KS, from 1861 to 1886 when he moved to California. His studio was on Massachusetts street about 1866 thru 1871. He died in 1895.
South Tennessee St, Lawrence, KS
example from pinterest
Leavenworth, KS
example from Cabinet Card Gallery
P H Bauer had a studio in Leavenworth, Kansas, from about 1883 to 1915.
Strictly from the appearance of this card, it was likely finished well after 1900.
There's room here for a personal rant. The owner of this card has written the price of "2--" in the upper right corner of this card. I supposed the same dealer might try to sell a 135 year old solid maple table with the price scratched in the varnish at the corner.
406 Delaware, Leavenworth, KS
example from Forgotten Faces, Forgotten Places
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Lehigh. The source of the Lehigh name was not well documented. One of the rumors is the city being slightly higher altitude which was "lay high" above the prairie, the other rumor that it was named by representatives of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania who came to Kansas and considered settling the area in the 1870s or 1880s. --- Wiki
Lenora was founded in 1873. It was named for Mrs. Lenora Hauser, a pioneer settler. The first post office in Lenora was established in June 1874.
Lenora, KS
example from the Flickr Collection of mj aux
(From advertisements, Ben J Marsh was in Lenora, KS, about once a month from May of 1893 to Apr 1897. He was apparently based in Norton, KS.)
Leon was founded in 1879. It was named after Leon, Iowa, which in turn was named after the Jewish "Fighting Doctor" David Camden de Leon. The first building, built in 1879, was the blacksmith shop of H. Belton. Leon was incorporated as a city in 1882. ---WIKI
Liberal, KS
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
(F L Saunders, photographer, was mentioned in the Liberal (KS) News from Dec 1892 to Sep 1895.)
Settler George Green founded the town of Lincoln in 1870. The town was incorporated as the city of Lincoln Center in 1879.
Lincoln, KS
example from ForgottenFacesForgottenPlaces (enhanced slightly to show name imprint)
Lincoln, KS
example from auction site
(Advertised in local newspapers from Nov 1890 to May of 1894 in Lincoln KS.)
Longton was founded in 1870. It was named after Longton, England. The first post office in Longton was established in August, 1870.
Longton, KS
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
(Athough the Drum Photo Car travelled to many Kansas towns on the rail line, Longton, KS, was home base for many years.)
"Little St. Louis" was renamed Louisburg in 1870.
Cor Broadway and Randolph Streets, Louisburg, KS
example from auction site
Cor Broadway and Randolph Streets, Louisburg, KS
example from auction site
Cor Broadway and Randolph Streets, Louisburg, KS
example from auction site
Lucas was established as the community of Blue Stem in 1877. It was renamed Lucas in 1887 after Lucas Place in St. Louis, Missouri.
Lucas is located in north-central Kansas at the junction of Kansas Highway 18 (K-18) and Kansas Highway 232 (K-232), Lucas is 115 miles (185 km) northwest of Wichita, 212 miles (341 km) west of Kansas City, and 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Russell, the county seat. Lucas is just 25 miles from Lincoln, KS -WIKI
Lyndon, KS
example from auction site
(Ford was photographer in Lyndon, KS, from April of 1882 to about 1889.)
2 blks North and 1 blk East of Square, Lyons, KS
example from auction site
Lyons, KS
example from JumpingFrog
( According to newapaper items of the time, Brua and Glaze worked as partners in Lyons, KS, from May 1887 to Dec 1896)
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.
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.
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