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
Abilene, KS
example from auction site
Corner Third and Broadway, Abilene, KS
example from IACma org
Abilene, KS
example from auction site
Note the wide variety of imprinted cards for Hansborough
Abilene, KS
example from auction site
Abilene, KS
example from auction site
Abilene, KS
example from auction site
Broadway North of 3rd Street, Abilene KS
example from pinterest
Abilene, KS
example from auction site
photographer: Hansborough
Abilene, KSexample from auction site
Abilene, KS
example from picclick
Abilene, KS
example from auction site
Alma, KS
example from auction site
Alma, KS
example from Flint Hills
Alma, KS
example from Pinterest
Alma, KS
example from auction site
Alma, KS
example from Kansas Mempry
Almena was a shipping point located at the junction of two railroads. The first post office in Almena was established in June 1872.
As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 363.
Almena, KS
Newspsper item from the time show that Elmer E Wallace moved around the smaller towns in a railroad car studio. He was in Almena April to June in 1893.
example from auction site
Alton was founded in 1870 as Bull City, and was named in honor of Hiram C. Bull.
It was renamed Alton in 1885, after the city of Alton, Illinois because female residents didn't like the former name.
Alton, KS
example from auction site
Andale was founded in the early 1880s.
The city's name is an amalgamation of the surnames of two families of pioneer settlers, the Andersons and Dales.
Andale was a station and shipping point on the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Haven and ANdale, KS
example from auction site
Anthony Kansas
example from auction site
Anthony Kansas
example from auction site
Wichita and Anthony, KS
example from pinterest
Anthony, KS
example from auction site
Arcadia is a city in northeast Crawford County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 254.
Arcadia was founded in 1862. It was named for the ancient region of Arcadia, in Greece. The first post office in Arcadia was established in June, 1867.
Arcadia was a station on the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway. --WIKI
Arcadia, KS
example from pinterest
The imprint is very faint but it looks like
D H Gill of Arcadia, KS. No information on this photographer has been found.
Arkansas City, KS
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
(After a couple partnerships, J L Cusick ran a studio on his own between Jun 1891 and Nov 1893, according to newspaper items. )
Arkansas City, KS
example from JenSue on Flickr
(has been deleted from Flickr stream)
Fifth Avenue, Arkansas City, KS
example from auction site
Commercial Block, Arkansas City, KS
example from auction site
Arkansas CIty, KS
example from pinterest
(Excellent account of William S Prettyman at
Heritage County Historical Musieum.)
Arkansas City, KS
example from pinterest
Arkansas City, KS
example from pinterest
Arkansas City, KS
example from Historical.Com
Arkansas City, KS
example from Digital Library Collection
Arkansas City, KS
example from auction site
Arkansas City, KS
example from auction site
(slightly enhanced)
Arlington, KS
example from picclick
No information has been found for this photographer. Suggestions are welcome.
Mrs S J Foulks (or Faulks) in Arlington, KS, just about 15 miles southeast of Hutchinson.
Armourdale was platted in 1880, and incorporated as a city in 1882. Its name came from the Armour meatpacking plant in the area. In March 1886, "new" Kansas City, Kansas was formed through the consolidation of five municipalities: "old" Kansas City, Armstrong, Armourdale, Riverview, Wyandotte.
Armourdale, KS
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
There was a Francis Allen, photographer, listed in the 1880 Atchison, KS, city directory.
Not in the 1878 or 1884.
Atchison is just 60 miles by direct rail line from Armourdale.
Ashland, KS
example from auction site
Ashland, KS
example from auction site
Photographer: Samuel Howard
Ashland, Kansas
example from LOST GALLERY
(According to newspaper items, Howard was only in Ashland, KS, for two years, 1888 amd 1889.)
Atchison, KS
example from auction site
317 Com'l Street, Atchison, KS
example from auction site
317 Commercial St, Atchison, KS
(According to newspaper items, Clark was only in Atchison, KS for about two years, 1886-1888. Also called the "Bee Hive Gallery")
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
Atchiwon, KS
example from auction site
409 Commercial Street, Atchison, KS
example from auction site
It is difficult to tell in the three scans at the left, but it appears that the name was misprinted "KLEEKNER" instead of Kleckner, then corrected later.
Note the same props were used in both examples at the left
The example at the right appears to be a photograph of a painting. Or perhaps it is a fake altogether.
509 Commeercial, Atchison, KS
example from anonymous donor
509 Commercial, Atchison, KS
example from auction site
Atchison, KS
example from auction site
Same card design as the card above without the border line.
509 Commercial, Atchison, KS
example from auction site
317 Commercial St, Atchison, KS
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
(Richard Stevenson was photographer in Atchison, KS, from about Feb 1873 to Oct 1885. His gallery was at 317 Commercial from Mar 1881 to about Oct 1885.)
Attica, KS
(See also: Grenola, KS)
example from auction site
Atwood, KS
example from pinterest
Atwood, Colby, Hoxie and Sharon Springs, KS
example from Google
Augusta, KS
example from auction site
Augusta, KS
example from auction site
Axtell is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States
The first settlements were made at Axtell in the 1860s.
The first post office in Axtell was established in December 1871. Axtell was laid out in 1872 when the railroad was extended to that point, and a railroad depot was built that year. It was named for Jesse Axtell, a railroad official. --WIKI
Axtel, KS
example from auction site
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.
