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
The town's settlement began circa 1854, with a name reportedly derived from the word "Sabbath", the day the first settler arrived. Sabetha was incorporated as a city in 1874.
The population in 1880 was 849. --WIKIPEDIA
Sabetha, KS
example from auction site
According to newspaper items, Frank Hill moved from Morrill, KS, to Sabetha, KS, about February of 1896 and ran a photograph gallery there until at least 1903. He appears to go into the entertainment business.
Sabetha, KS
example from auction site
Sabetha, KS
example from auction site
Sabetha, KS
example from auction site
Photo Car
example from auction site
Sabetha, KS
example from auction site
(really marginal scan)
Only one person named Vermillion has been found that lived in the right place and the right time.
Emery David Vermillion was born 1872, in
Nemaha County, Kansas. Sabetha is in Nemaha and Brown County.
Saint John was founded in 1874 and incorporated into a city in 1885
Example pending
St John (KS) Weekly News - 02 Aug 1895
photographer: Mrs W W O'neal
St John, KS
St. Marys was laid out as a community in 1866. It was named after the St. Mary's Mission.
Saint Marys, KS
example from Kansas Memory
The Victor Pautot studio thrived in St Marys, KS from 1885 until about 1920.
North Topeka, Eureka, Osage City, Salina
Salina, KS
example from auction site
(Atherton and Hopkins were partnered for a short time between 1892 and 1898.)
Salina. KS
exapample from auction site
photographer: F A LoomisSalina, KS
example from auction site
(probably finished during 1890)
Salina, KS
example from auction site
The name was changed from New Scandia to Scandia in 1876, according to post office records. Scandia was incorporated as a city in 1879
photographer: Jennings
Scandia, KS
Example found on genealogy site:
Photograph provided courtesy of familyphotoreunion.blogspot.com.
Courtland and Narka, KS
example from auction site
Scandia, KS
example from auctioin site
(same print mask but different style card)
Courtland and Narka, KS
example from auction site
Courtland, KS
example from auction site
Courtland and Narka, KS
example from auction site
Scandia, KS
example from auction site
Courtland and Narka, KS
example from auction site
Scandia, KS
example from auction site
Scandia, KS
exam[le from pinterest
Scott City, KS
example from auction site
Scott City and Dighton, KS
example from auction site
Seneca was founded in 1857. It was named after Seneca County, Ohio. The first post office in Seneca was established in November 1858. Seneca grew up along the wagon route from St. Joseph, Missouri to Oregon and California. Seneca was incorporated as a city in 1870.
Seneca, KS
example from auction stie
Seneca, KS
example from pinterest
Seneca, KS
example from picclick
Seneca, KS
example from auction site
Cor Main and State, 2nd floor, Seneca, KS
example from auction site
Seneca, KS
example from auction site
Seneca, KS
example from auction site
Seneca, KS
example from auction site
Seneca, KS
example from auction site
Seneca, KS
example from auction site
Severy is a city in Greenwood County, Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 205.
Severy was originally called Gould, founded in 1879. When the Santa Fe Railway was built through the neighborhood, the name Severy was adopted in honor of Luther Severy, a railroad employee. -(Wikipedia)
Severy, KS
Sharon Springs, KS
example from pinterest
Atwood, Colby, Hoxie and Sharon Springs, KS
example from Google
Smith Center was founded in 1871. The first post office in Smith Center was established in January 1873.
Kansas Avenue, Smith Center, KS
example from auction site
The three Hutchings brothers established several studios in northern Kansas. Some of them only for a short time. And they also operated a railroad car studio that toured Kansas from about 1886 to 1898.
Kansas Avenue, Smith Center, KS
example from auction site
Kansas Avenue, Smith Center, KS
example from auction site
Smith Center, KS
example from auction site
(Note that all of the Hutchings examples shown here, have different card imprints)
The first post office at Solomon was established in October, 1860. Solomon was founded in 1866. Solomon was incorporated as a city in 1871.
Probably Frederick Baldwin or his son Nereus, both having studios in Wichita, KS, later. Solomon City, KS
example from auction site
Solomon, KS
example from auction site
(This examile is NOT a cabinet card but close in size.)
Spring Hill, KS
(See also Girard and Paola, KS)
example from picclick
Stafford was founded in 1878. Like Stafford County, the city was named for Lewis Stafford, a casualty in the Civil War.
Stafford was destroyed by a tornado in 1882, and rebuilt within a year. Stafford was incorporated as a city in 1885.
Stafford, KS
example from auction site
Stafford, KS
example from auction site
Stafford, KS
example from auction site
According to newspaper items, Benjamin Franklin Powell was photographer in Sterling and Stafford Kansas from May 1889 to Jun of 1889 and then from August 1889 to March of 1893.
He then moves to Colorado Springs, CO, because of his wife’s health. He works for a studio there for a while and then takes up farming until his death in 1942.
Sterling, KS
(also of Beatrice, NE)
example from pinterest
Stockton, KS
example from auction site
Strong City, KS
example from the Flickr collection of mj aux
(N A Rice was featured in newspaper items Aug 1887 through Nov 1887.
He partners with D H Bays for a short time, then both leave Strong, City in Sep 1889.)
Sylvan Grove was founded in 1877, at the site where a mill had been built in 1875. The city was named for twin sylvan groves near the original town site. -- Wiki
Sylvan Grove, KS
exaple from auction site
This example appears to be from well after 1900.
Elmer E Miller moved from Orbitello, KS, (now a ghost town) to Sylvan Grove, KS. He operated a photo studio and jewelry store in Sylvan Grove, KS, from about April of 1892 to Dec of 1904 when he died suddenly of “brain fever”.
His wife Eliza closed out the jewelry department and operated the photo studio for a short time. She then sold out the studio to H C Bearns, photographer in August of 1907.
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.
Hi! Recently, my brother and I were going through my late aunt's house when we came across a wedding certificate with three portraits in it, just like these ones. One was from Indiana, and it's the only one I can see that has what's probably the woman's name though the writing is too faded to read, but the other two are from Kansas. One by Victor Pautot from St. Mary's, KS, and the other from H. T. Martin from Topeka, KS. Neither of them are in your collection (not surprising; they were rotting in an attic for who knows how long, though the pictures are in decent shape) and if you would like to add them, I could probably send photos of them for you. Currently I'm trying to figure out who these people are as they are relatives of some sort, and I came across this page in my research and thought it might interest you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your note! Yes, your examples would be quite welcome additions to the Kansas collection of 19th century cabinet cards. Send scans or photographs to the email address found in the profile at the bottom of this page. Be sure to include the edges of the card as they sometimes help date the card.
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