SAILOR BOY WEARING DRESS WHITES IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

A young boy wearing a white dress naval  uniform poses for a photographer in Brooklyn, New York. The photograph was produced by the Huttenlocher Studio. Note the lads interesting cap. One wonders whether the cap is part of a regulation uniform of a particular nation’s navy. The cap has an insignia on its brim. The meaning of the insignia is unknown. The photographer, Frederick Huttenlocher was mentioned in an article in the Telephone Review (1915) published by the New York Telephone Company. Mr Huttenlocher was presented as kind and as heroic.  A company called the Patchogue Commercial Office, located in Brooklyn, New York, had a fire, causing the office to shut down. The company was across the street from Huttenlocher’s studio and due to Huttenlocher’s kindness, the Pachogue Commercial Office was able to open a temporary headquarters inside of the studio within thirty minutes after experiencing the fire.

THE LITTTLE ADMIRAL IN NEW YORK CITY: A BOY AND HIS BOAT

A young boy poses proudly wearing a very realistic looking naval uniform. He is standing next to his very detailed toy boat. The ship appears to be a war vessel and appears to be flying a flag similar to the flag of Great Britain. The little admiral was photographed by a New York City photographer named Acker.  Perhaps a visitor to the cabinet card gallery can identify the navy represented by the lads uniform and the vessel’s flag.

A SAILOR AND HIS GUN ON DECK IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

A nice looking young sailor poses for his portrait at the Rembrandt Studio in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport is a seaport and the sailor was likely in town on leave. While visiting the area he decided to capture his likeness at the studio. Perhaps he sent the resulting photograph to his family or girlfriend. He, or the photographer, chose an appropriate background for the portrait. The sailor is depicted aboard a ship, in uniform, and holding a rifle with a bayonet. The lettering on his sailor cap can only be partially  read. The word “squadron” is proceeded by an unknown word which probably is the name of an area of the world where his ship was assigned. Perhaps a visitor to the cabinet card gallery can identify the sailors naval unit and rank. Research yielded no information pertaining to the Rembrandt Studio.

MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS AND SISTERS IN SAXTONS RIVER, VERMONT

This cabinet card, photographed by P. W. Taft, features two young adult women and two young girls. Perhaps the two older girls are sisters and the two young girls are daughters of the older woman. The family constellation in this image is impossible to determine. It is interesting to note that the two little girls are both wearing dresses styled after a sailor suit. The two dresses are similar, but not identical. Taft’s studio was located in Saxtons River, Vermont. To view other photographs by Taft, click on the category “Photographer: Taft”. Preston William Taft (1826-1901) was listed in the Windham County Business Directory 1884) as having a photography business in Saxtons River. Research reveals that he established a Daguerreotype, and later Photography business in 1856 and operated the studio until 1878. He was married in 1850 to Rose Melissa Miller and the couple had three sons and a daughter. Sons Frank (born 1851), Charles (born 1863), and Edward (born 1868), all became photographers. The daughter’s name was Nettie (born 1865). It is likely that this cabinet card was produced by one of P. W. Taft’s sons since, judging by characteristics of the cabinet card, it was likely photographed after he had left the business.

PORTRAIT OF A SAILOR FROM THE U.S.S. BOSTON IN NAGASAKI, JAPAN (1896)

This cabinet card portrait features a uniformed sailor from the navy ship, the U.S.S. Boston. The photograph was taken by Kiosheikwan of Nagasaki, Japan. The sailor probably had the photograph taken in order to send it to family or a girlfriend back home in the United States. A web site dedicated to the U.S.S. Boston and the men who served on her, was very helpful in providing details about the ship and the dates it served in the Pacific. The site reveals that there has been seven ships named  ”Boston” that served America since 1776. The ship that the sailor in the photograph served on was a Protected Cruiser that sailed between 1887 and 1940. She was the U.S. Navy’s second steel ship and was propelled by sails and/or steam engine. The ship’s crew consisted of about 284 men. Initially. the ship patrolled the waters of Latin America and Haiti, but in 1892, she began to serve in the Pacific. In 1896, she was attached to the Asiatic Station at Yokohama, Japan. When the Spanish American War occurred in 1898,the U.S.S. Boston took part in the Battle of Manila Bay as well as, the capture of Manila. Reviewing the history of the ship, it seems probable that this photograph was taken in 1896 or 1897.

CHILD WEARING A SAILOR’S CAP IN COBURG, GERMANY

A very cute, but unsmiling child, poses for a portrait by the Haussler Brothers. Note the sailing ship pin attatched to the nautical cap. Although the child’s clothing looks feminine, it is not clear whether this young sailor is a boy or a girl. The studio that published this cabinet card was in Coburg, Germany. Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany.

UNIFORMED MAN WITH A LANTERN (OCCUPATIONAL CABINET CARD)

This cabinet card is a staged portrait of a man at work. The man is wearing a uniform and most likely he is a railroad worker. He may be an engineer or possibly a conductor. He is holding a brass lantern and writing on a pad. The man’s facial expression seems to say that he means business. One can easily imagine seeing him standing next to a train at a railroad station taking notes. The photographer of this cabinet card  is  Lyman & Wells, of Columbus, Ohio.

YOUNG TENNIS PLAYER AND HIS TWO SISTERS

This cabinet card features a young boy holding a tennis racquet as he stands along side his two sisters. The children are adorable, but the youngest girl appears absolutely terrified. The boy is wearing a sailor suit outfit. The name of the photographer and the location of the studio is unknown.

TWO FASHIONABLE AND ADORABLE CHILDREN IN DRESDEN, GERMANY

This image presents two adorable and extremely well dressed children posing for their portrait at the studio of L. Markus, in Dresden, Germany. They are dressed in the finest fashion for cool weather. Their mother appears to have had a great sense for what was fashionable in children’s clothing. The young lad’s outfit shows a nautical influence.

STEAMSHIP STEWARD ON THE S. S. GEORGE W. CLYDE

This cabinet card photograph is a portrait of a ship’s steward. His cap has a patch that identifies him as a steward, indicates his identification number, and displays an anchor. The reverse of the card has an inscription indicating that he worked as a steward on the S. S. George W. Clyde. The photographer or the location of the photographers studio is unknown. The S. S. George W. Clyde was built in Philadelphia in 1872 by William Cramp & Sons. The ship was scrapped in 1926. The ship carried both merchandise and passengers during its existence. It was an early American steamship and records indicated that among its voyages were many that ended in the Port of New York.