PORTRAIT OF REVEREND ALBERT TYLER (1823-1913): PUBLISHER AND HISTORIAN IN WEBSTER, MASSACHUSETTS

This cabinet card is a portrait of Reverend Albert Tyler (1823-1913) who was a publisher and historian in Worcester,  Massachusetts. Tyler was a Universalist minister. Tyler’s portrait was done by the studio of Davis & Woodward, located in Webster, Massachusetts. Tyler’s name, date of birth, and date of death are listed in an inscription on the reverse of the photograph. This image was taken in his later years and he has a long gray beard that becomes very wispy at its bottom. In the book, “History of  Worcester Massachusetts” , by Lincoln and Hersey (1862), Tyler is said to have been born in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The publication states that Tyler was ordained in 1851 from the Union Association of  Universalists in Warren, Massachusetts. He then became pastor of churches in Oxford, Ma. (2 years), Granby, Connecticut (6 years), and Quincy, Ma.. Next he moved to Worcester and entered the printing business. The Webster Times (1889) supplies an interesting story about Reverend Tyler. He was in attendance of the 28th reunion of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Company E) when he displayed some unusual behavior. Tyler “created a sensation” among the 25 veterans in attendance “by rising and saying he received a “spiritual communication” from Lieutenant Nelson Bartholomew who had died during the war. The message that Tyler received stated that the Lieutenant’s spirit was attending the meeting and found it “most enjoyable to him” and that he loved his comrades, just as he had in 1861.

 

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.

LADY AT THE CROSS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

This cabinet card requires some interpretation. A young woman is posed standing next to a cross. Her hand is touching the cross. She appears to be dressed in an outfit from another era, or perhaps she is wearing her night clothes. Where is the cross supposed to be located? Is it a gravestone in a cemetery? Is it a symbol outside a church? Another possibility is that the woman is an actress and the image shown originates from her role in a play. The photographic studio that produced this image,  is W. G. and A. J. Thuss, of Nashville, Tennessee. William Gustave Thuss (1854-1943) came to Nashville by 1875 and created several partnerships. He was partners with Charles Parel (1878), Emil Koellein (1880), and Thus, Koellein and Gierss 1883-1889). In 1889, William joined his brother Andrew Joseph Thuss (1866-1950) in starting their own studio. The pair prospered and photographed many of the dignitaries who lived in, or visited, Nashville. Work from the studio won many awards, and a studio was established in 1897 at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. In 1917, the brothers split up. Each one operated what they called the “original” Thuss studio. The brothers relationship remained damaged for many years, illustrated by the report that when William Gustav Thuss  was on his death bed, his brother never visited him.

ANNIE L’ETILLE POSES FOR HER PORTRAIT IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (1878)

A pretty young woman, named Annie L’Etille, poses for her portrait at famed Boston portrait photographer Warren’s studio (465 Washington Street). Judging by the size of the cross that she is wearing around her neck; she appears to be making a religious statement. The reverse of the card has a notation that indicates that Annie later became Annie L’Etille Peamate (possibly Peamite). The photograph is dated 1878. To view other photographs by the Warren’s studio, click on category “Photographer: Warren”.

BEAUTIFUL ANGEL IN BERLIN, GERMANY (1897)

This unusual cabinet card is an image of a beautiful young girl with angel wings. Her hands are clasped in prayer and she has a hopeful expression. The photograph appears to be part of a series ( #31) from Art Publisher, V. Fritz Grandt in 1897. The caption under the photograph translates to English stating  ”Childlike faith. Believers make me pure and good, if I come to you praying.” The title above the image translates to “Child Pictures Gallery”. The photographer is Carl Muller, located in Berlin, Germany.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN IN SPRINGVILLE, OR SPANISH FORK, UTAH (NOTED UTAH PHOTOGRAPHER)

Three young men pose for their portrait at the studio of G. Ed. Anderson, located in either Springville, or Spanish Fork, Utah. The guys may have come to the studio after work. The two seated men are wearing work boots and work gloves. They are also wearing dirty trousers. Interestingly, one of the guys is wearing a turtleneck, a garment not seen often in cabinet card photographs. An inscription on the reverse of the card identifies the men as Saul Clyde, Will Rowland, and John Whiting. It would be interesting to hear some of this sites visitors opinion as to what occupation these men may have occupied. Please leave a hypothesis if you have one. Photographer, George Edward Anderson (1860-1928) was a noted photographer for his portraiture and documentary photographs of early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temples. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and was a photographer apprentice to renowned photographer Charles Roscoe Savage. At age seventeen, Anderson established a photography studio in Salt Lake City with two of his brothers. He then established a studio in Manti, Utah and in 1886, he moved his studio to Springville, Utah. Anderson became well known for his traveling tent studio which he set up in small towns throughout central, eastern and southern Utah. During that time he did an excellent job of documenting the lives of residents in the years 1884 to 1907. Although best known for his portraits, Anderson took many documentary photographs of homes, barns, businesses, Temples, mines and railroads. He went to England on his Church of Latter Day Saints mission in 1909 to 1911. After his mission, he set up a photography studio in South Royalton, Vermont, which is near the birthplace of LDS prophet Joseph Smith. In 1913, he returned to his home and family in Springville. He returned to financial and marital problems and tried to revive his traveling tent studio but met little success. The later years of his life were spent documenting families and life in Utah Valley and traveling to photograph newly constructed temples. Anderson received most of his recognition long after his death. A collection of his works is housed at Brigham Young University library.

CARDINAL GIBBONS (1834-1921): THE FACE OF CATHOLICISM IN TURN OF THE CENTURY AMERICA

This cabinet card is a photograph of James Gibbons (1834-1921). Gibbons was an American Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Richmond, Virginia and as the Arch Bishop of Baltimore, Maryland. He became a Bishop while quite young and was known as the “Boy Bishop”. He was elevated to Cardinal in 1886, becoming the second American Cardinal. He was an acquaintance of every American President from Andrew Johnson to Warren Harding. He was honored by Presidents Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. Gibbons advocated the creation of Catholic University and was its first Chancellor (1887). He was an advocate for labor and an author of several books and articles. His most well known book was “The Faith of Our Fathers” (1876). In later life, Gibbons was the public face of Catholicism in the United States.