ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMAN WITH HYPNOTIZING EYES IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

This bust portrait of an attractive short haired young woman is the product of the Millard studio in Detroit, Michigan. The woman is wearing a lace collared dress and earrings. She has magnificent deep hypnotizing eyes.  C. A. Millard is mentioned in The Industries of Detroit (1887) as being the proprietor of the oldest photographic studio in Detroit. It is reported that he bought out a Mr. Powelson in 1879 and at the time of the books publication, Millard employed ten to fifteen artists in his studio. An interesting side note concerns Millard’s death in 1891. Frank Scott Clark (1865-1937), a noted backdrop painter, came to Detroit in 1892 to manage Millard’s studio for Millard’s estate. Among his accomplishments, Clark was an extremely talented photographic background specialist. In fact, during his career, he created, made, and set up backgrounds for both Napoleon Sarony and Jose Maria Mora. Not too shabby a resume for Mr  Clark.

TOOTHLESS OLD MAN WITH ODD BEARD IN HOWELL, MICHIGAN

An elderly man poses for his portrait at the Gibson & Morgan studio in Howell, Michigan. The gray haired  gentleman appears to be missing his teeth and is wearing an unusual beard that occupies much of his neck and little of his face. To view other interesting beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”.

MAN WITH SPIKED HAIR IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

A young man with a “spiked” hairstyle poses for his portrait at the Schellhous studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The gentleman is wearing a checkered jacket with a pocket handkerchief, and  his watch chain shows under his jacket. The photograph is dated 1886. The photographer of this image, Loran Webster Schellhous is listed in the Grand Rapids business directory between at least 1884 through 1893. He also operated photography businesses at various times in Colon, Coldwater, and Coopersville, Michigan. The Ada Historical Society (Michigan) indicates that Schellhous’s wife, Martha Catherine Faxon (1831-1905) was also a photographer. She is recognized for her work photographing leaves of various plants.

FASHIONABLE WOMAN IN MONROE, MICHIGAN

This cabinet card serves as a period fashion photograph. The unidentified woman in this image is wearing a button down dress and a large hat. The photographer is J. G, Hill of  Monroe, Michigan. According to the 1880 US census,the thirty year-old  Hill (1850-?) was born in Canada and lived in Monroe with his wife Katie Hill (age 24) and their children, Willie (age 2) and Charles (age 10 months).  Katie’s 16 year-old brother also lived with the J. G. Hill family. The 1890 Detroit business directory lists Hill and his photography studio,  but from that point of time until 1897, Hill clearly relocated, and his studio can be found in the Toledo, Ohio business directory.

PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN (FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER)

A young woman poses for the camera at the studio of Arthur & Philbric in Detroit, Michigan. She is wearing an unusually loud patterned blouse. Note the subjects fingerless gloves and collar pin. The Arthur & Philbric Studio had galleries in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as in Toledo, Ohio. Research revealed some information about James Arthur (1855-1912). He was a native of Montreal, Canada and first began work as a photographer with the well known  J. and J. W. Notman studio. He came to Detroit in 1881 and went to work with photographer J. E. Watson. In 1883 he became senior partner in the firm of Arthur & Philbric and they remained in business together for eight years. He then became sole proprietor of a firm called Arthur Studios. Research also yielded information about Philbric. Most notable is that Philbric was a woman. Her name was Helen M. Philbric and her name appears in Michigan business directories as Arthur’s partner between 1884 and 1893. No other information about Philbric was discovered. To view the work of other female photographers, click on the category “Female Photographers”.

PORTRAIT OF AN INTENSE MAN WITH CHARACTER IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Here is a man with character. This older gentleman is quite an intense looking man. He has a great looking beard. The beard has a layered cut appearance. The studio that produced this photograph is Holcombe & Alvord of Detroit, Michigan. Research reveals little about the men that operated this studio. Their full names were found to be Burton J. Holcombe and Charles E. Alvord. An article appearing in “The Photographic Times” (1884) announced that the partners had opened a new gallery at 220 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Advertising on this cabinet card reveals that the studio at some point had been located next door at number 22 Woodward Avenue.

PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

This cabinet card portrait features a young attractive woman. She is dressed in an interesting manner and I will leave it to one of the cabinet card gallery’s fashion knowledgeable visitors to describe her clothing. It looks like she is wearing a large  neckerchief  held in place by a broach, but thats just my best guess. The photographer did an excellent job with the lighting in this photograph. The photographer of this image is C. R. Baker who was located at 35, 37, and 39 Monroe Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Business directories for Detroit list Charles R. Baker as a photo printer beginning in 1876  and his listing soon changes to photographer and appears in directories through 1919. The Photographic Times (1884)  has a “seeking employment” ad placed by Baker. He was searching for a job as a “first class printer and toner”.   The 1900 U.S. census reveals that Baker lived with his wife, Sarah, and his 14 year old son Owen. Both Baker and his wife were 40 years old. The couple also appear together in the 1920 census. The census indicates that Charles Baker was born in Massachusetts and worked as a photographer.

PORTRAIT OF IDA PEASE IN BLISSFIELD, MICHIGAN (1885)

This cabinet card portrait features an attractive woman named Ida Pease. At the time of the photograph, she was seventeen years old. She was photographed by Dorus Griffeth Freeman (1848-1936) of Blissfield, Michigan. An inscription on the reverse of the photograph indicates the subject’s name and the date of the photograph (1885). Ms. Pease is wearing dark clothing and her top appears to be velvet. She is wearing a bracelet and a collar pin. Her beautiful figure gets an assist from a corset. Research reveals that Ida Pease was born in 1868 in Michigan. According to the 1880 U.S. census, she was the daughter of Seth and Esther Pease who were both born in New York. At the time of the census, she was 12 years old and her father was working as a farmer. Her brother Richard (age 18) also lived in the household.

THE DEVEREAUX BROTHERS PHOTOGRAPH A PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN DOWN ON THE BAYOU

This cabinet card features a portrait of a pretty young woman. She is fashionably dressed and wearing an exquisite hat. Her image was produced by the Devereaux Brothers. Who are the Devereaux Brothers? The Devereaux Brothers sounds like the name of a Cajun band.” Why don’t y’all come down to the Bayou Cafe and hear the Devereaux Brothers play some zydeco.” Research does not support the notion that Morrice, Vernon, Byron and Ashley played in a Lousiana band together when they weren’t producing photographs. In actuality, research reveals that the Devereaux Brothers operated their photography studio in North Lansing, Michigan.

NICELY DRESSED BIKE RIDER IN LAKE ODESSA, MICHIGAN

A young man poses holding a bicycle at the studio of G. A. Shampang in Lake Odessa, Michigan.  The good looking man is dressed in what is probably his finest clothing. Take note of where the backdrop screen reaches the floor. The photographer was a bit careless and did not take notice or action to insure the backdrop touched the floor properly to promote a more credible background. Oops! G. A. Shampang located in Lake Odessa in the late 1890′s. According to an ad in the Lake Odessa Wave, the studio was located above the Lake Odessa Savings Bank on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Second Street. In late 1898 Shampang took on Mr. Mead as a partner, forming Shampang & Mead. Something apparently went wrong with the partnership because Shampang bought back Mead’s shares in the business after just three months of  joint ownership. Shampang operated the gallery until about 1910. In 1911 he moved to California and later on, moved to Saginaw, Oregon where he owned an oil station. In 1931 he succumbed to a stroke. His wife, Ada Ema Rozell, survived him. To learn more about Shampang, visit the web site for the Ionia County Genealogical Society.