A pretty young woman appears in this portrait photograph from the Genelli studio in Sioux City, Iowa. She is wearing a lovely plaid dress with a corsage. The reverse of the cabinet card indicates that the proprietor of the studio was M. W. Starks. The book, History of the Counties of Woodbury and Plymouth Iowa (1890), reveals that M. W. Starks was born in Bradford, Illinois in 1851. In 1872 he began apprenticing as a photographer and soon entered a career in this field. In 1883 he came from St Louis, Missouri to Sioux City and established the Genelli gallery. In 1884 he married Miss Hattie L. Harvey. To view other photographs by Genelli (both the St. Louis and Sioux City Galleries), click on the category “Photographer: Genelli”.
PRETTY IN PLAID IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA
LADY PINNED BY A CONDUCTOR IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA
This cabinet card portrait features a young nicely dressed woman wearing a tintype pin or brooch. The jewelry holds a photograph of a train conductor; presumably the woman’s husband or suitor. The cabinet card was photographed by Rugg, whose studio was located in Sioux City, Iowa. Research reveals little to assist in gathering information about Rugg. Investigation found that there was an artist that resided in Sioux City named Elliott I. Rugg (1862-?). There is a reasonable possibility that he is the photographer that produced this image. Elliott Rugg was a relative of another photographer, Arthur Rugg, who operated out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. To view photographs by Arthur Rugg, click on category “Photographer: Arthur Rugg”.
EMILY AND HER BABY DOLL IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA
Emily Hardy and her baby doll pose for their portrait at the Genelli Gallery in Sioux City, Iowa. Her name is inked on the reverse of the card and she is wearing a pin with her name displayed beneath the center of her collar. Young Emily is proudly posing with her doll and holding some flowers. Interestingly, the Genelli photographic studio still exists in Sioux City, Iowa. To view other photographs by Genellli and to learn more about the studio, click on the category “Photographer: Genelli”.
