Collections

The Allen family photograph album contains carte-de-visite and tintype portraits of various individuals, including members of the Allen family of Mayville, Michigan.

The Allen family photograph album (13cm x 10cm) contains 22 cartes-de-visite, 13 tintypes, one lithograph, and one printed card. The cartes-de-visite and tintypes are studio portraits of men, women, and children. Most items show a single person, though some, such as a woman and a young baby, were photographed in pairs. The lithograph depicts a young girl holding a dog. An educational card, one of a series of "Little People Lesson Pictures" issued by the American Sunday-School Union (volume IV, number 1, part 5), is laid into the volume. The card has a colored print of a Biblical scene entitled "Beginning of the Hebrew Nation," and the reverse side has questions and answers about Abraham's journey to Canaan. The cartes-de-visite were made by photographers in locations such as Imlay City, Michigan; Owosso, Michigan; and Peterborough, Ontario. The volume's covers are leather, with a Maltese gold-embossed cross stamped in relief on each side.

The Gerta Gage family photograph album contains cabinet card portraits of men, women, and children taken in various Michigan cities around the mid-1880s to mid-1890s. Some of the pictured individuals posed in groups or with animals, and two men wore Shriners uniforms. The album likely belonged to Gerta Gage, of Big Rapids, Michigan.

The Gerta Gage family photograph album (22cm x 29cm) contains 80 cabinet card photographs of men, women, and children, few of whom are identified. The studio portraits were taken in Michigan towns and cities such as Muskegon, Big Rapids, Petoskey, Jackson, Allegan, Ovid, and Traverse City, as well as in other locales such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Decatur, Illinois; and Chicago, Illinois. Two men posed in Shriners hats, a few posed with dogs, and one man, photographed by A. S. Green of St. Thomas, Ontario, blew cigar smoke while having his picture taken. Though most items are individual portraits, some subjects posed in groups of two to four; one image is a group portrait of seven men. The volume's padded covers are bound in blue and yellow cloth. "Gerta Gage" and "Gerta Gage Big Rapids Michigan" are engraved on the album's large metal clasp. The pages of the album are decorated to resemble wood.

The Morning family carte-de-visite album contains studio portraits of men, women, and children taken in the latter half of the 19th century. Members of the compiler's family and unidentified persons were photographed individually, in pairs, and in groups of as many as six people.

The Morning family carte-de-visite album (14.5cm x 22cm) contains 88 studio portraits of men, women, and children taken in the latter half of the 19th century. The items are comprised of 53 cartes-de-visite, 34 tintypes, and 1 small albumen print mounted on a rectangular visiting card. A number of gem tintypes are laid sideways into the carte-de-visite-sized windows, with two items visible in each window. The album's padded covers are bound in purple cloth, and an owner's name written onto the first page is faded.

The photographs are individual and group portraits of men, women, and children, including infants and toddlers; some appear more than once. Two young boys, apparently twins, were dressed identically for their picture, and a woman's hand is visible supporting an infant in another. Two girls wore white dresses and veils, possibly for communion ceremonies, and a priest is shown reading a book. Group portraits include a picture of six young men with canes and a picture of four young adults posing around a chair, shot at an angle. Two of the tintypes have hand coloring on the pictured individuals' cheeks and clothing.

The Traveling photographers collection contains approximately 245 examples of photographs produced by various traveling photographers that operated in the United States primarily during the latter half of the 19th-century.

Works by approximately 145 different traveling photographers are present in this collection and include cartes de visite, cabinet cards, stereographs, tintypes, and a small number of larger format images. For many of these photographers there is only a single example of their work included in the collection. Locations of operation include a wide range of regions across the United States, with eastern states such as Pennsylvania being particularly well-represented. Most of these photographs are typical individual and group portraits of men, women, and children.

The collection has been divided into two volumes. Volume 1 contains cartes de visite and tintypes while Volume 2 contains cabinet cards, stereographs, and a few other images with larger mounts of varying sizes. Volume 1 also includes two clippings and one photocopied page from an article about traveling photographers written by Eaton S. Lothrop, Jr., for Popular Photography magazine as part of his "Time Exposure" column series.

• “Wm. Johnson” - taken by N. L. Stone (Vol 1)
• “F. W. Huling” - taken by C. S. Roshon’s Mammoth Union Photograph Car (Vol 1)
• “Jimmie McCool Taken in 1889” - taken by S. R. Miller’s Photograph Car (Vol 1)
• “J. B. [or J. R.?] Enders” - taken by A. J. Miller, Keystone Traveling Gallery (Vol 1)
• “Uncle John Grimes” - taken by H. F. Knoderer & Bro (Vol 1)
• “J. P. Seip & Bro” - taken by Josiah Knecht (Vol 1)
• “Angalina Seip” [Angelina Seip] - taken by Josiah Knecht (Vol 1)
• “Julie Hamlin” - taken by Huested Bros. (Vol 1)
• “Timo Moyer?” - taken by Geo. V. Knecht (Vol 1)
• “Sam Rhenis Martin” and “Probably Sam Rhenis Martin’s Wife” - taken by Callahan’s Traveling Gallery (Vol 1)
• “Mrs. R H Blodget 236 35th St. Denver Col. Formily Mary Neil” - taken by King & Co.’s Traveling Gallery (Vol 1)
• “[?] Adaline Temple” - taken by F. J. Aiken (Vol 1)
• “Presented to Mr. & Mrs. Silas Boyer” - taken by B. Breslow’s Empire Movable Photograph Gallery
• “C. H. Holmes May 2nd 1881” - taken by J. B. Silvis (Vol 1)
• “Lou House - Graham’s Baby” - taken by the Erik Borklund Photo Car (Vol 2)
• “Olive Woodward” - taken by A. Couturier (Vol 2)
• “Geo. H. Dunham” and “Fredd Harry Dunham” - taken by Currier & Parkinson (includes stamp depicting Landing of Columbus on verso) (Vol 2)
• “Will Duning of Dresden” - taken by F. M. Foster (Vol 2)
• “Pansy Lovewell” - taken by the Hutchings Rail-Road Photo-Car (Vol 2)
• “Jabez Willes brother of Julia Willes Thrall” - taken by F. L. Hale (Vol 2)
• “Charlie, Mary, & Bruce Blaney Claysville Washington Co Pa.” - taken by Gibson & Myres (Vol 2)
• “Mrs. James J. Connelly #10 McConnellsburg PA” - taken by S. R. Miller’s Photograph Car (it is unclear if this inscription is related to the couple depicted) (Vol 2)
• “Carrie and Mattie Ewan”- taken by the National Art Company’s Railroad Palace Photographic Studio (Vol 2)
• “George & Sarah Kistler” - taken by Rollow’s Art Car (Vol 2)
• “Leo Martin” and "Jim Martin" - both taken by the Pacific Photograph Car, Rockford, Washington (Vol 2)
• “Arron Smith Children” - taken by the Pacific Photograph Car, Rockford, Washington (Vol 2)
• “Miss. Kittie M. Newell July 22nd 1889” - taken by Abel J. Whalen’s Accommodation Photo. Car (Vol 2)
• “Will Schnegg” - taken by H. C. Williams’ Floating Gallery (Vol 2)
• “Jonas Heim” - taken by B. L. Wilson’s Traveling Gallery (“Christina Waltz Williamsport Pa.” likely a relative of the subject and former owner of the photograph) (Vol 2)
• “April 1891 - Maggie Austin April 1891. A. M. Austin 43. E. G. ‘ ‘ 43 Mag ‘ ‘ 14 Edd ‘ ‘ 18 May ‘ ‘ 21.” - taken by W. H. Yant (Vol 2)
• “Howard J. Martin about 1893” - taken by Boston and Albany R.R. Photo Car (Vol 2)
• “Wash’s Daughter Pearl” - taken by F. M. Steele (Vol 2)
• “The Boy Preacher, Age 14: John E. De Merritt” - taken by Winslow and Shobe (Vol 2)
• “Maurice (Moe?) Boynton Alice Price } 2nd buggy” - taken by Carson Bros (Vol 2)
• “Mrs. J. C. Boxley” - taken by Newton & Sprague Photo Car (Vol 2)

Other items of interest include 14 tintypes including a group portrait taken at the Algonquin Bon Ton Tent by W. H. Pearce and a miniature tintype produced by Douglass’ Travelling Car (Vol 1); several photographs with revenue stamps; and 10 cartes de visite by C. G. Blatt, including three items containing humorous poetry in their backstamps (Vol 1); a stereograph view of "the old Block House at Annapolis Royal" by the Palace R.R. Photograph Car Co. (Vol 2); a stereograph view of Bridgewater, Vermont (Vol 2); a stereograph view of the "Steam Packet 'Minnesota' at Hastings [Minnesota] (Vol 2); a portrait of a pet pug taken by Will. H. McMillan, R. R. Palace Photo Car that bears an inscribed caption reading: “For my dear ‘Missis’ from her Devoted ‘Brownie’” (Vol 2); a group portrait of a man and women taken by Keil & Matula with an inscribed caption reading “Czechlovakia Couple Fayetteville, TX” (Vol 2); several portraits of children that appear to show hidden mothers in the background; two studio portraits of unidentified individuals produced by Civil War veteran turned photographer Capt. J. B. Shane (Vol 2); a number of photographs that appear to be copies of earlier images, including a portrait of a man produced by the Hutchings Railroad Photo Car bearing an inscribed caption reading: “Copied from original” (Vol 2); and a possible self portrait of photographer Abel J. Whalen on a mount stamped "Whalen's 'Accommodation' Photo. Car."

The following lists contain names of photographers represented in the collection as well as the total number of images included for each photographer:

• F. J. Aiken [2 images]
• Aldhizer & Eutsler [2 images]
• Atkinson’s Photographic Railroad Gallery [1 image]
• L. K. Bair [1 image]
• B. Billian [1 image]
• C. G. Blatt [10 images]
• A. F. Bonine [1 image]
• E. A. Bonine [2 images]
• J. K. Bottorf [1 image]
• Bowdish's Traveling Gallery [1 image]
• B. Breslow’s Empire Movable Photograph Gallery [2 images]
• Brown & Huard [1 image]
• Burchfield & Bottorf [1 image]
• J. Bushong [1 image]
• Callahan’s Travelling Gallery [3 images]
• H. P. Carnes [1 image]
• Coggeshall’s Excelsior Photographic Car (John Ingersoll Coggeshall) [2 images]
• G. W. Dibert [1 image]
• W. A. Dietrich [4 images]
• Doran's Photographic Car [1 image]
• Dougherty (Mammoth wagon) [2 images]
• Dougherty & Cope (Mammoth wagon; J. L. Cope) [3 images]
• J. W. Fothergill's Mammoth Photograph Car [1 image]
• F. Z. Fritz [2 images]
• William R. Godkin [1 image]
• M. C. Goodell [4 images]
• William Griffin [2 images]
• Harry Gurlitz’s Photograph Car [1 image]
• W. H. Heiss [2 images]
• J. J. Hodge [2 images]
• J. M. Horning & Co. [2 images]
• Huested Bros. [1 image]
• Johnson & Sullivan’s Portable Railroad Gallery [1 image]
• King & Co.’s Traveling Gallery [1 image]
• George V. Knecht [5 images]
• Josiah Knecht [8 images]
• H. F. Knoderer & Bro. [1 image]
• C. L. Leonard [3 images]
• J. Loveridge [1 image]
• C. D. Luccock [1 image]
• J. H. McGowan (U.P.R.R. Photographic Car) [1 image]
• A. J. Miller [1 image]
• S. R. Miller's Photograph Car [2 images]
• William Nick [3 images]
• Nick & Knecht [2 images]
• E. W. Peirce (The Railroad Photograph Coach) [1 image]
• Lewis P. Peter [7 images]
• Peter & Kresge [1 image]
• Peters & Brother [1 image]
• F. B. Pine's Floating Photographic Studio, of the St. John's River, Fla. [1 image]
• S. Place [1 image]
• Portable Picture Palace [1 image]
• G. M. Primrose [2 images]
• W. H. Rector [4 images]
• C. S. Roshon (Mammoth Union photograph car) [1 image]
• J. B. Silvis (U.P.R.R. Photographic Car) [2 images]
• C. H. Sisson [1 image]
• C. M. Stark [1 image]
• N. L. Stone [1 image]
• A. Stoppel [1 image]
• Tucker & Powell [1 image]
• W. A. Vale [1 image]
• M. C. Vance [1 image]
• D. S. Von Nieda [1 image]
• Horace L. Webber [1 image]
• West & Lewis (Travelling photographers) [1 image]
• Whalen's Portable Art Gallery (Abel J. Whalen) [1 image]
• L. H. Whitson (Professor L. H. Whitson's Rail Road Photographic Car) [1 image]

• Bishop's Portable Photograph Gallery [1 image]
• J. Davidson [1 image]
• Doolittle & Humphrey's Tintype and Ferrotype Car [1 image]
• Dougherty & Cope (Mammoth wagon; J. L. Cope) [1 image]
• Douglass’ Traveling Car [2 images]
• Paul’s Mammoth Travelling Photograph and Ferro-type Car [1 image]
• W. H. Pearce (The Algonquian Bon Ton Tent) [1 image]
• E. B. Squier [2 images]
• A. D. Terhune [1 image]
• Williams & Dodge’s Photograph Cars [2 images]
• C. C. Williams [1 image]

• Antoinette Palace Railroad Photo Car (Studio Antoinette) [2 images]
• Blocker Palace Art Studio and Traveling Cottage Gallery [1 image]
• Erik Borklund [1 image]
• Boston and Albany R. R. Photo Car [2 images]
• W. A. Bradley [1 image]
• P. L. Britain (Palace R. R. Photo Car.) [1 image]
• Clark’s Portable Gallery [1 image]
• J. P. Coffey, Photo. Car. (J. N. Bayles) [1 image]
• A. Couturier [2 images]
• James H. Crockwell [1 image]
• Currier & Parkinson [1 image]
• J. W. Dalrymple [1 image]
• Drum Rail Road Photo Car (Oscar Drum) [1 image]
• Elite R. R. Photo Co. [1 image]
• Fallman Parlor Photo Car [3 images]
• F. M. Foster [1 image]
• Gibson & Myres, Traveling Photographers [1 image]
• F. L. Hale [2 images]
• F. J. Haynes [3 images]
• T. E. Hays [1 image]
• Howell (Prairie Queen Gallery - Temple, Tex.) [1 image]
• Hutchings Bros. Railroad Photo. Car [1 image]
• Hutchings Rail-Road Photo-Car [3 images]
• K. C. Photo Car [1 image]
• Keil & Matula, Traveling Photographers [1 image]
• Keystone Portable Gallery [1 image]
• Lyden & Bellinger [1 image]
• Malloy (20th Ave. No. & Wash. Minneapolis) [1 image]
• William H. McMillan [1 image]
• J. W. Merideth [1 image]
• S. R. Miller [3 images]
• National Art Company’s Railroad Palace Photographic Studio [1 image]
• Newton & Sprague Photo Car. [1 image]
• Nowack Bros. Floating Gallery [1 image]
• Pacific Photograph Car [4 images]
• Palace R.R. Photograph Studio [1 image]
• Lewis DeArcy Rollow (Rollow’s Art Car) [2 images]
• J. B. Shane [2 images]
• Showman & Joy’s Palace Cars [1 image]
• Smith Brothers [1 image]
• C. H. South [1 image]
• F. M. Steele [1 image]
• The K. C. Art Chariot [1 image]
• The Stuart Queen City Photo Co's. Great Australian Route, Car No. 12 [4 images]
• The Traveling Art Company [1 image]
• M. F. Timmerman (East Tenn. Photo Car) [1 image]
• Tooley & Grigsby (The Monarch Traveling Photographers) [1 image]
• Turner & Johnson [1 image]
• N. A. Watkins [1 image]
• Welsh & Harlow [1 image]
• West & Lewis (Travelling photographers)
• Whalen's "Accommodation" Photo. Car. (Abel J. Whalen) [2 images]
• H. C. Williams (Williams' Floating Gallery) [1 image]
• B. L. Wilson's Traveling Gallery [1 image]
• Wilson's Railroad Photo Car. (B. L. Wilson) [1 image]
• Winslow and Shobe [1 image]
• Wolfe & Peiffer (Keystone Traveling Photo Studio) [2 images]
• W. H. Yant [1 image]
• Young, Portrait Artist (Boston Portrait Car) [1 image]

• T. A. Aldrich [1 image]
• Coggeshall’s Excelsior Photographic Car (John Ingersoll Coggeshall) [2 images]
• Mrs. Emma A. Cooke's Traveling Photo. Pavillion (Emma A. Cooke and W. A. Cooke) [1 image]
• J. P. Doremus [1 image]
• H. H. H. Langill [1 image]
• Palace R. R. Photograph Car Co. [1 image]
• F. B. Pine's Floating Photographic Studio, of the St. John's River, Fla. [1 image]
• W. E. Warren's Portable Photograph House [2 images]

• J. A. Bellinger [1 image]
• Carson Bros. [1 image]
• Newton & Sprague Photo Car. [1 image]
• D. R. White [1 image]

The Wolf family photograph albums contain cabinet card and carte-de-visite portraits of numerous men, women, and children. Most of the photographs were taken in Indianapolis and various small towns in central Indiana.

Together, the Wolf family photograph albums contain 61 portraits taken in Indianapolis, Indiana, and other central Indiana locales around the late 19th century. Volume 1 (26cm x 21cm) contains 45 items in sleeves and 6 loose items; Volume 2 (20cm x 15cm) contains 7 items in sleeves and 3 loose items, as well as three paper cutouts in the shape of hatchets related to the annual celebration of George Washington's birthday. Most items are cartes-de-visite and cabinet cards, though tintypes, other card photographs, and unmounted prints are also present. The first volume also has a small plate containing the names of George McGaughey, Sallie McGaughey, Jesse McGaughey, and Mrs. Minnie Wolf.

The majority of the photographs are studio portraits of men, women, and children. Some members of the Hill, Wolf, and McGaughey families are identified by captions written on the album pages or directly on the photographs. A picture of Jacob Grove Wolf is accompanied by part of a newspaper obituary regarding his death. Henry G. Wolf, Jr., posed near a large waterfall, possibly at Niagara Falls. Volume 1 has a hard leather cover with a slightly raised decorative design, including a small rope culminating in a tassel. Volume 2 has a hard white cover with a raised, painted floral design.