Collections

The Same-sex affection and gender studies photograph collection contains approximately 150 examples of photographs that illustrate closeness between subjects of the same sex as well as aspects of non-traditional gender presentation.

The collection includes photographic examples in multiple formats with real photo postcards, tintypes, cabinet cards, cartes de visite, and small format mounted photos being the most numerous. 145 images are contained in Box 1 of the collection while an additional 5 photographs on larger format card mounts are stored in Box 2. Images mainly consist of portraits of men posing familiarly with other men, women posing familiarly with other women, and portraits of groups and individuals engaged in cross-dressing. Due to the subjective nature of assessing these images combined with historical differences in what was considered socially acceptable displays of affection and the general lack of verifiable context, many of these photographs remain open to a variety of interpretations.

Numerous photographs show same-sex duos and larger groups holding hands, placing their hands on each other, leaning on each other, or demonstrating affection in some other observable way. Most subjects are unidentified, though occasionally individuals have been identified through the presence of inscriptions. In some cases, individuals pictured together have been confirmed to be relatives.

Numerous photographs of male and female individuals and groups engaged in cross-dressing are also present. In many instances, the cross-dressing most likely occurred for humorous reasons.

• Postcard showing two men embracing with the printed caption "We're looking for girls at Lansing, Mich."
• Real photo postcard bearing a studio group portrait of two men, one of whom appears to have an unbuckled belt.
• Cabinet card studio group portrait by Beardsley of Charlotte, Michigan, showing two men, one of whom holds a guitar, whose arms appear to align behind them in a manner that suggests they may have been holding hands.
• Two different group portraits of the same female couple identified through inscriptions as "Agnes Davis" and "Anna Wickerham."
• 1940s group portrait of four men included in a souvenir packet for “Swing Rendezvous,” a New York City-based lesbian/gay bar.
• Real photo postcard bearing a portrait of an unidentified man wearing women's clothing, including a dress, flower-laden hat, and beaded necklace.
• Postcard showing a man wearing women's clothing sat on a bench with the printed caption "The Male is late!"
• Outdoor portrait of two women dressed in men's clothing captioned "A pair of Peaches."
• Real photo postcard captioned "Four of a kind" showing two cross-dressed male-female couples sitting together, with the women sat in the men's laps.
• Series of four images showing a woman posing in World War I-era soldier's uniform.

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]