I collect photographs dating from the 1840s to the 1940s. I am drawn to these images as irreplaceable and almost magical glimpses into our collective history, time capsules of past moments preserved only on fragile glass and paper. These are not for sale. I’ve digitally imaged them here to increase the chance of their survival and to share them with others who may enjoy them as well. I’m not an expert, but I’ve identified people, places, and ages of the images to the best of my ability based on occasional notes on the backs, paper and printing, and on the contents of the images.
- Robert Beauford
1860 to 1870 Photographs
Carte de Visite photograph from the late 1860s of an elderly lady in a full length seated pose. Carte de Visite (Visiting Card, or CDV) albumen print on a 4" by ~2 3/8" card with a backing thickness of .02 inches. The backing has square corners, straight and ungilt edges, and no border. There is no photographers stamp on the reverse. All elements suggest the photograph generally dates 1862 to 1869, but the thicker backing card is consistent with the end of that period, giving a likely date of ~1869 or possibly a little earlier. This lady looks like she is in excess of 80 years old, meaning she would have been born around 1790 or earlier!
Carte de Visite vignette 'head pose' of a young lady from the late 1860s. Carte de Visite (Visiting Card, or CDV) albumen print on 3 3/4" (trimmed top) by 2 7/16" card. The originally square corners are cropped, suggesting it was once in an album. The edges are neither gilt nor beveled, and there is no border, which is consistent with the 1860s in general. But the girl's hair style is consistent with the end of the decade, the late post-war 1860s, more playful than the previous years. The card (backing) thickness (.02") is also consistent with the very end of the decade, suggesting this photograph was made in about 1868-1870. Photographer stamped on reverse: R. M. Gano 86 Federal St. Allegheny. R. M. Gano is a known photographer who worked in the 1860s and 1870s from addresses at 66 1/2, 68, and 81 Federal Street in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania - possible full name, Richard Monroe Gano.
"Aunt Katie Mothers Sister" Carte de Visite - Seated pose in studio setting of a young lady from the mid 1860s. I cannot make out the design of her unusual necklace. Carte de Visite (Visiting Card, or CDV) albumen print on 3 3/4" (trimmed bottom) by 2 3/8" card. These dimensions suggest the period 1862 to 1869. The originally square corners are cropped, suggesting it was once in an album. The edges are not gilt or beveled, and the front shows an ornate Cartouche frame, highly suggestive of the period 1864 to 1867. The girl's hair and dress are also very consistent with the mid 1860s. The card (backing) thickness is a little under .02". All elements are consistent with a date of 1864 to 1867, about the time of the Civil War. Photographer stamped on reverse: "Frank Green, Artist, No. 59 South Clark Street, Opposite Sherman House. Chicago. P. O. Box 2719 --- The Negative from which this Photograph was taken will be preserved, and others can be ordered at any time" Frank Green is a known photographer who worked at the printed address from 1864 to 1866.