What A Shame Wednesday: Fifteen-Year-Old Mary, Philadelphia, 1884

When this cabinet card photograph was created in 1884, Mary was 15 years old.  We know this because someone has recorded this information on the reverse of the photo.  Unfortunately, while we're told this is "Aunt Mary," we haven't been given a surname.  The image was taken at the Blaul & Baumgardner Studio, 1937 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA.  Louis Blaul, a well-known Philadelphia photographer had two studios in the city by 1890.   Adolf J. Baumgardner was his business partner for a time in the 1880s.  By 1890 Baumgardner was working with Louis H. Helbing on Lancaster Avenue.

We know that Mary was born around 1869, but with a common given name like Mary, a big city like Philadelphia and with no last name, we don't have much chance of learning more about her.  Pity.

Bill and Lou Horner, Twice for Good Measure, Circa 1910

This real postcard photograph is simply labelled, "Bill and Lou Horner"... twice.  But, unfortunately, there isn't a location or photographer mentioned.

There are a few clues that can help us narrow down the date the postcard was made.  There isn't a postage stamp or postmark, so we aren't lucky enough to get an exact date but the picture was made on AZO paper and you will notice that there are four triangles in the corners of postage stamp box.  This tells us that the postcard was made somewhere between 1904 to 1918.  Later AZO postcards have two triangles up, and two down.  You can also see that the postcard is divided down the middle:  one side for correspondence, the other for name and address.  This development was implemented in North America around 1907.

Lastly, the location of back printing on the card is fairly high up on the AZO card.  This indicates a date of around 1910 and later.  Earlier AZO cards have the words "Post Card" a bit lower on the card.

So I think we can guess a time frame of 1910-1918, making some allowance for photographers using older paper.  But narrowing down which Bill and Lou Horner is another problem entirely.  We have a fairly common surname, with common given names and no location.

I ran it through an Ancestry search anyway.  I did find a William Horner, born 1913, New Jersey, who had a brother Louis, born 1915, New Jersey,  living in Pennsylvania in the 1920 & 1930 censuses.  They were the sons of William and Grace Horner.  The family lived in Philadelphia in 1930, and in Quakertown, PA in 1920.

I haven't been able to find any more on the family, but perhaps a search of the 1940 census would provide some more information to go on (once the site gets less busy after its recent release!)  It's very difficult to know if this is even the correct Bill and Lou, though.  Perhaps we will get lucky and find a relative who has other photos to compare with.

Sallie Richardson, Philadelphia, circa 1875-1880

This photograph is identified "Sallie Richardson."  The photographer's name is imprinted on the reverse side of the photo:

My first thought was that Chas. J. Richardson, of Philadelphia may be a relative of Sallie's.  I searched the 1880 Census for Philadelphia and found a Sallie S. Richardson, age 19, daughter of Joseph Richardson, 62 and wife Charles (?) G Richardson, 57.  I've heard of a boy named "Sue," but has anyone heard of a girl named "Charles?"  I had a look at the 1870 Census and found Joseph with wife, "Charlotte," so I am fairly sure it was just a case of sloppy handwriting.

There are four Sallie/Sally Richardson's in the 1880 census.  There are 15 in Pennsylvania State.  I have not accounted for S. Richardsons.  I am also operating on the assumption that Sallie is not married.  She seems too young in this picture.  However, women married early back then, so it is possible that Richardson is her married name. 

I tried to find out more about our other Richardson:  Charles J., the photographer.  Using Philadelphia City Directories from this period, I discovered that Mr. Richardson had his studio at 244 N. 8th Street in Philadelphia from approximately 1875 to 1880.   That fits with my first impression that this was a cdv from the late 1870s or early 1880s.  I was disappointed that I could not find Charles J. in the 1880 US Census.  I suspect there may be a spelling variation I am missing in my search.  

I found Charles J. Richardson in the Philadelphia, PA Death Certificate Index, 1803-1915.  He was born circa 1827 Philadelphia and died 2 Dec. 1896 in Philadelphia.  His occupation is listed as photographer.  He was a widower.

Unfortunately I can't narrow this one down more than this:  Sallie Richardson's photograph was taken by Chas. J. Richardson in Philadelphia around 1875-1880.  Perhaps she was the child of Joseph and ?? Richardson, but we can't be sure.

Two CDVs from Philly

Civil war-era cartes de visites are fairly easy to date.  They are usually printed on very thin card stock and the portraits are often in head-shot, vignette style, with quite a bit of white space left around the subject.  The 1860's photographer's imprint is more subdued than in later years and seldom cover the entire back of the photograph.  Of course, a date cinches it, which is the case with the first of today's found photos.

Mrs. E. L. CLARK was photographed in October of 1863 at H. Manger's Photograph Gallery, on Chestnut Street in Philadelpha. It also has the mysterious phrase, "rats & mice" scribbled on the back of the photo.

Update:  the notation "rats & mice" may refer to Mrs. Clark's hairstyle.  Margaret Mitchell offers up a description of a hairstyle called "Cats, Rats, and Mice":  "The hair was parted in the middle and arranged in three rolls of graduating size on each side of the head, the largest, nearest the part, being the 'cat.'" (Gone with the Wind, Chapter XIII)

Our second photo, taken at Groom's Carte de Visite and Photograph Gallery, on Second Street, Philadelphia doesn't include a date, but provides this inscription, "Master D. F. DICKSON.  Sab. School Scholar. 1st R. P. Ch, Pa."

Both hairstyles in these photos hint at a 1860s time frame, as does Mrs. Clark's subtly pink-tinted cheeks. As you can see, there's always a few clues hiding in cartes de visites.