Category Archives: Teens

October 30, 2015

Three 1920s studio portraits of adorable Cecil Brown from Topeka, Kansas

By C.E. Ryan

You know ‘Freckles’ had to be his nickname, that or ‘Ginger’ ;). This is a cute trio of portraits from the 1920s of young Cecil Brown from Topeka, Kansas. Cecil is not the usual type you’ll find in my collection but I could not resist his portraits. There’s something so loveable about him! He makes me want to smile, and my followers know just how much I love people smiling and laughing on pictures! These portraits taken at different times give off the feeling Cecil was generally of nice temperament.

The first is Cecil in his cap and bowtie, with his signature on the side. On the second he’s laughing, and on the last one he looks a tad older but this could just be my impression. He still has a smile on his face. The town and state are written down on the back of the first one.

These are photobooth size studio portraits. I believe them to be late 20s, early 30s.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Others, Teens

October 3, 2015

Four 1880s Brattleboro cadets 

By C.E. Ryan

1880s cadet buddies. Caleb L. and John C. Howe. Brattleboro. Cabinet Card. Private Collection.

These four teens from Brattleboro, Vermont were most likely cadets, maybe in a marching band?

Photographer Caleb Howe chose to take this picture horizontally, preferring to catch the boys in close-up. One of them is smiling and the others seem comfortable in front of the camera.

The card has yellowed with the passing of time.

Back of card.

Caleb Howe & Son. Back of card.

Photographer: Caleb Lysander Howe & Son (John C. Howe). Brattleboro. Vermont.

Caleb Lysander Howe (1811-1895) was a highly respected photographer in his home state of Vermont. He began his craft on the road in the late 1840s. During the Civil War he photographed a great number of soldiers who queued at his studio door for a chance to get their portrait taken. He also photographed Union General John W. Phelps on a card with the similar backing.

Howe’s son joined him in the business in the early 1880s. Since his initials appear on that cabinet card as well as the one I have I believe these were made a couple of decades after the war, by the end of the general’s life who passed in 1885.

Caleb Howe was also a singer and musician. There is a page dedicated to his life that is worth a look. There you can see the John W Phelps card.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Cabinet Cards, Military, Teens

September 28, 2015

Cute young fellow

By C.E. Ryan
Young hatted man. Tintype. Private Collection.

Young hatted man. 1/6th plate tintype. Private Collection.

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a lot of 12 1/6th plate tintypes I acquired for $20 shipping included. This made my day! This cute teen posing for his portrait was part of the lot. He’s not wearing a collar or coat, his shirt sleeves rolled up. He looks unfazed, a bit bored or maybe just a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera. There’s no visible backdrop either.

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Teens, Tintypes

September 23, 2015

Studio portrait of 1920s teen in a white cap

By C.E. Ryan
Teen in white cap. Private Collection.

Teen in white cap. Private Collection.

This handsome boy is wearing the classic dapper look of the period with a striped tie and white wool cap. He looks mixed too, perhaps with some Asian, or Native American. He reminds me a lot of my brother when he was his age.

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Photobooths, Teens

September 1, 2015

Victorian teen Mc Bracken of Waterloo, Wisconsin

By C.E. Ryan

Close-up of cabinet card portrait. Private Collection.

Close-up of cabinet card portrait. Private Collection.

Photogenic teen Mc Bracken with the dark eyes is wearing a mix of patterns with a moon tie stack to bring it all together over the overlapping collar. I give this card a broad window from the 1880s to early 1900s.

The card’s also a rarer shade of pink with dark pink lettering on the front. The back is plain except for the sitter’s written last name.

Pink cabinet card. Private Collection.

W.H Drake cabinet card. Private Collection.

Photographer: W.H. Drake. Waterloo, Wisconsin.

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Cabinet Cards, Teens