1800s

Step back in time to the vibrant 1800s through my eyes. Every image you see here was personally scanned or photographed by me, preserving the intricate details of this fascinating century. Explore authentic 19th-century photos, artifacts, and treasures that I’ve carefully documented to bring history to life

A turn of the century Swedish Girl, German turn of the century photos, & random

A turn of the century Swedish Girl, German turn of the century photos, & random

This post explores a small but rich collection of vintage images: baby cabinet cards from German studios like Emil Tiedemann and Thiele, a New York portrait by J. Gurney & Son, and a Milwaukee photo by Hugo Broichl—plus later snapshots from the 1950s. Together they trace how families in Sweden, Germany, and the United States used studio portraits and early cameras to capture fleeting moments of childhood and identity at a time when every photograph was planned, precious, and meant to last.

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St. Louis Turn of the Century Family Photography

St. Louis Turn of the Century Family Photography

A richly scanned collection of turn‑of‑the‑century St. Louis cabinet cards and studio portraits—J. Haas, Setzer, When, Crescent, Parsons, and others—featuring a young soldier, First Communion scenes, and unforgettable character studies. Dive into Victorian‑to‑Edwardian fashion details, studio backdrops, and card‑back imprints to help date and better understand these Missouri family photographs.

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Turn of the century photos by St. Louis Photographers

Turn of the century photos by St. Louis Photographers

Step back in time with this collection of turn-of-the-century photos from St. Louis photographers, including studios like Parsons, When Studios (1893), J. Haas, Theo E. Setzer, and more. These vintage cabinet cards and old photo scans offer a fascinating glimpse into the Victorian and Edwardian eras, capturing the artistry of antique photography and the lives of their subjects. Explore the historical legacy of 19th-century portraiture and the stories these images preserve from a bygone era.

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1800s Photos from St. Louis, MO

1800s Photos from St. Louis, MO

Discover hauntingly beautiful cabinet card photos from 1800s St. Louis, MO. These vintage images capture everyday life at the turn of the century, featuring mysterious children, First Communion traditions, and an enigmatic girl with a tambourine. Dive into the stories behind these historic photographs and their connection to a rapidly changing city.

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More scanned photos from the turn of the century St. Louis Photographers

More scanned photos from the turn of the century St. Louis Photographers

Discover a selection of turn-of-the-century photographs from St. Louis studios like When Studio, Crescent Studios, and J. Haas. This collection includes a mysterious unmarked photo, formal headshots of young men, and an intriguing bridal portrait featuring a black wedding dress. Explore the history, fashion, and social customs captured in these historic cabinet cards and vintage portrait styles.

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1800s baby photos

1800s baby photos

Here are some baby photos from the 1800s, that were mixed in with an envelop! I don’t think that the baby photo, by St. Louis Photographer Bell Studios, came in the envelop as it’s postmarked from Miss A. Schenkel in Detroit (and sent to Henry Kellogg St. Louis). Whatever correspondence it once contained has been lost. The baby, presumably E..? Warren Kellogg, looks rather crazy in the eyes, giving that unfocused gaze just past the camera.

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Cabinet Cards of Young Men, Children, and Couples

Cabinet Cards of Young Men, Children, and Couples

Here are the rest of the 1800s cabinet cards I digitized for the Carondelet Historical Society. I really like the young lady wearing a hat, as shot by Polensky of Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. That photo, of any, gives me some ideas on historical re-creation. The background is so cool, and could probably be made into a photoshop texture or something!

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Civil War Pocket Photos

Civil War Pocket Photos

Here are two Civil War era photos that came in small embossed leather covered wooden cases. They look like the size that could easily fit in your pocket, and one has glass on the cover, to show the woman’s portrait thru it. The interior is velvet and elaborately floral embossed metal. I wonder who these people were?

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Chicago World’s Fair – the 1893 Columbian Exposition

Chicago World’s Fair – the 1893 Columbian Exposition

The World’s Columbian Exposition was a world’s fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World in 1492. The centerpiece of the Fair, held in Jackson Park, was a large water pool representing Columbus’ voyage to the New World. These scans are Volume 8 of the pamphlet series, The Dream City: A Portfolio of Photographic Views of the World’s Columbian Exposition. I also bought Volume 10, thinking that this was the St. Louis World’s Fair (the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), but that’s what I get for being on eBay too late at night.

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Victorian Ads for Burpee’s Seeds, skin bleach creams, typewriters, pianos, and more

Victorian Ads for Burpee’s Seeds, skin bleach creams, typewriters, pianos, and more

Step back in time with these fascinating 1892 magazine scans from The Delineator — a treasure trove of Victorian advertisements! Discover ads for Burpee’s seeds, Modene Hair Removal Cream, LaBlanche Face Powder, typewriters, pianos, magic lanterns, and more. These pages offer a glimpse into the daily lives, societal trends, and technological advancements of the early 1890s. Explore the captivating world of vintage advertising that reflects the charm and innovation of a bygone era.

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A woman in a WAC uniform reading a newspaper during WWII.

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