Ten more McManus Brothers studio portraits with the same mark.

The first four are children. All are seated on a chair with a rug draped over it. It is likely that a parent is hidden behind the chair, holding the child in place.

The second, third, and fourth photos- the children appear to be wearing the same necklace. I think the third and fourth photos are the same child. It is also possible one or more of these children were in previous blog entries. It is certainly difficult to tell children apart when they are this young!

The next two photos were definitely taken at the same time. The first is probably a father, daughter, and mother. The man's pupils have been retouched.

The daughter appears in the second photo with another girl. Her hairstyle, dress, and necklace are the same in the two photos. 

Another photo has two women posing next to each other.

Then a photo of a young woman. She has a piece of jewelry at her throat that appears to be three white beads.

The woman in the next photograph may have the same necklace and may be the same woman? She holds a fan and the photograph cut out her image and superimposed it onto a painted rock fence.

Lastly, two boys and a third child (possibly another boy) are posed, probably siblings. The middle child sits on a low stool atop a couple of books. The child on the right sits on a chair with braid hanging from the arms and sear. The painted backdrop and floor covering are barely visible.

 

Two unidentified McManus Brothers studio photographs.

The first is a young woman with muttonchop sleeves on her dress. 

The second is two children. The older girl rests her arm on a sofa that has tassels hanging from the front. The younger girl sits on a chair with braid hanging from its arms and front. The rug or linoleum flooring appears to have springs of flowers. In the background the painted backdrop has an easel and some sort of arch or doorway.

 

Two more unidentified photographs.

The first is from the William Boswell studio, which operated from 1894 to 1901. Four children, likely siblings, are posed. Two sit on a chair with some sort of padded furniture (uncertain) to the right. The other two children standing in front of the backdrop which has lace curtains and possibly a ballistrade.

The second is from the Himes studio, located at the corner of Front and Park Streets in Traverse City. Richard B. Himes operated the studio from 1897 to 1899.

A handsome man stands next to a chair. The painted backdrop has a stone wall with flowers cascading down and in front. 

 

Two more from the McManus Brothers studio. Nothing written on the back.

The first is a woman posed in front of a plain background. She had an elaborate shirt or blouse.

Four members of a family, possibly four generations? Two sit on chairs, the one on the left has braid hanging from the arm. The rug that appears in many photos lies crumpled behind the girl on the left. The painted backdrop has the curtain next to a stained glass window, present in many other photos taken in the 1890s.

 

Three photos from the McManus Brothers studio. I cannot be certain, but I suspect all three are from the same family and the first two may be photos of the third, the latter taken when they were older. Luckily, the third photo has their names on the back.

All three are taken with the same backdrop, which appears to have a curtain next to a pilaster with a flower-filled urn.

The first photo has the child posing next to a velvet-upholstered chair with tassels.

The second photo has the child seated in a chair with tassels hanging from its arms. A rug and blanket next to the child almost certainly disguises a parent holding the child in place.

The third photo has written in pencil:

Blanche Lada Robertson

Frank Lada

 Blanche is seated in a chair with braid hanging from the arm and seat. A rug is visible behind the two children.

Frank Lada was born on 22 May 1895, the son of Joseph V. Lada and Anna M. Valish. He died on 16 January 1897 in Traverse City and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

His younger sister Blanche Lada was born on 15 June 1897 in Traverse City. She was married to Harry Alexander Robertson. She died on 11 January 1937 in Traverse City and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Based on Blanche's birth year I think the photo was likely taken in 1898.

 

Six photos from the McManus Brothers studio.

Like many photos, the pupils of this woman were retouched. I'm guessing this photo was taken in the 1890s.

This baby's eyes were also retouched. They are sitting on a chair with a rug draped over it, possibly masking the presence of someone holding the baby from behind.

Another bust-only photo. The woman has an unusual broach.

The next three have a person's bust superimposed on scrolls and florals.

This man's left eye has the pupil retouched.

A young man.

A young woman wearing a pearl necklace and muttonchop sleeves.

 

Two more photos from the Moblo studio. No names are written on the back.

Four girls pose, probably sisters. The Moblo studio was in operation from 1893 to 1913. The girl on the left is sitting on a wicker chair. The girl in front is on a small stool. A painted backdrop is barely visible behind them.

The second photo was likely taken during one of the cold months. A man stands next to the wicker chair visible in the first photo. His dog sits on the chair. The painted background is also the same from the first photo and appears to have a curtain and possibly some flowers.

 

Three more photos from the 38. They are from the McManus Brothers.

The first has an illegible pencil-written mark on the back. A man, child, and woman pose. I'm guessing this is from the 1880s. The woman apparently has a pocket watch and chain. A table covered with a rug and with two books is next to the man. The girl stands on a velvet-covered, wheeled chair. Another chair with a tassel hanging from the back or arm is next to the woman. The painted backdrop features a large piece of furniture, apparently representing a room. A patterned rug is on the floor.

The second photo is a child standing next to a chair with tassels hanging from its arm, covered by a large rug. The same carpet from the first photograph is on the floor. This appears to be the same girl as the preceding photo.

The third photo is a young girl leaning against a chair with tasseled arms and front. A table covered by the same rug is nearby. The same painted backdrop from the first picture is behind the girl.

 

I purchased 38 photos on Ebay. The seller said they came from a single album. Only three were identifiable (will post those later). I sorted the photos by studio and the style of the mark. Here is the first set from the E. N. Moblo Studio, located on Union Street in Traverse City.

The first is a child seated on a stool with a bear skin type rug draped around (and over the stool?). A painted backdrop with short decorative walls is in the background.

Two children, On the left the child is seated on a wheeled-chair with tassels. A similar chair was used by the McManus Brothers studio. The feet of a stand are visible behind the standing girl. This may have been a device to hold the girl's head still. A floral carpeting is on the floor and in the background a painted backdrop with a woods scene and some sort of arched building on the right side.

A handsome man standing nest to a chair. The floral carpeting is visible. The pained backdrop is the same as the first photo, but more is visible including floral swags, an urn with flowers, and architectural elements. The backdrop strongly resembles Pompeiian wall paintings.

A handsome seated man. The Eastlake style chair is the same as the previous picture and the faux bearskin rug is on the floor. The backdrop has trees and a lake or bay with a dock.

Lastly, two bust photos of women wearing muttonchop sleeved dresses. Their eyes appear to have been touched up to make the pupils more visible, a common technique seen in other photos.

 

Four unidentified photographs from Traverse City.

The first is a carte de visita from the J. C. Yergin studio, located "Two doors south of P.O. on Cass St."

The man is posed in front of a balustrade, his gat sitting in front of him. In the background is an elaborate painted backdrop that includes an urn with flowers sitting on a column and some sort of structure.

This is the first photo I have from this studio. John C. Yergin operated his studio in Traverse City from 1882 to 1884.

J. C. Yergin photo.

The second is three children taken at the McManus Brothers studio. The two kids on the left are sitting on a chair while the third child leans his arm on another chair with a tassle hanging from it. A painted backdrop had a window scene. And I just realized there is a dog sitting below the girl.

A dog is looking sad at lower left.

The third photo was also taken at the McManus studio. An older couple, the man sits on a chair with pom-pom strands hanging from the arm and seat. A rug is draped over the table next to his chair. The painted backdrop is barely visible but appears to include a window, curtain, and a curtain pull.

Her dress has big muttonchop sleeves.

The last photo is from the Barwise studio, located at the corner of Cass and Washington streets. The boy stands with his hand resting on an upholstered chair. A pattern rug is on the floor. The painted backdrop appears to be a garden scene.

This is another studio that I haven't had a photo of. Joseph Barwise operated his studio from 1898 to 1899 in Traverse City.

Barwise studio.