Four photos purchased in an antique store in Traverse City. Unfortunately, none have names on the back. All are from the McManus Brothers studio, which operated between 1873 and 1917.

A young woman posing in front of a painted backdrop that features an elaborate piece of furniture on the left with a rug-like background. She rests her arm on the back of a velvet covered chair with fringes hanging down from the arm rest and seat, I have seen this in other photos. Next to her is a table covered by a rug with two books stacked on it. A rug or linoleum-type floor covering is on the floor.

An older gentleman with a robust goatee.

Three women, two of whom have had their pupils highlighted. My coworker looked at this photo and said, "Creepy."

A trimmed photo with some damage to the hair. The woman has earrings, a broach, and three chains. I wonder if she is one of the Czech immigrants who came to Traverse City.

An Ebay purchase from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Photograph taken at the McManus Brothers Studio, which operated from 1873 to 1917.

On the back in black ink is written "My Mother & Uncle Ed," Unfortunately, not enough information to identify. There were 20 boys named Edward, Edmond, or Edwin.

The boy is sitting on a tricycle. He must have really loved it to have brought it to the studio.

My Mother & Uncle Ed.

 

From an Ebay seller from Brentwood, California. An unidentified woman took her dog to the McManus Brothers studio in Traverse City probably in the 1880s or 1890s. 

A woman and her dog,

Back of the small photo.

 She is seated next to a table with a rug draped over it. The painted backdrop is visible behind her. She wears a very heavy looking dress. Her dog is obviously interested in something nearby.

This is only the third photo I have purchased that has a dog in it. I really like it.

An Ebay purchase from Kooskia, Idaho.

The cabinet card is from the McManus Brothers studio. On the back in blue ink is "Agnes Hubbell" at the top and "Return to L. P. Pillell [Pillett?]" at the bottom.

Agnes Hubbell.

 I searched for Agnes Hubbell in Grand Traverse County in the US censuses. Only one, in the 1870 census, there was a three-year-old Agnes Hubbell, the daughter of  L. William and Eliza Hubbell (siblings Mary and Nellie). The family moved to Springfield, Greene County, Missouri. Agnes Fulton Hubbell died there on 7 May 1953 and was buried in Maple Park Cemetery. I do not know if this is the same individual 

Two unidentified McManus Brothers studio carte de visitas.

The first is from an Ebay seller from Wichita, Kansas. A man and his pregnant wife stand with a chair on the left side and a table with books on the right side. You can see the leg of the stand used to hold the man's head in place behind his right shoe.

The back has the negative number of 625, suggesting this is an early photo.

Negative 625.

The second photo is from Ebay seller from Blaine, Washington. 

The negative number of 1869 (or possibly 1863), indicating it was taken after the couple's picture.

Negative 1869.
 

If I could get more McManus Brothers carte de visitas with the year the photo was taken, I could be able to date these undated photos.

An Ebay purchase from Blaine, Washington.

A McManus Brothers carte de visita. The picture has been trimmed at some time. On the back in pencil is "Mrs. Mill" with a Negative number "1462."

 There are 11 males named Mills (there were no Mill) in Grand Traverse County in 1880. There are four or five men who could potentially be this male, so he will remain unknown.

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 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Two Ebay purchase froms Andover, Kansas. 

1). No name on the back. The photo was taken at the Himes studio, the corner of Front and Park in Traverse City, Mich.

The woman is wearing a dark mutton-chop sleeved dress. A feather collar or a short boa is around her neck. Her hat has feathers and perhaps a ribbon, with a netting veil covering her face.

The Himes studio operated in Traverse City from 1894 to 1900.

An unidentified woman.

2). Also unidentified. Taken at the McManus Brothers studio. The numbers 9369 and 6 printed in blur ink on the back, with a handwritten 14.

An unidentified man.

An Ebay purchase from Wakefield, Michigan. The photo was taken at the McManus Brothers studio in Traverse City. There is no name written on the reverse side.

An unidentified child.

 

Three unidentified photos from an Ebay seller from Oklahoma. None of the photos have writing on the back.

The first photo has a girl posing next to a wicker chair. A painted background is behind her. A rug behind her feet probably disguises a stand used to hold the girl's head still. The girl's right hand appears to be deformed?

E. N. Moblo Studio, Traverse City, Mich.

E. N. Moblo, West Union Street, Traverse City, Mich.

McManus Brothers, Traverse City, Mich.