Me In 1915

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Annieoakley

Undivided back, used, artist-signed postcard. Postmarked April 6, 1906 from Waltham, Massachusetts.

Price: $12.00

This 1906 postcard shows off the 1891 popular watercolor and gouache work, The Music of the Dance, by Philadelphia-born artist Arthur Burdett Frost (1851 – 1928). Funny that we have three dates here: The date on the original artwork, 1891, that we see in the left corner of the “tableau” next to the signature; the postcard date of 1906; and the date projected into the future by, likely the sender of the postcard, who wrote, “Me in 1915”. Was the sender joking that he would be reduced to….or projecting his hopeful success of being elevated to the life of a traveling musician (in nine years time)? Interesting question!

And though the postcard is not in good condition, it’s the only one we see at this time online, and definitely a nice part of artist, postcard, and African-American in art history, not to mention significant for anyone doing any Rumrill family research.

The card was mailed to: “Mr. F. P. Rumrill, Hillsboro Br., N.H.”

The abbreviation Br. is probably for Borough. And there are some possibilities but we didn’t find any “no-doubters” (as in home run baseball lingo) for F. P. Rumrill. But there were definitly Rumrills in Hillsborough (also written Hillsboro) notably a Frank G. Rumrill, born in NH December 1866 who appears on the 1900 Federal Census.

Sources: Gouache. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouache. (accessed December 11, 2016).

“Arthur Burdett Frost (1851 – 1928) The Music for the Dance.” Copley Fine Art Auctions. (auctions.bidsquare.com) Accessed December 11, 2016.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Hillsborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; Roll: 947; Page: 22B; Enumeration District: 0084; FHL microfilm: 1240947. (Ancestry.com)

Soapine Trade Card

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Annieoakley

Soapine Trade Card, Circa 1880s. Lithographer: William Karle, Rochester, New York.

Price: $15.00. Condition: Very good, lays flat, no water damage or tears (click trade card images to see condition.) Size: About 5 and 1/4 x 3 and 1/2″

Beauty, eh? Et elle montre un Québécois sans doute! This trade card shows a man tobogganing (I like his style) wearing a white wool coat with blue and red stripes. (One might recall the Hudson’s Bay Company blankets. I see a vintage blanket at the time of this post on Etsy, with the red, blue and yellow stripe, though the yellow in our man’s coat appears as part of the barely visible lining.) And there’s his ceinture or sash, as in the days of the voyageurs. This card looks to have been one of a set of five, per a current eBay offering which includes another with the toboggan and three with a snowshoe theme.

Whale Oil?

There are hundreds of Soapine trade cards online, many, like the portion below from Google images, show the trademark whale, which personally I find hard to look at, but it was a different day and age back then, when whale oil was used for a variety of things, including in the making of soap and margarine.

A short article from an 1881 Boston trade journal described someone’s analysis of Soapine in comparing it’s components to that of “good Castile soap.”

Predating the above, an ad was found dated July 11, 1879 in the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier.

Jumping back to the trade card…Can you find the lithographer name on the back?

Barely noticeable is the stamp from the lithographer that appears on the back of the card, just under Kendall Mfg. Co. which reads: W. Karle, Rochester, N.Y, deciphered thanks to the eBay set of five, mentioned up top, where the name is much more discernible.

W. Karle is identified from the 1880 Federal Census for Rochester as William Karle, born in New York, occupation Lithographer; age 25; married to Mary (Eyer) Karle, born in Bavaria, age 28; their daughter, nine-month old Emila; and head of household on this census, Mary’s mother, Mary Eyer.

Below, an entry from the University of Rochester Library Bulletin, Vol. XXXV, 1982 regarding Rochester fruit and flower plates, by Karl Sanford Kabelac:

Karle & Co.; Karle & Reichenbach
William Karle (Rochester, September 19, 1854-Rochester, December 4, 1932) began his own lithographic company in Rochester in 1879. Anton Rahn was his partner for the first several years, and an 1881 guide to Rochester industries noted that Rahn & Karle had nine experienced employees, with Rahn responsible for the art work and Karle the engraving. From 1881 to 1883, according to the city directories, William F. Reichenbach was his partner. The firm was called Karle & Co. and then (1883) Karle & Reichenbach. Beginning in 1884, Karle is listed without a partner. Karle & Co. continued until 1932, when it merged with Stecher Lithographic (q.v.).

Looking very much like a business card, an 1879 city directory ad for William Karle.

And back to Soapine again….

From an October 18, 1896 Boston Post article about Kendall Manufacturing, which mentioned a great company line that was seen at their exhibit at a food fair: “Rain makes mud, mud makes dust and dust makes soap – necessary.”

Below, a nostalgically humorous by today’s standards, 1947 advertisement from the Troy Record.

According to Kevin MacDonnell (MacDonnell Rare Books) Kendall Manufacturing lasted into the late 1950s, quite a long run from their established date of 1827! See his research regarding trade card artist Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Soapine and Kendall Manufacturing.

Sources: “5 Fabulous Vict. Trade cards- Soapine- Snow shoe and Toboggan- 1880s.” eBay. Web accessed February 20, 2016.

Nichols, M.D., James R., ed. “Analysis of Soapine,” The Boston Journal of Chemistry, Journal of Chemistry Company. Vol. XV. (1881): pp. 136 – 137. (Google eBooks).

Bangor Daily Whig and Courier. Bangor, Maine. Fri, Jul 11, 1879 – Page 2. (Newspapers.com)

Year: 1880; Census Place: Rochester, Monroe, New York; Roll: 863; Family History Film: 1254863; Page: 57B; Enumeration District: 094; Image: 0701. (Ancestry.com)

Kabelac, Karl Sanford. “University of Rochester Library Bulletin: Nineteenth-Century Rochester Fruit and Flower Plates.” Vol. XXXV. (1982). River Campus Libraries. (http://rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/2397). Web accessed February 20, 2016.

Drew, Allis & Company’s Rochester City Directory, 1879. Vol. XXX p. 526. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Boston Post. Boston, Massachusetts. Sun, Oct 18, 1896 – Page 21. (Newspapers.com)

The Troy Record. 27 Feb 1947. Thurs. p. 7. (Newspapers.com.)

MacDonnell, Kevin “Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Trade Card Designs.” The New Antiquarian, Blog of the ABAA. Web accessed February 20, 2016.

Happy Be Thy Birthday

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Annieoakley

“The wish of thy friend is

Happy be thy Birthday”

Per musings from the prior post, here’s another card with the often seen stone bridge. A simple design in a fancy frame: a winter scene with red bridge over a stream and a red house that’s supposed to be further in the background. One of the Lena Davis collection, and the sender wrote:

“Oct. 4, 1912. Dear Cousin. Many happy birthday greetings from Mr. and Mrs. C. Haney[?]”

Addressed to: “Miss Lena Davis. Almena, Kans. R. F. D. #3”

And what almost went unnoticed was the publisher info which barely appears from under the postage stamp, indicating Copyright E. Nash.

Last but not least, this same design with a different message shows up on another card in the same collection.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked October 5, 1912 from Elwood, Nebraska. Publisher: E. Nash. Landscape Series, No. 16B.

Price: $3.00

Three Generations In Winter

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Annieoakley

Another winter scene in an unknown location: This Real Photo Postcard shows a house, guessing the style might be Folk Victorian with a four-square layout; note the spindle work or gingerbread trim and the decorative running piece, that we can just see part of, on top of the roof. An older woman standing on the front porch holds a little boy who is perhaps her grandson, and two men, perhaps the woman’s sons, pose a little off to each side. The house appears at an angle, and in the foreground a picket fence runs most of the way across the photo. The fence is painted white except for the tops of the pickets, which are either painted a darker color or left unpainted. It looks like this was by design to be able to find the fence when the snow piled up high.

The time-frame for this card would be about 1907, due to the divided back, through about 1918, due to the AZO stamp box with all four triangles pointing upward. Wonder if it was the boy in the photo who wrote on the back. Looks like he addressed the card to someone and with a short message on the left 😉

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard. AZO stamp box.Circa 1907 – 1918.

Price: $8.00

Pony And Boy

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Annieoakley

A happy young man out for a ride on his pony on a winter’s day. We see a house in the far distance, a row of small trees or bushes (maybe fruit trees) and in the foreground what appears to be wagon or buggy wheel ruts in the snow. The time-frame for the postcard is about 1907 – 1918 due to the AZO stamp box with all four triangles pointing up.

Divided back, unused, Real Photo Postcard. AZO stamp box, circa 1907 – 1918.

Price: $5.00

Sleigh Ride, 1916

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Annieoakley

Winter fun one hundred years ago to the month!

It says “Jan 1916” on the back of this wonderful black and white photo, which shows four ladies and three men (perhaps the driver jumped down to capture the moment) all bundled up for the weather with long overcoats and hats, riding in a horse or mule-drawn sleigh. The location is unknown; a small town probably somewhere in the U.S. When was the last time you went on a sleigh ride?

Black and white photo, January 1916. Size: 4 and 3/8 x 6 and 1/4″

Price: $15.00

Dr. W. Derby’s Croup Mixture

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Annieoakley

Undivided back, unused, artist-signed postcard. Circa 1906. Artist: Stauter. Publisher unknown.

Price: $20.00

“Wet feet, cold hands, Dr. W. Derby’s Croup Mixture, Eaton Rapids, Mich.”
is printed at the bottom of this artist-signed postcard showing merriment in winter – elves throwing snowballs.

I was searching for a Dr. W. Derby in Eaton Rapids around 1900 without finding an entry. Then after finding the below patent information, wondered if Dr. Derby was a fictional name; however the 1870 Federal Census taken in Eaton Rapids shows Willougby Derby, physician and surgeon, born in New York, about 1829; his wife Hattie, born in Michigan about 1839; living with them are Annie Pomeroy, invalid, and Adelbert Garfield, domestic servant. By the 1880 census, Hattie is widowed, and the 1900 shows Hattie working as a milliner, but several doors down from her on this census is Frank Godding, born Michigan, July 1863; his wife Emma, born Michigan April 1866. Frank Godding’s occupation is Pharmacist. Their son Dan is eight years old. George Wilcox is Frank Godding’s likely partner. He appears on the 1900 as a commercial traveler (drugs), born Illinois, August 1861; his wife is Katherine, born Michigan, September 1866; their daughter Florence is five years old. So, perhaps Dr. Willoughby Derby developed the croup mixture or possibly it was named in honor of him.

The lower right corner of this charming postcard shows the artist’s signature, which appears to be J.? Stauter. We’ll add this to the mystery category, as the full name of the artist is unknown.

Sources: The Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Volume 122, Issues 8-9. 1906. p. 3005. Web accessed January 10, 2015. (Google eBook)

Year: 1870; Census Place: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: M593_670; Page: 231A; Image: 465; Family History Library Film: 552169. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1900; Census Place: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: 709; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0069; FHL microfilm: 1240709. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1900; Census Place: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: 709; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0069; FHL microfilm: 1240709. (Ancestry.com)

Ring In The New

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Annieoakley

“Ring out the old

Ring in the new,

With greetings gay and wishes true!

Once more the joyous season is here

To wish you a prosperous,

Happy New Year.”

Here’s a lovely card in the Lena Davis Collection, showing the above wish, and a cozy home in winter scene, flocked by three and four-leaf clovers. (A touch of realism there, since four-leaf clovers are harder to find.)

The card is addressed to: “Miss Lena Davis. Calvert, Kans.” and the sender wrote,

“Toledo, Ia. Dec. 29, 1914. Dear cousin Lena. Am sorry to hear that you got her.[hurt] Hope you are allright now. We are all well as usal. Will send you a card now and letter later. Wishing you a very Happy New Year. Your sincere cousin. Beulah Davis.”

Divided back, embossed, unused postcard with writing. Dated by the sender December 29, 1914. Publisher unknown. Series 346A.

Price: $5.00

January 1st Greetings

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Annieoakley

I’m always amazed at how the senders were generally so on time with their holiday greetings. (This from one who is usually late in sending hers.) This one is stunning, and rather out of the ordinary, showing a beautiful design of a very fashionably dressed young woman who is smiling and throwing snowballs. A wrought iron fence is behind her, and in the far distance a house. The caption “January first Greetings” appears in a cloud, and there are also a couple of evergreens. The sky and border are done in silver-tone. I love the young lady’s expression, her chic winter coat in white with black and red trim, and her red hat. The silhouette of her shoestring bows are a nice touch. The sender wrote:

“Dear Alma, we both wish you a very Happy New Year – Mary.”

The street name on the address seems to have been misspelled; it may have been meant to be addressed as: “Mrs. Alma Johnson, 33 Wadsworth St., City.” It’s postmarked December 31, 1915, from Hartford Connecticut. A 99 year old card, almost to the day!

There are a number of Mrs. Alma Johnsons for this time period on census records in Hartford. The address of 33 Wadsworth St. does not show in the Hartford directory at all in 1915. The 1914 and 1916 directories show the address but different people are living there.

The 1910 Federal Census shows a married Alma Johnson, with husband and children living at 32 Lawrence Street, at the cross street of Ward, which would be a close walk to the address on the card. This census shows head of household Otto A. Johnson, born Sweden, about 1882, occupation Packer in an iron foundry; wife Alma, born Sweden, about 1875; their daughter Esta, age about 1 and 8/12[?]; Alma’s children by her first marriage, Carl, Hilda, Rhiner and Anna Sherman, ages 11, 10, 7 and 5 respectively. All the children were born in Connecticut, and the year of immigration for Otto and Alma shows 1895. This could be the correct record but it’s not for certain. The 1920 census shows the address of 33 Wadsworth St., but a different family is there by this time. The 1910 census doesn’t show the exact address, at all. So, this turns out to be kind of a funny conglomeration of a search – involving a common name, a seemingly incorrect street spelling and missing records. We’ll leave this one then, and move on, as to really try to verify the identity of the addressee would be too time-consuming.

See Another For Alma Johnson for the second postcard we have that was sent to this same person.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked December 31, 1915 from Hartford, Connecticut. Publisher: The Fairman Co., Cin. & N.Y., “The Pink of Perfection.” The design on the front was copyrighted by the G. A. Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Price: $20.00

Source: Year: 1910; Census Place: Hartford Ward 8, Hartford, Connecticut; Roll: T624_133; Page: 34A; Enumeration District: 0191; FHL microfilm: 1374146. (Ancestry.com)

A Merry Christmas To Mr. Frank Paul

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Annieoakley

Here’s a lovely card with Christmas bells and holly, and “framed” scene of a home at sunset in winter. I like how the greeting is two-toned in red and gold, and the rustic (this word is starting to be used a lot here at Laurel Cottage) gold border, which does not appear to be meant to represent birch bark, but reminds me of it nonetheless. The card is addressed to: “Mr. Frank Paul, Kimbal & Wabansia Ave., Chicago Ill.”

The sender wrote: “Merry Xmas and a happy New Year to you and the bunch. A. F. Kreft. P.O. Box 1414. Vancouver B.C.”

A.F. Kreft was found on the 1911 Canadian Census for Vancouver: Albert F. Kreft, born in the United States, November of 1878 or ’79, year of immigration 1910; wife Martha, born December 1884, also in the U.S., year of immigration the same. Arthur’s occupation is difficult to read (photo bug? ha ha, nooo…photo eng? Yes.) The 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Sheboygan, Wisconsin shows this couple, both born in Illinois. Albert’s occupation is listed as Photo Engraver, and he is working for a photo engraving company. His WWI Draft Registration card (1918) shows that at that time he and Martha were living in Chicago, his middle name is Frederick, and he was working for the Columbian Engraving Company. Martha’s maiden name is Laser per an Ancestry.com family tree reference, which is funny since decades later engraving is often done with lasers.

The addressee was found on the 1910 census for Chicago: Frank Paul and wife Rose, both born about 1844; and their children, Frank, Jr., Tony, Josephine and Joseph. All born in Austria, year of immigration 1888. Frank is a saloon keeper, Frank Jr. (age 22) is a bar tender, Tony (age 17) a bookkeeper, and Josephine (age 15) a milliner, working at a store. (Wow, every one is working except for the youngest, who is thirteen. Of course, Rose is working in the home.) The house number is not given but appears to have been on N. Kimball Ave. at the cross street of W. Wabansia Ave.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 19, 1912 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Publisher unknown.

Price: $15.00

Sources: Year: 1911; Census Place: Vancouver City, Vancouver, British Columbia; Page: 5; Family No: 46. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Sheboygan Ward 3, Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1739; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0111; FHL microfilm: 1375752. (Ancestry.com)

Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1504078; Draft Board: 84. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 27, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_271; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 1211; FHL microfilm: 1374284. (Ancestry.com)

Laurel Cottage Genealogy

Genealogy Services, Old Photos, Postcards, Trade Cards, Etc.

Category Archives: Snow

Me In 1915

Soapine Trade Card

Happy Be Thy Birthday

Three Generations In Winter

Pony And Boy

Sleigh Ride, 1916

Dr. W. Derby’s Croup Mixture

Ring In The New

January 1st Greetings

A Merry Christmas To Mr. Frank Paul

Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1504078; Draft Board: 84. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Ancestry.com)