| Women
took to photography as soon as it was invented. In addition to being avid amateurs,
women operated professional studios by themselves, with other women, and with
their husbands. Often the only way we know of their work is from names printed
on early CDVs and cabinet cards. The focus of my Kodak Girl collection is on images of women photographers. Images by women is a vast topic not examined here. Check out Peter Palmquist's excellent Women in Photography website for more information. |  |  |
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These two Cartes de Visite or
CDVs both have the same photographer's backmark (left)-- Mrs. W.A. Reed of Quincy,
Illinois. Candace McCormick Reed opened her photo studio after her husband, Warren,died.
You can read more about her interesting life on a site dedicated to Illinois women
pioneers in the "Women at Work" section. | |
| The
backmark of another, possibly later, photo by the same Mrs. Reed as above bears
the logo of the National
Photographic Association, a professional photographer's organization. These were printed on cards from 1871-1874. |  |
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Mrs. J.H. Parson's studio in Ypsilanti, Michigan was conveniently located "Over
the Postoffice." Often the sitter's identity has been lost over time, a prime reason for photos winding up in flea markets. In this case the girl is identified as "Maggie Barker" with a later penciled notation, "Willie's Aunt Margaret." |  |