CARTE DE VISITES(Cdvs)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
imposition of hands” who came to San Francisco CARTE DE VISITES (CDVs) in October, 1866 and appeared in many communities throughout northern California, 100. [ARIZONA – Meeshomoneah] Anon. “No Oregon and Washington Territory for almost a 304 Meeshomoneah, one of the seven Aztec or year, “traveling, healing and preaching in a Moquis Pablas Indian Cities of the deserts of genial clime”. The Sacramento Daily Bee (May Arizona”, circa 1870(?). The title is on a printed 14, 1867) mentions his leaving Sacramento label applied beneath the image, which is after some time there healing the sick and afflicted. He thanked the people of that city and introduced J.M. Grant who was to succeed him in the work of healing the sick in Sacramento. C.A. Reid, a Spiritualist from Salem, Oregon wrote the following in an 1867 issue of Banner of mounted on thin cdv-size stock. Across the top Light, “Dr. J.P. is another title, “Meshomoneah, one of the Bryant, the Seven Aztec Cities, Deserts of Arizona”. And, wonderful written in pencil on the back in a contemporary healer, has hand, “From the sketch album of William also been Simpson, British sketch artist famed for his work here. I will in the Crimean War & elsewhere”. Nice detail of not undertake the “condo-like” architecture of some of the to enumerate early Southwest Indian groups, complete with all the ladder access to the several levels. remarkable 101. [ CALIFORNIA] Cosmopolitan Art and cures wrought Photographic Co. [H.H. Halsey & John Calvin during his few Scripture, San Francisco]. Ink title in a period days’ visit to Salem. From the moment of his hand, “Dr. J.P. Bryant ‘The Healer’”, circa 1868. arrival until his departure, his office was The image shows a bearded man seated in a thronged with the sick, many of whom were studio pose. The full imprint on the back of the cured and all benefited.” Bryant evidently gave CDV reads, “Cosmopolitan / Art and the collection proceeds from his last lecture in Photographic Co., / No. 523 Kearney Street, / Salem to the Ladies Benevolent Society who San Francisco. / No. __ / Duplicates can be had responded to Dr. Bryant with the sentiment at Reduced / Prices”. Palmquist and Kailbourn “that our best wishes will ever attend his (pp 185-186) research notes that the beneficent labors in healing the sick, causing the Cosmopolitan Art and Photographic Company, blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to an 1868 off-shoot of the earlier Cosmopolitan walk; and may heaven’s richest blessings be as Gallery, was located at 523 Kearney and was abundant as his deeds of charity have been under the management of H.H. Halsey and John wide and universal to earth’s afflicted children.” Calvin Scripture. This partnership evidently Upon his return from Oregon to San Francisco dissolved and by 1870 the gallery was being he learned that his wife was ill so he returned to operated by William Nutting Tuttle and Charles New York to be with her. Bryant believed that Wallace Jacob Johnson. Dr. J.P. Bryant was a Spiritualist and a “renowned healer by the he had received the power of curing through his own personal experience. Bryant was severely crippled and had been pronounced by the medical fraternity as incurable. In an act of final desperation he went to see the healer Dr. J.R. Newton of New York. In an 1861 Sunday Times testimonial for Dr. Newton, Bryant writes, “[Having] lost the use of any limbs, suffering excruciating pain, and longing for the time to come when death would set me free, I submitted to the operation as a last resort. It did not consume more than fifteen minutes’ Nevada border near Stateline, NV. Clear, sharp time, when I was entirely free from pain, and image with high contrast in Very Fine condition. walked away,… and am now in perfect health”. 103. [CALIFORNIA – Oakland] Ingersoll, As a result of his “cure”, Bryant became Dr. J.R. Newton’s secretary and pupil. During that William Booker Untitled view of a point of land tenure, Bryant claimed that Dr. Newton had (near Oakland?) extending out into a bay, circa imparted the power of healing to him which 1869. At the left side edge of the front of the allowed him to perform remarkable cures. But mount is the photographer’s imprint, reading, “W.N. Ingersoll, Photographer, / Broadway by 1865 Bryant was apparently out on his own th as a “healer” which caused Newton to say, Block, Broadway and 12 , Oakland.” W.B. when asked about Bryant, that Bryant was a Booker (1834-?) was born in Boston where he quack! Newton said that while he, Newton, was learned the photography trade. He later moved to California, arriving in San Francisco in a true healer, Bryant got along only because February of 1861. By the end of 1865 Ingersoll people who sought him out wanted to believe they would get some relief or be cured – the power of positive suggestion. Interesting comment, given that his comments most likely also applied to his own claim as a “healer”. For several interesting reads on the popularity of Spiritualism and the laying on of hands to heal in 19th century America, see Alonzo Newton’s The Modern Bethesda or the Gift of Healing Restored and Emma Hardinge’s Modern American Spiritualism (1870). There is a small blemish to right of Bryant’s head, o/w the cdv is had moved to Oakland where he opened a in VG+ to Fine condition. [P13-401] photo gallery. He is listed at several different addresses before he began advertising the 102. [CALIFORNIA – Lake Tahoe] Lawrence & studio listed on this CDV’s imprint in late 1868. Houseworth. “651. Friday’s Station, Valley of Fine condition. Lake Tahoe”, published circa 1865. Two-cent revenue stamp on the reverse side. View shows many teams of horses hitched to wagons in front of the hotel. Friday’s Station, built circa 1859, served as a pony express station and a staging center for Wells Fargo and other lines during the 1860s. The two-story wood frame building is still standing on the California- 104. [CALIFORNIA – Oroville] Anon. Upper central location for his business. A CDV with Bridge on the Feather River near Oroville, circa the same Montgomery Street imprint has been 1878/1879. Thicker mount, rounded corners recorded with the date of 1869. Besides being CDV that, according to a later written a supply center for mining operations, Oroville description on the back side, is looking up is just east of the rich upper Sacramento Valley agricultural area. The recent arrival of this particular farm machine most likely prompted the occasion for this view to be taken. [CALIFORNIA – San Francisco] The following CDVs of San Francisco bear the imprint of either Lawrence & Houseworth or Thomas Houseworth. Thomas Houseworth (1828-1915) and George S. Lawrence came together to California from New York on the ship Canton, stream. It also indicates that the covered end arriving in San Francisco in October, 1849. The of the two-span bridge was on the Oroville side. two were partners in the gold fields until Oroville is the county seat of Butte County and Lawrence returned to San Francisco in 1851 was a major supply town for the rich mines where he opened a jewelry and optical store. In along the Feather River. Clear, sharp image in 1855 Lawrence invited his old friend to again Fine condition. join him as a partner in the business. By 1859 Lawrence & Houseworth was a sales outlet for 105. [CALIFORNIA – Oroville] Kusel, Edward stereoscopic views taken and/or published by Abraham. Agricultural view showing people several different sources. As the market for gathered around a large piece of farm such views increased, the firm began to buy machinery, possibly a disc, circa late 1860s. more negatives from regional photographers, Thin mount CDV with the imprint, “E.A. Kusel, / including Charles Leander Weed (1824-1903) Montgomery Street, / Oroville.” Kusel (c.1825- and M.M. Hazeltine (1827-1903). L&H became ?) was born in Germany and came to America so successful in the view selling business after hearing of the discovery of gold in (especially Yosemite, Big Trees, California views, California, finally arriving in 1851. Five years and Central Pacific RR images) that they moved several times until in October, 1864, they were located at 317 and 319 Montgomery Street, San Francisco. All the CDVs listed here with their imprint bear that address. Lawrence retired in 1868, leaving Houseworth to carry on alone under the name of Thomas Houseworth & Co. Houseworth remained at that same address until 1872 when stiff competition forced him to downsize his gallery and processing space. The images listed below could be from any one of several early California photographers, however later he moved to Oroville where he established they are listed under the imprints of the a book, stationery, and office supply store. publishers: Lawrence & Houseworth or Thomas Eventually he fitted up a photographic gallery Houseworth. All the titles come from thin behind his store and opened it up at least by printed strips of paper attached to the back of late 1859. In 1861 he opened a branch gallery each cdv. The publication circa dates come from in Sacramento, but Oroville remained as the the listing of #’d images in various period Lawrence & Houseworth and Houseworth 108. [CALIFORNIA – San Francisco] Lawrence catalogs. [Palmquist – L&H; Points of Interest] & Houseworth. “138. Post Office and Custom Other CDVs published by L&H and Houseworth House”, published circa 1864. The Custom are present throughout the catalog and the same biographical information applies to them.