"Practically every town in Victorian America boasted a photography studio. The proprietor, whether he knew it or not, was an early chronicler of family life. Newborns, graduates, brides, grooms, and entire families posed for the camera – alongside wicker props. Ornate wicker furniture made its debut in photography studios during the 1870s. Light, airy and noticeably three-dimensional in photographs, wicker props made greater headway in studios during the 1880s and early 1900s. Because it was so inexpensive and easy to store, photographers and the public took wicker to their hearts. In fact, fancy wicker pieces became known as “photographer’s chairs.” Wicker’s popularity in studios created a new market; Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company featured in their 1898 catalogue an extremely ornate five-legged “posing chair” specifically designed as a photographer’s prop." - "Collector’s Guide to American Wicker Furniture," by Richard Saunders, published by Hearst Books, New York, 1983, p. 43. The following pages contain photographs showing various ornate wicker chairs that were used by photographers. The chair shown in this photograph appears on pages 47 and 57. The same chair, obviously used by Southwest Harbor photographer. J.C. Ralph, appears in other photographs in the library collection.
Description: "Practically every town in Victorian America boasted a photography studio. The proprietor, whether he knew it or not, was an early chronicler of family life. Newborns, graduates, brides, grooms, and entire families posed for the camera – alongside wicker props. Ornate wicker furniture made its debut in photography studios during the 1870s. Light, airy and noticeably three-dimensional in photographs, wicker props made greater headway in studios during the 1880s and early 1900s. Because it was so inexpensive and easy to store, photographers and the public took wicker to their hearts. In fact, fancy wicker pieces became known as “photographer’s chairs.” Wicker’s popularity in studios created a new market; Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company featured in their 1898 catalogue an extremely ornate five-legged “posing chair” specifically designed as a photographer’s prop." - "Collector’s Guide to American Wicker Furniture," by Richard Saunders, published by Hearst Books, New York, 1983, p. 43. The following pages contain photographs showing various ornate wicker chairs that were used by photographers. The chair shown in this photograph appears on pages 47 and 57. The same chair, obviously used by Southwest Harbor photographer. J.C. Ralph, appears in other photographs in the library collection. [show more]
Five of Arno Preston and Mabel Estelle (Stanley) Stanley's children. Left to Right: Enoch Arno Stanley (1897-1977) - son Esther Mabelle Stanley (1895-1984) - daughter - Later Mrs. Francis Milton Spurling Leslie Victor Stanley (1902-1995) - son Chester Warren Stanley (1900-1971) - son - father of boat builder Ralph Warren Stanley Robert Elliot Stanley (1898-1976) - son
Description: Five of Arno Preston and Mabel Estelle (Stanley) Stanley's children. Left to Right: Enoch Arno Stanley (1897-1977) - son Esther Mabelle Stanley (1895-1984) - daughter - Later Mrs. Francis Milton Spurling Leslie Victor Stanley (1902-1995) - son Chester Warren Stanley (1900-1971) - son - father of boat builder Ralph Warren Stanley Robert Elliot Stanley (1898-1976) - son
This photograph originally belonged to Captain Adoniram Judson Robinson (1834-1912). It was taken in Stonington, Connecticut in the early 1900s while she was there for repairs after a collision. Damage to the hull can be seen below the first mast.
Description: This photograph originally belonged to Captain Adoniram Judson Robinson (1834-1912). It was taken in Stonington, Connecticut in the early 1900s while she was there for repairs after a collision. Damage to the hull can be seen below the first mast.
Left to Right: Alfred Gilley Stanley (1879-1950) - seated Marion E. Stanley (1913-) - on her father's lap Mabel Florence (Moore) Stanley (1888-1939) - standing Charles Warren Stanley (1920-) - held by his mother
Description: Left to Right: Alfred Gilley Stanley (1879-1950) - seated Marion E. Stanley (1913-) - on her father's lap Mabel Florence (Moore) Stanley (1888-1939) - standing Charles Warren Stanley (1920-) - held by his mother
The building on the left: Site of John Thompson Crockett House The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. - 1st Location Carroll Building Carroll’s Drug Store - 1st Location at 360 Main Street The building on the right: A.I. Holmes Store - present address is 26 Village Green Way - the original address would have been Main Street The automobile probably has a Massachusetts plate, possibly a Reo. The man on the right, in front of the automobile, was James North Stanley, a Southwest Harbor summer resident from Brookline, Massachusetts.
Description: The building on the left: Site of John Thompson Crockett House The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. - 1st Location Carroll Building Carroll’s Drug Store - 1st Location at 360 Main Street The building on the right: A.I. Holmes Store - present address is 26 Village Green Way - the original address would have been Main Street The automobile probably has a Massachusetts plate, possibly a Reo. The man on the right, in front of the automobile, was James North Stanley, a Southwest Harbor summer resident from Brookline, Massachusetts. [show more]
"Northern Light" was wrecked on the Rockland Breakwater in 1926. The photograph shows two schooners - a smaller one, a wrecking schooner, with another two masts, is behind and to the right of "Northern Light." On board "Northern Light" one can see at least one man in the crow's nest, one on board and two men hanging off the bowsprit. The vessel is being stripped of anything salvageable.
Description: "Northern Light" was wrecked on the Rockland Breakwater in 1926. The photograph shows two schooners - a smaller one, a wrecking schooner, with another two masts, is behind and to the right of "Northern Light." On board "Northern Light" one can see at least one man in the crow's nest, one on board and two men hanging off the bowsprit. The vessel is being stripped of anything salvageable.