Cabinet Card Photographers of the 19th Century - Special: Benjamin Gray -

Most often a found photograph is of unknown people by an unknown photographer. Occasionally the names of the people in a photograph are written on it later. But, very seldom do we ever learn the name of the photographer.

In the case of the Cabinet Card and the Carte de Viste (CDV) the photographer's name or studio name is often included as part of the mounting. It is sometimes at

the narrow end of the mounting board on the front and sometimes it is given in an elaborate fashion on the reverse of the card.

These pages of the LOST GALLERY will present all of the CABINET CARDS in the collection where the photographer is known.

The name of the photographer will be

repeated in the text so that it can be included in internet searches by Google and Bing and the rest.

As more information about the photographer emerges it will be added here.

This is a project in progress. If you don't find something here on a photographer you are researching, check back again.

This is a special page for a very interesting photographer from a cabinet card in the collection of Curt J on Flickr

Below are the links to the alphabetized pages in the LOST GALLERY cabinet card collection.

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There are MANY photographs on each page so they might load slowly.

This is the face and reverse of a CDV from the collection of Curt J. on Flickr. We present it here because the photographer's life has some interesting moments.

Benjamin Gray might be called the P. T. Barnum of photography. His newspaper ads were flashy and catchy much like a circus poster. (Most of them too large to present here.)

Note: The NPA crest in the center of the card stands for National Photographic Association of which Gray was a member.

The Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - 5 Oct 1866

Bloomington, (IL) city directory - 1868

Bloomington, (IL) city directory - 1870

Bloomington, (IL) Pantagraph - 20 May 1871

This is the best copy of this news item found. It is a bit blurry. Click on it for a slightly larger version.

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - 27 Nov 1873

Although there was a lot printed about the trial, so far LOST GALLERY has been unable to find any documentation that tells of the outcome.

It can be speculated however, that since his daughter Henrietta was born in Illinois, 07 Sep 1874, about ten months after the trial ended, he must have done very little time or was acquitted. Further, daughter Daisy was born in Nappanee, IN, exactly one year after Henrietta.

In 1878 daughter Florance (Florence in some records) was born in Illinois. (Exact date and place are so for, unavailable.)

Investigation continues.

The 1880 US census tells that he was a "Hotel Keeper" on 18 Jun 1880, the day of the census.

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - 18 Apr 1881

From 1881 through 1886, city directories have Benjamin Gray as a photographer in Peoria, IL.

In 1887 the Peoria, IL, city directory shows B. Gray is a Travel Agent. His son William is living at the same residence address.

In 1889 Benjamin Gray is operating a boarding house at 108 s Madison. Son William and daughter Harriet are at same address.

In 1890 Gray is proprietor of the Hotel Arlington in Peoria, IL. Son William boards at the same address.

In 1891 and 1892 the Peoria, IL, directories show no occupation for B. Gray.

The 1900 US census places Benjamin Gray in Elkhart, IN, as a farmer 30 Jun 1900 the day of the census.

No records of any kind have been found for the years 1901 through 1904.

Goshen (IN) Mid Week News Times - 31 Jan 1905, (Front Page)
Benjamin Gray of Nappanee, was found dead in his bed last Friday morning of heart failure. Mr. Gray had never recovered from an injury he received in a runaway last fall. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a close reader and observer and of a decided nature. A friend once a friend always. He leaves a widow and five children, Hattie B., Wm. H., Edward C., Daisy and Clara M. and one sister, Mrs. Margaret Gaston of Sardina Those present from abroad were Mrs. Margaret Gaston, Sardina; James Gaston of Franklin; Mrs. Mary Risses, Mrs. Millie B. Flinn and Miss Vera Flinn of Chicago and Mrs. Theresa Gray of Minneapolis, Minn.

Interment was at South Union cemetery. Mr. Gray was born at Shaumville, Ohio, July 31, 1830.
Married Julia H. Holmes, eldest daughter of William H. Holmes of Bloomington, Ill., Feb. 11, 1858.

The Bremen (IN) Enquirer - 02 Feb 1905

A few additional ways to date cabinet cards

Card stock
1866–1880: square, lightweight mount
1880–1890: square, heavy weight card stock
1890s: scalloped edges

Card colors
1866–1880:
thin, light weight card stock in white, off white or light cream; white and light colours were used in later years, but generally on heavier card stock

1880–1890:
different colors for face and back of mounts

1882–1888:
matte-finish front, with a creamy-yellow, glossy back

(From WIki)

Borders
1866–1880: red or gold rules, single and double lines
1884–1885: wide gold borders
1885–1892: gold beveled edges
1889–1896: rounded corner rule of single line
1890s on: Embossed borders and/or lettering

(From Wiki)



For more information on dating Cabinet Cards see PHOTOTREE

Lettering
1866–1879 Photographer name and address often printed small and neatly just below the image, and/or studio name printed small on back.

1880s on: Large, ornate text for photographer name and address, especially in cursive style. Studio name often takes up the entire back of the card.

Late 1880s–90s Gold text on black card stock

1890s on: embossed studio name or other embossed designs

(From Wiki)

Below are the links to the alphabetized pages in the LOST GALLERY cabinet card collection.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

There are MANY photographs on each page so they might load slowly.

Go back to THE MAIN INDEX PAGE
There are now more than 8,000 photographs in the Lost Gallery.
Or try out the NEW BACK PAGE INDEX