Cabinet Portrait of Little Child

The image shows a cabinet portrait of a little girl. First introduced in the 1860s, cabinet card photographs were similar to cartes-de-visites, only larger. Measuring approximately four inches by six inches and mounted on cardstock (similar to cardboard), cabinet card photos got their name from their size—they were just the right size to be displayed on a cabinet. They reached their peak of popularity in the 1870s through the 1890s. Many cabinet cards feature the name and location of the photographer printed on the front of the card underneath the picture. Some have fancy backmarks advertising the photographer (this trend increased towards the end of the century when advertising became commonplace). This image was taken by the photographic studio T. C. Bolton at 213 El Paso Street.

Area: Central / Downtown

Collection: Ada Tharp Photograph Collection

Source: University of Texas at El Paso Library - Special Collections Department

Reference ID: PH038-094

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History