Portrait of African American Couple

The image shows a African American couple on a cabinet card. 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).

Area: Central / Downtown

Collection: Ada Tharp Photograph Collection

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

Reference ID: PH038-063

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History