Portraits of America
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Cabinet Cards

Cabinet card portraits, the standard studio format from the 1870s through the turn of the century. Source archive and rights statement on every image.

154 portraits · free to download

Introduced in 1866, the cabinet card mounted a print of roughly 10 by 14 cm on stiff board about 11 by 16.5 cm, or 4.25 by 6.5 inches. It replaced the smaller carte de visite as the standard studio portrait and held that position through the 1880s and 1890s before postcards and snapshot cameras displaced it. Studios usually printed their name and city on the mount, which often makes an otherwise anonymous portrait locatable.

Percy A. Rockefeller, 1890 (Library of Congress)

Percy A. Rockefeller

1890

Nellie Bly, 1890 (Library of Congress)

Nellie Bly

1890

[John James Stevenson, geologist from New York University, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left, taken at I.G.C.], 1891 (Library of Congress)

[John James Stevenson, geologist from New York University, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left, taken at I.G.C.]

1891

[Lillie Langtry, head-and-shoulders portrait, left profile], 1887 (Library of Congress)

[Lillie Langtry, head-and-shoulders portrait, left profile]

1887

[Charlie Duffee, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Charlie Duffee, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Shorty Fuller, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Shorty Fuller, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Red Cloud, Oglala division of Lakota, Sioux, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right wearing suit], 1891 (Library of Congress)

[Red Cloud, Oglala division of Lakota, Sioux, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right wearing suit]

1891

[Young Man Afraid of His Horses, half-length portrait, seated, facing slightly left, holding hat], 1891 (Library of Congress)

[Young Man Afraid of His Horses, half-length portrait, seated, facing slightly left, holding hat]

1891

[John Casper Branner, state geologist of Arkansas, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, taken at I.G.C.], 1891 (Library of Congress)

[John Casper Branner, state geologist of Arkansas, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, taken at I.G.C.]

1891

[Patrick S. Gilmore, three-quarter length portrait, standing, facing slightly right, wearing music conductor uniform], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Patrick S. Gilmore, three-quarter length portrait, standing, facing slightly right, wearing music conductor uniform]

1890

[Mathilde Freud, full-length portrait, standing, facing front with left hand on studio prop], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Mathilde Freud, full-length portrait, standing, facing front with left hand on studio prop]

1894

[Arthur Winslow, state geologist of Missouri, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, taken at I.G.C.], 1891 (Library of Congress)

[Arthur Winslow, state geologist of Missouri, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, taken at I.G.C.]

1891

[Eugen Sandow, full-length portrait, standing, facing right, rear view, displaying arm muscles], 1893 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length portrait, standing, facing right, rear view, displaying arm muscles]

1893

[Eugen Sandow, body-builder, full-length portrait, standing, nude except for shoes, facing right], 1893 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, body-builder, full-length portrait, standing, nude except for shoes, facing right]

1893

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, facing right, leaning on pillar], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, facing right, leaning on pillar]

1894

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, rear view, right arm raised], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, rear view, right arm raised]

1894

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, rear view, hands on head], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, rear view, hands on head]

1894

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, facing left, right arm raised], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, facing left, right arm raised]

1894

[Eugen Sandow, full-length portrait, seated, facing right, hands behind head], 1893 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length portrait, seated, facing right, hands behind head]

1893

[Abram Stevens Hewitt, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing slightly left], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Abram Stevens Hewitt, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing slightly left]

1890

[Mabel Osgood Wright, three-quarter-length portrait, standing, facing left], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Mabel Osgood Wright, three-quarter-length portrait, standing, facing left]

1890

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, facing left], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length nude portrait, standing, facing left]

1894

[Susan B. Anthony, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Susan B. Anthony, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1890

[Emmeline B. Wells, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Emmeline B. Wells, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1890

[Richard Maurice Bucke, full-length portrait, seated oudoors, facing front], 1891 (Library of Congress)

[Richard Maurice Bucke, full-length portrait, seated oudoors, facing front]

1891

[Henry Nehrling, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1891 (Library of Congress)

[Henry Nehrling, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1891

[Alexander Campbell, three-quarter length portrait, facing slightly left], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Alexander Campbell, three-quarter length portrait, facing slightly left]

1894

[Henry E. Alvord, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1893 (Library of Congress)

[Henry E. Alvord, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1893

[Norman Hapgood, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Norman Hapgood, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1890

[Abraham Flexner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Abraham Flexner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1890

[Eugen Sandow, full-length portrait, facing left], 1893 (Library of Congress)

[Eugen Sandow, full-length portrait, facing left]

1893

[E. Spencer Pratt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[E. Spencer Pratt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1880

[James Edward Benedict, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1885 (Library of Congress)

[James Edward Benedict, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1885

[Bertha Honoré Palmer, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Bertha Honoré Palmer, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1880

[Edwin Forbes, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Edwin Forbes, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

1880

[Herman Hollerith, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Herman Hollerith, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1888

[Lillie Langtry, three-quarter length portrait, facing right], 1887 (Library of Congress)

[Lillie Langtry, three-quarter length portrait, facing right]

1887

[Horace Traubel, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Horace Traubel, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1880

[Ralph Waldo Emerson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1886 (Library of Congress)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1886

[Johann C. Gundlach, half-length portrait, facing left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Johann C. Gundlach, half-length portrait, facing left]

1880

[Lillie Langtry, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1887 (Library of Congress)

[Lillie Langtry, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1887

[Woodrow Wilson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1883 (Library of Congress)

[Woodrow Wilson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1883

[Head-and-shoulders portrait of unidentified woman, facing left], 1882 (Library of Congress)

[Head-and-shoulders portrait of unidentified woman, facing left]

1882

[Elliott Coves(?), head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1884 (Library of Congress)

[Elliott Coves(?), head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1884

[Ellen Herndon Arthur, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1883 (Library of Congress)

[Ellen Herndon Arthur, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1883

[Jim O'Rourke, New York Giants, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Jim O'Rourke, New York Giants, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Monte Ward, New York Giants, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Monte Ward, New York Giants, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Icebox Chamberlain, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Icebox Chamberlain, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Yank Robinson, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Yank Robinson, St. Louis Browns, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Red Ehret, Louisville Colonels, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Red Ehret, Louisville Colonels, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Phil Tomney, Louisville Colonels, baseball card portrait], 1888 (Library of Congress)

[Phil Tomney, Louisville Colonels, baseball card portrait]

1888

[Bust portrait of educator and lawyer, Ellen Spencer Mussey], 1884 (Library of Congress)

[Bust portrait of educator and lawyer, Ellen Spencer Mussey]

1884

[Mrs. A.R. Hancock, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1866 (Library of Congress)

[Mrs. A.R. Hancock, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1866

[Alfred H. Colquitt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1866 (Library of Congress)

[Alfred H. Colquitt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1866

[Winfield S. Hancock, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[Winfield S. Hancock, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1860

[John Cassin, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[John Cassin, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

1865

[John W. Hayes, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[John W. Hayes, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1860

[Abraham Lincoln, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1863 (Library of Congress)

[Abraham Lincoln, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1863

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with young girl, Hazel Miner], 1900 (Library of Congress)

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with young girl, Hazel Miner]

1900

Tommy Come Last, 1902 (Library of Congress)

Tommy Come Last

1902

Iron White Man & wife, 1902 (Library of Congress)

Iron White Man & wife

1902

[Brigadier General Scott Shipp, superintendent of Virginia Military Institute in uniform], 1905 (Library of Congress)

[Brigadier General Scott Shipp, superintendent of Virginia Military Institute in uniform]

1905

Mrs. American Horse, 1902 (Library of Congress)

Mrs. American Horse

1902

Makes Good, 1902 (Library of Congress)

Makes Good

1902

Brings Plenty, 1902 (Library of Congress)

Brings Plenty

1902

Conquering Bear and White Coyote, 1902 (Library of Congress)

Conquering Bear and White Coyote

1902

[Civil War veteran James W. Connolly in G.A.R. uniform with medals], 1900 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran James W. Connolly in G.A.R. uniform with medals]

1900

[Col. T. W. Higginson, commander of the 1st SC Volunteers (the first African American regiment)], 1905 (Library of Congress)

[Col. T. W. Higginson, commander of the 1st SC Volunteers (the first African American regiment)]

1905

[Civil War veteran Abner Letts], 1900 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran Abner Letts]

1900

[R.L. Lowe - Boston baseball club], 1902 (Library of Congress)

[R.L. Lowe - Boston baseball club]

1902

[Civil War veteran John W. Pollard, who served under the name of Private Jackson Ridgway in the 83rd U.S. Colored Troops (USCT), in Grand Army of the Republic uniform with medal], 1906 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran John W. Pollard, who served under the name of Private Jackson Ridgway in the 83rd U.S. Colored Troops (USCT), in Grand Army of the Republic uniform with medal]

1906

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with Grand Army of the Republic medal, kepi with post 86 insignia, and watch fob in his button hole], 1905 (Library of Congress)

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with Grand Army of the Republic medal, kepi with post 86 insignia, and watch fob in his button hole]

1905

[Civil War veteran Alfred Colburn of Co. K, 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment and 2nd Minnesota Light Artillery Battery with medal], 1900 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran Alfred Colburn of Co. K, 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment and 2nd Minnesota Light Artillery Battery with medal]

1900

[Unidentified African American Civil War veteran in Grand Army of the Republic uniform with two children], 1900 (Library of Congress)

[Unidentified African American Civil War veteran in Grand Army of the Republic uniform with two children]

1900

Rain-in-the-face, 1906 (Library of Congress)

Rain-in-the-face

1906

Holy Bear's wife, 1908 (Library of Congress)

Holy Bear's wife

1908

No Heart, 1906 (Library of Congress)

No Heart

1906

[Miss Two Bears, half-length portrait, facing slightly left], 1902 (Library of Congress)

[Miss Two Bears, half-length portrait, facing slightly left]

1902

[Civil War veteran Private Orrin P. Richardson of Co. D, 8th Maine Infantry Regiment in Grand Army of the Republic uniform with badge], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran Private Orrin P. Richardson of Co. D, 8th Maine Infantry Regiment in Grand Army of the Republic uniform with badge]

1890

[Civil War veteran Private Curtis Hix of Co. G, 2nd New Hampshire Infantry Regiment], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran Private Curtis Hix of Co. G, 2nd New Hampshire Infantry Regiment]

1890

[Eleanor C. Ransom, Civil War nurse, three-quarter length portrait facing left], 1899 (Library of Congress)

[Eleanor C. Ransom, Civil War nurse, three-quarter length portrait facing left]

1899

[Buffalo soldiers of the 25th Infantry, some wearing buffalo robes, Ft. Keogh, Montana], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Buffalo soldiers of the 25th Infantry, some wearing buffalo robes, Ft. Keogh, Montana]

1890

[Ornithologist Ludwig Kumlien], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Ornithologist Ludwig Kumlien]

1894

[Union nurse Clara Barton with Red Cross brooch], 1894 (Library of Congress)

[Union nurse Clara Barton with Red Cross brooch]

1894

Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses, 1891 (Library of Congress)

Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses

1891

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with Grand Army of the Republic medals], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with Grand Army of the Republic medals]

1890

Front view of a portion of the Lincoln cabin with a group composed of Mrs. Norah Gridley, Miss Mary Coleman, the typewriter, the brothers Megar, architects, and Mr. Stille, and showing young Hall a gr, 1891 (Library of Congress)

Front view of a portion of the Lincoln cabin with a group composed of Mrs. Norah Gridley, Miss Mary Coleman, the typewriter, the brothers Megar, architects, and Mr. Stille, and showing young Hall a gr

1891

A partial view of the Lincoln cabin with open door and group of four including Mr. Thomas Lincoln's grandson John J. Hall, 1891 (Library of Congress)

A partial view of the Lincoln cabin with open door and group of four including Mr. Thomas Lincoln's grandson John J. Hall

1891

Hon. William E. Rothery, Philadelphia, Pa., & Hon. Alfred B. King. Clay - Ashland, Monrovia, Liberia, Liberian Commissioners to the Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill., 1893, 1893 (Library of Congress)

Hon. William E. Rothery, Philadelphia, Pa., & Hon. Alfred B. King. Clay - Ashland, Monrovia, Liberia, Liberian Commissioners to the Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill., 1893

1893

Picture of three children found by the Humane Society in a shanty in an alley bounded by Four-and-a-half, Sixth, K and L Streets, in a deplorable condition--wretched and starving, their father dead, a, 1890 (Library of Congress)

Picture of three children found by the Humane Society in a shanty in an alley bounded by Four-and-a-half, Sixth, K and L Streets, in a deplorable condition--wretched and starving, their father dead, a

1890

[Woman with glasses and hair bow], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Woman with glasses and hair bow]

1890

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with medals and G.A.R. Post No. 35, Wauseon, Ohio, ribbon], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Unidentified Civil War veteran with medals and G.A.R. Post No. 35, Wauseon, Ohio, ribbon]

1880

[African American soldier, full-length portrait, wearing GAR medal, standing next to table], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[African American soldier, full-length portrait, wearing GAR medal, standing next to table]

1880

[Bust portrait of educator and civic leader, Maria "Molly" Baldwin], 1885 (Library of Congress)

[Bust portrait of educator and civic leader, Maria "Molly" Baldwin]

1885

[Three-quarter length portrait of an African American woman posed with book], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Three-quarter length portrait of an African American woman posed with book]

1880

[African American male civilian, half-length portrait, in coat and tie], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[African American male civilian, half-length portrait, in coat and tie]

1880

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