Frontier Photographers Robinson Brother's and Stromsten; Photos, Ladies in Frontier Iowa

From the research archives of the Central States Lawman & Outlaws Historic Assn. Three unidentified cabinet card photos of women of frontier Iowa, probably taken sometimes during the 1890's. The frontier photographers who took these photographs are listed in the book Biographies of Western Photographers, by Carl Mautz. All of these photos are in mint condition, and a perfect example of professionally done photos of the time period. 

Robinson Brothers Photographic Artists                              

 

Stromsten Photographic Artist 

A listing appears in Biographies of Western Photographers:

The spelling of Stronsten may be an error, Allerton Iowa is a

short distance from Corydon Iowa. It's highly probable that this

is referring to Sophia Stromsten.

Also See Iowa Genweb information of Photograhers

Both Sophia and her son J.M Stromsten are listed on 

find a grave, 

J.M. Stromsten's obituary tells us that he was a photographer. Both are buried in Corydon Iowa, where the Stromsten photo originated from.

Photograher J.M. Stromsten, photo courtesy of find a grave

Contributor Thomas Sollenbarger

 List of 19th Century Photographers, this list is another reference

 but by no means exhaustive.

Frontier Photographers: C.M. Flanders: By G.C. Stevens

 

All photos are from the authors collection

Photo collecting is like another form of archaeology, in that some photos have their own type of cuneiform etched into them by the Photographic Artists who created them. If we are lucky, some of these artifacts have the names of the subjects in the photo written on the back. If we're really lucky, additional information could also appears on the back of the photo if another person, such as a relative took some due diligence to record more data on the photo. Though in most cases the antique photos are as blank as the face of the sphinx in Egypt, and all we are left with is the faces of the person(s), who sat for the picture. But luckily many cabinet cards bare the names, logos and artworks of the photographers and the companies who employed them embossed on the front of each photo, and many of them are from the early days of the frontier (1860's-1890s) Photographers. Author, Carl Mautz, captured the names and the essence of the frontier "Shadow Catchers" in his book, "Biographies of Western Photographers". One of the Photographers listed was Charles M. Flanders, who was active in Corydon Iowa from 1889-1892. This towns name conjures up images of outlaws because eighteen years prior in 1871, the famed outlaw Jesse James had robbed the Ocobock Bank in Corydon, as I looked at the pictures, I wonder if any of the people in the in the photos below were old enough to remember when that happened? But alas... We may never know.

CM Flanders:

Name appears in the book "Biographies of Western Photographer", by Carl Mautz (Pg# 225)

Flanders, Charles M. 

Flanders had a studio in Glenwood, Mills County, in the 1890s. NSA reports a single view seen of a group of women posed by piano in studio. Burgess lists Humeston (1887–1892), Corydon (1889–1892), and Glenwood (1895–1897) 

ref  IOWA STEREOGRAPHS 

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES RESEARCH CENTERS 

(515)281-6200

History.Research@iowa.

Jesse James Robbery Corydon Robbery

Member 

G C. Stevens U.S. Photographer

 

RECREATING EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY 

FROM THE LATE

 1800'S TO THE

 EARLY 20TH CENTURY

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 I utilize both vintage cameras and digital to recreate old time photos. I have also developed a technique for recreating cabinet cards.

My cameras: A No. 2 Kodak Brownie, an Imperial SIX-TWENTY & A No. 2 folding Premo.