The Epworth League Album 10, Life on the River

I wrote in an earlier Epworth League post that the pictures in the first part of the album had a mid-western feel to them. Well, here's a bit more of that feel. A river this wide, in the United States, is probably the Mississippi, the lower Missouri or the lower Ohio. There might be some other candidates out there, but those three are the most likely. I spent some time, on line, searching for images of old bridges along those rivers and couldn't find a match. But someone out there must be able to recognize these locations. As always, click on Epworth League in the labels section to bring up the lot.

Iowa By Canoe

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Stamped on the back, "GEPPERT STUDIOS STAMP of QUALITY DES MOINES, IOWA." Des Moines is on the Des Moines River. Is it just me, or is the blond wearing a somewhat revealing swimsuit? Fun fact, in the first decade of the twentieth century, in most states, men could be arrested for going topless at the beach.

Chautauqua

I don't know if these photos are from an actual, real Chautauqua or not. The Chautauqua movement started in nineteenth century America. Usually held in a rural area, near a railroad stop, Chautauquas were a combination of group camps, lectures and entertainment.

Canoe From Glass Negatives

I've always thought of myself, not as a photographer, but as a printer. One of the frustrating things about no longer having a job at a photo lab, is not having access to large format enlargers. Like the Montana glass negative photos, (see the first post from this blog, published June 9, 2009.) I made these prints, not by making contacts, but by placing the negatives in an 8x10 enlarger and making blow-ups. Probably shot in the late 19th century, these two images show someone who is very likely using a canoe for recreation.