Hodges Art Gallery Couple - Bristol, TN

Before I start with the first official post of Lost Photos Found, I want to say thank you for your patience. I teased the project and set up the social media accounts a few weeks ago and so far the interest you have all expressed has been very exciting for me. I'm already getting submissions and stories from people who have come across lost and discarded photos in their lives, whether it be random finds at estate sales or at local thrift shops, or from career "pickers," and even in abandoned buildings. The photos and stories I've been seeing make me more and more excited about this project.

I'm also realizing this project is going to require skills outside of my abilities. There are clues hidden in these photos that can be found only if I'm one part collector and one part historian. So, I've been trying to educate myself more and more about the history of photography. The style and type of photos can certainly help narrow down a time period. Some photos, like this first one I'm featuring, have a photography studio or art gallery name on them. A city. An address. What tremendous information to have!

As I'm flipping through my stack of lost photos, it seems that class and clothing will be clues, as well. Especially for turn-of-the-century or earlier photos. Some of these people are what appear to be very well dressed. Some appear to be in wrinkled, torn clothing. But I would expect people to dress up in their nicest clothes if they were getting a formal portrait taken. So if their nicest clothes are tattered, I have to assume they were not well off. This could be a clue as to the area they may have come from or their livelihoods. I am about as far away from a clothing historian as you can get, so if anyone is skilled in this area, I'd love any assistance you could provide.

But more than everything, I'm trying to decode the stories behind these pictures. The people who look tired and weathered, or like they haven't worked a day in their lives, interest me to no end. Who were they? What was their life like? Why was this picture taken, and most importantly, what led to it being found or sold by strangers?

All that being said, it leads me to this gem of a photo that caught my eye instantly.

I purchased a bundle of old photos by someone selling them online and when I saw this one, I knew it had to be my first post here. What, exactly, are we looking at? To me and my (admittedly) ignorant and untrained eye, this woman appears to a saloon girl... or what they make saloon girls look like in Hollywood movies, anyway. And this gentleman looks very wealthy, and very, very much older than her. Oh, how intrigued I am!

So apparently I see this photo as being potentially scandalous. My husband, bless his innocence, sees it as a father and daughter. He very well may be right but it couldn't be farther from what I see!

From the light research I've managed so far, it is from the turn of the century, and they call these style of photos cabinet cards. The person I acquired these from was located in Sacramento, CA and she can't remember how exactly she came across this photo, but possibly at a flea market or in a trade with another collector, but the photo itself says Hodges Art Gallery, 529 Main St., Bristol, Tenn, Va.

Of course, I Googled the address. Bristol is a twin city on either side of the Tennessee and Virginia border, and neither state has 529 Main Street anymore. The Tennessee side has a Main Street but it is itsy bitsy and Google street view doesn't even go there. So these are the best shots I could get of the area.




I have also scanned the backs of all the photos I find since people often write on the back, but this one is blank, unfortunately. And for each photo I feature, I'll also do a quick enhancement just to bring the facial features to life and make them a little more clear. When I did that with this photo, the man resembles an actor who I just can't put my finger on. It's the mustache and the eyes so if anyone else sees what I'm seeing please help me out. Not that it has anything to do with finding the family of the people in this photo, but just because it's driving me crazy that I can't place who he looks like!

That's as far as my investigative skills go. So if you live in the area that this photo originated, or know anything about the art gallery, this time period, the clothing, the idea that this is a saloon girl, etc., please comment and let's start the conversation about this incredibly awesome found lost photo.

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