Photo album, ca.1879

Leather, paper

Before photography, only the rich could afford to have their portraits made. Once photography made the process less expensive, almost every respectable middle-class Illinois home had a photo album of family and friends in the parlor. W. E. Bowman, a photographer in Ottawa, IL, charged $3 per dozen for 6" x 4" photos.

Gift of Dorothy B. McCumber Estate, Lewistown, IL (704223)

Decoration

© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96