Victorian Photograph Parties
Victorian Photograph Parties
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Novelty parties were all the rage in Victorian America. We’ve seen Calico Balls and Masquerade Balls. According to The Philadelphia Enquirer (1896), novelties included bicycle balls, photograph parties, and “smokers.”
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The Photograph Party
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Good news! Photograph parties are appropriate, even during lent.
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Children’s Photograph Parties
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Photographs: Guessing Games
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In brief, the guessing game progresses thus:
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Pairing Off Through Pictures at Photograph Party
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Social gatherings in the Victorian-era United States often included events specific to marriageable young men and women. The Congregational church gave a “Photograph party” wherein gentlemen drew a portrait from a basket, thereby “selecting” a partner for the evening. “A failure to recognize the original,” as in the young woman’s identity, “imposed a fine.” I wonder what the fine might have been?
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Prizes for Photograph Party Guessers
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Note these two examples that reference a costly, valuable prize to the winner who correctly identified the most baby pictures. True to Victorian-era American history, lots of shocking (to today’s readers) stuff happened. Like “booby prizes” at Photograph Parties. Both articles reference Miss Julia Stephen’s party where the “loser” took home a “Japanese baby” or “Jap baby.”
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Additional Entertainment at Photograph Parties
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A photograph party given by the young people of the Presbyterian church included a full musical program. The 1895 event was held in Fort Scott, Kansas.
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Photography In and Out of Studio (including at-home photography!)
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Professional photographers couldn’t help but capitalize on the new fad of parties steeped in photographs. Advertisements such as the following illustrate the market and how late 19th-century photographers mobilized to meet the demand, both inside their studios and out. Hooray for at-home photography!
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An Old Bachelor’s Twist on Photograph Parties
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A New Occupation: Lady Amateur Photographers
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In the latter Victorian-era, amateur photography became hugely popular. And, no surprise, ladies loved it. Clubs formed exclusively for these women to gather, share their love of the art, swap stories, and improve their craft.
Notice the detailed description of the types of interior photography fashionable in the late 19th century (Boston).
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Don’t miss posts about Lady Lawyers, Lady Dentists, and Lady Doctors. So many women were FIRST in the 19th century. See FIRSTS in Female Education (19th century).
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Copyright © 2022 Kristin Holt LC
Victorian Photograph Parties