Photograph: Portrait of "Smithy"

From Barnum Museum

1876 – 1878 (Date manufactured/created)

4" H X 2 1/2" W

Carte de visite photographic portrait of a young man, probably in his early twenties, identified just as "Smithy."  On the back, a penciled notation reads "Cooper & Bailey." The clean-shaven, dark-haired young man is wearing a dark color jacket with lapels that have a bound edge, a white shirt with the collar turned up, and a dark tie.  His side-parted hair is smoothed on the crown but is of a length that shows curliness at the ends.  His large, dark eyes are a notable feature, and his lips and cheeks are fairly full.  The portrait is within an oval.  An ink inscription on the lower front reads "Yours Truly Smithy." The studio name, Metcalfe & Glaister, is imprinted near the bottom edge and indicates the photograph was taken in Brisbane, Australia, a city on the west coast north of Sydney.  The back side features a very decorative imprint of the portrait studio, and includes the studio location, on Queen Street.  Daniel Metcalfe and his half-brother Thomas Glaister, Jr., were partners from 1875 until Glaister's untimely death in August 1877; Metcalfe continued the business under the partnership name for another year.  Metcalfe came to the U.S. in 1871 and worked in a few photography studios to gain experience.  He returned to Australia in 1875.  He worked in both Sydney and Brisbane and over the years was a partner in a succession of photography firms.

The carte de visite is part of a large group of photographs in the Fritz Smith and Kitty Sharpe Smith collection that were exchanged with other circus and vaudeville performers.  The Smiths worked for Cooper & Bailey in San Francisco, and went with the company to Australia and New Zealand in the late 1870s.  The notations on this photograph indicate the young man was also part of the circus troupe.  

Gift of Susan Crozier Fairchild

Accession/ID Number MS-0027-603-008