Cabinet Card of Tom Morris

Untitled (Tom Morris, Sprinter) B.F. Conaway Studios; Santa Ana, California Albumen Print Cabinet Card; 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 in. 5788

Photograph of Tom Morris, a world famous sprinter during the 1890's. During the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 Morris exceeded all previous sprinting records. He lived for many years in Santa Ana disappearing suddenly and remaining unheard from for about 25 years. Morris appeared unheralded at Elsinore, where he remained for about three years until he was killed by an automobile in 1940. It is generally believed that the years of absence were spent in incarceration.

This type of photograph mounted on board is referred to as a cabinet card. Cabinet cards gained popularity through the 1860's and were collected for their subject matter and enjoyed for their larger size then the also, then popular carte de visite. Owners would collect not only their family's portraits but also those of celebrities and politicians placing them in cabinets or on furniture so they were visible to occupants within rooms. Because this photo of Tom Morris is black and white it indicates that the photographic paper is a gelatin bromide which is a type of paper that became popular in the 1880's and 90's. The frame of the photograph is typical with gold decorative border and names the photographic studio and photographer, B.F. Conaway at 121 W. Fourth Street, Santa Ana, Ca. All images and text under copyright. Please contact Collection Department for permission to use. Information subject to change with further research.