Unidentified Woman at The Regent, undated

Source: Selena Sloan Butler Papers
Creator: J.E. Purdy & Co., Boston
Title: Unidentified Woman at The Regent, undated
Date: c. 1890s
Description: Studio portrait of an unidentified woman seated beside a decorative chair, photographed at The Regent studio operated by J.E. Purdy & Co.. The woman wears an elaborately patterned dress with a fitted bodice, lace collar, and ornamental hat typical of late nineteenth-century fashion. Her formal pose, jewelry, and carefully styled attire reflect the conventions of studio portraiture during the 1890s, when photographic portraits served as important personal and family keepsakes.

The cabinet card photograph comes from the Selena Sloan Butler papers. While the woman’s identity has not been confirmed, she may be a relative of Selena Sloan Butler, though this attribution remains unverified.
Type: Still image.
Subject: African American women
Studio portrait photography
Late nineteenth-century fashion
Family photographs
African American social history
Format: 5.5 × 7.5 inch cabinet card photographic print.
Rights: This image is made available for research and educational use. Reproduction or publication requires permission from the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History.
Rights Holder: Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, Fulton County Library System