C. M. Bell Studio Collection: Newly Digitized Portraits

“…the great success of Mr. Bell is due to his suavity of manner coupled with high artistic ability, and to the gentlemanly deportment observed by his corps of assistants. The rule is, politeness to everybody.” –Photographic Times and American Photographer, Sept. 1, 1883.

From the 1870s until the 1910s, tens of thousands of people in Washington, D.C. came to the C. M. Bell Studio for a photographic portrait. Residents and visitors alike sat for the camera, including political figures, businessmen, educators, entertainers, church leaders, athletes, foreign visitors and more. Bell also photographed Indian visitors to the capital, sometimes at the behest of government entities such as the Department of the Interior and Bureau of American Ethnology. Otherwise, customers for the studio were mostly white or African American, and included families posed together in their Sunday best, children and family pets, young ladies in their finest gowns, men with impressive mustaches, and babies possibly facing their first cameraman. Some wear the clothing of their chosen profession: military, police, clergy, baseball player. Others are capturing milestone moments such as graduations and weddings.

Through the lens of the C.M. Bell Studio, we can get to know the people in Washington, D.C. face-to-face. In browsing the recently digitized collection of over 25,000 glass plate negatives, I was caught by bemused expressions and elaborate outfits, by dignified poses and candid children’s smiles. Meet some of the faces of late 19th and early 20th century Washington, D.C. in a selection of photos from the C.M. Bell Studio below. At the bottom of this post, learn more about the C.M. Bell Studio and embark on your own exploration of the portraits.

Johnson, Rev. J.A. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.12424 — *Johnson, Rev. J.A.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.12424

Ross, J.C. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between 1873 and ca. 1916]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.25815 — *Ross, J.C.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between 1873 and ca. 1916]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.25815

Brown, M. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11154 — *Brown, M.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11154

Lewis, Mrs. E.B. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.13407 — *Lewis, Mrs. E.B.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.13407

Flagg, Mrs. C.A. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11893 — *Flagg, Mrs. C.A.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11893

[Reese], Mrs. M.F. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.17097 — [Reese], *Mrs. M.F.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.17097

White, J.R. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.10767 — *White, J.R.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.10767

Simpson, A.L. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.17423 — *Simpson, A.L.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.17423

Fernald, L. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.14339 — *Fernald, L.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.14339

Sprinkle, J.F. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.17120 — *Sprinkle, J.F.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.17120

Herbert, B.F. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.18374 — *Herbert, B.F.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between December 1903 and March 1905]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.18374

Walter, Mrs. C. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.14454 — *Walter, Mrs. C.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.14454

Hanger, J.E. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.14164 — *Hanger, J.E.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1901 and December 1903]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.14164

Two Moons & Am. Horse. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between 1873 and 1890]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.01272 — *Two Moons & Am. Horse.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between 1873 and 1890]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.01272

Little dog and wife and child. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.04937 — *Little dog and wife and child.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between Jan. 1891 and Jan. 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.04937

Heffner, Mrs. T.M. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.07065 — *Heffner, Mrs. T.M.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.07065

Barber, Bertha. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.08596 — *Barber, Bertha.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.08596

Minetree, Miss Mattie. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.03404 — *Minetree, Miss Mattie.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.03404

Wright, Mrs. T.F. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.10760 — *Wright, Mrs. T.F.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.10760

E.B. Williams. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.02461 — *E.B. Williams.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.02461

Marmion dog. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.05658 — *Marmion dog.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.05658

Dick, Mrs. I.V. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11898 — *Dick, Mrs. I.V.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11898

Geo. B. Miles. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.02297 — *Geo. B. Miles.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.02297

Bliss children. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.02412 — *Bliss children.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between January 1891 and January 1894]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.02412

Holly, Rev. J.S. Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11660 — *Holly, Rev. J.S.* Photo by C.M. Bell, [between February 1894 and February 1901]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.11660

C.M. Bell. Photo by C.M.Bell (Firm), [between 1873 and 1893]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.23682 — *C.M. Bell.* Photo by C.M.Bell (Firm), [between 1873 and 1893]. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.23682

Learn More:

Enjoy your own exploration of the photos of the C. M. Bell Studio Collection in the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog. The original caption information from the studio was very minimal, with usually just the name of the person who ordered the photographs listed. This means children are often under a parent’s name, for example, and initials are often used in place of full names. Browsing the collection or searching by last name are the most effective ways to explore the portraits.
Read a collection overview of the C.M. Bell Studio Collection to learn more about the history and scope of the collection, as well as information about Mr. Bell himself, pictured at right.

Comments (5)

Sarah Resta says:

April 27, 2017 at 9:36 pm

This is incredible. Thank you for sharing

Janelle Gilson says:

May 1, 2017 at 6:55 pm

Such great photographs! I would love to somehow incorporate them into NHD! Any suggestions?! I love that whether black or white or Indian, they all looked so real, like they could be your neighbor…

Carl Fleischhauer says:

May 3, 2017 at 8:08 am

Wonderful and varied studio portraits. We owe the company many thanks not only for the pictures but also for attaching the sitters’ names to the negatives! I followed the link to the collection overview–also VERY interesting–and learned that C.M. stands for Charles Milton, and about the Bureau of American Ethnology activities. (BTW: The Library’s American Folklife Center holds many BAE cylinder-format sound recordings of American Indian music.) The remaining mystery? Bell’s successor was I.M. Boyce but it looks like no one has run down what the I. and M. stand for! Always more to do . . . .

Holly Hicks says:

January 1, 2019 at 12:44 am

Charles Milton Bell is my great-great grandfather, my grandmother’s grandfather. His son, Theodore C. Bell, my great-grandfather, worked at C.M.’s
studios before marrying and moving to Philadelphia, PA., starting his own studio.
C.M. had two other sons, Charles & Colley who were young at the time of his death. Annie Colley Bell, my great-great grandmother continued running the studio, till the turn of the century.
I had never seen a photo of my great-great grandfather, tho I have his wife’s,
Annie, and many of my great-grandfather, great-grandmother & grandmother,
great-aunts & uncles taken at the studios. Thank you for all your work!

Pat Seg says:

July 12, 2019 at 6:46 pm

The Bell photos are absolutely extraordinary. Many of them look almost contemporary. I can imagine that it must have been a thrill in DC to have one’s photo taken by C.M. Bell. He seemed to bring out the beauty in everyone.

These images would be considered exceptional if they were taken today. The quality is amazing.

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