Josephine Kolmer-Benitz Page last modified:

Album of Carte de Visite

Though this album has “John Edward Benitz” written on the title page, it was not originally his for the handwriting in the index of CDVs (carte de visite) is not his, and the CDVs date from 1863 to 1888 — he was born in 1861.  Several of the CDVs have hand-written notes on the back indicating they were intended for “Mrs Benitz” which suggests this album may have originally belonged to Josephine, his mother.  She may have given it to him or he kept it when she died.

Except in four cases (CDVs 17 through 20), the index does not match the current CDVs.  It is clear the CDVs were rearranged to make room in the first pages for John’s parents and siblings (Alfred is missing).  Also, there are more CDVs in the album than listed in its index, and the index does not list any of the Argentine or British CDVs.  Many of the CDVs in this album, in particular those from California, have duplicates in John’s brother Charles’s album.

The album was made available to us courtesy of John C. Benitz, in 2003.  Each album page, of stiff cardboard, has framed openings for two CDVs.  The CDVs are inserted behind the openings via slots at the top of the page.  If the CDVs were difficult to remove (by sliding them up, out the slot), we copied them in place.  If we could remove them, we did so, and if the backs of the CDVs were not blank (i.e. had writing or stamps), we copied those as well.  In two or three cases, we found a second CDV in a slot tucked in behind the first (visible) CDV.  We edited the pictures by correcting fading and removing the worst spots and stains, particularly from faces — resulting in clean faces & spotted clothes.

Missing image.

Cover

 Missing image.

Title Page
John Edward Benitz

 Missing image.

Index
  Missing image.

William (Wilhelm) Benitz
California, c.1868 (age: 53)

 Missing image.

Frank (Franz) X. Benitz
San Francisco
Feb.12, 1866? (age: 50)
(see cdv 19 & 20)

 Missing image.

BACK
Frank X. Benitz
Stamped: Feb.12, 186?
likely: 1866
(Photographer:
WM. Shew
San Francisco)
Missing image.

Josephine Kolmer-Benitz
California, 1873 (age: 43)

 Missing image.

Frank J. Benitz
California, 1873 (age: 23)

 Missing image.

Josephine Benitz
California, 1873 (age: 20½)

These CDVs of Josephine &
her children are very likely
those mentioned in Alfred’s
diary entry of May 15, 1873.
Though printed in May, 1873,
we assume they were taken
then or shortly before.

cdv 7 & 8

Missing image.

William (Willie) O. Benitz & Charles (Charlie) T. Benitz
California, 1873 (ages: 19 & 16¾)

  
 

cdv 9 & 10

Missing image.

John (Johnnie) E. Benitz & Herman V. Benitz
California, ca.1873 (ages: 11¾ & 10)

  
 

cdv 11 & 12

Missing image.

L: William (Wilhelm) Benitz
California, c.1868 (age: 53)
R: Child [Bertha Schreiber?]
[c.1880? (age: max.1 year)]

  
 

cdv 13 & 14

Missing image.

Mary & Galen Burdell (almost certainly)
(see them on Josephine’s page of Cabinet Cards)

  
Missing image.

BACK
B.&M. Schreiber
(Photographer:
Chute & Brooks
Bs.As., 1882)

cdv 15

Missing image.

Bertha & Matilda Schreiber
Buenos Aires, January, 1882
(ages: 2yr. 5½mo. & 6½mo.)

cdv 16

Missing image.

“For Mrs.Benitz 1874”
San Francisco, 1874

 Missing image.

BACK
“For Mrs.Benitz”
(Photographer:
Edouart & Cobb
San Francisco, 1874)
Missing image.

BACK
John J. Benitz
(Photographer:
B.L.H. Dabbs
Allegheny, PA
1861-1864)

cdv 17

Missing image.

John J. Benitz
Allegheny, Pennsylvania
(see cdv: 69 & 72)

cdv 18

Missing image.

Josephine Benitz
(per index, from:
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania)

 Missing image.

BACK
Josephine Benitz
(Photographer:
A. Bisbee
Cleveland, OH
ca.1863)
Missing image.

BACK
Elizabeth McNamara
Stamped: Feb. 9 1866
(Photographer:
WM. Shew
San Francisco)

cdv 19

Missing image.

Elizabeth McNamara
(neé Benitz)
San Francisco
February 9, 1866

cdv 20

Missing image.

Margaret A. McNamara &
Mary E. “Mayme” McNamara
San Francisco
February 9, 1866

 Missing image.

BACK
M.A. & M.E. McNamara
Stamped: Feb. 9 1866
(Photographer:
WM. Shew
San Francisco)
 

cdv 21 & 22

Missing image.

L: Frank X. Benitz
R: Unkown
Most likely taken in California

  
Missing image.

BACK
Girl
(Photographer:
Harbaugh & Green
Allegheny, PA
1863-1868)

cdv 23 & 24

Missing image.

L: Unkown
Most likely a Pennsylvania Benitz.
R: Mary Black Burdell
(Identified by D.L.)

  
Missing image.

BACK
James Black
Dated: Oct 21 1864
(Photographer:
Jacob Shew
San Francisco)

cdv 25 & 26

Missing image.

James Black & Maria Sais Black
San Francisco, Oct. 21, 1864
(Identified by D.L.)

  
 

cdv 27 & 28

Missing image.

Unkown children
Most likely children of friends in California

  
 

cdv 29 & 30

Missing image.

L: Unkown lady
Most likely a California friend
R: Annie Menges
California, 1874

  
Missing image.

BACK
Unknown Man
(Photographer:
Graham’s Art Studio
Leamington Spa, 1886)

cdv 31 & 32

Missing image.

Unkown couple
Most likely neighbours or friends from Argentina
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, 1886

 Missing image.

BACK
Unknown Lady
(Photographer:
Graham’s Art Studio
Leamington Spa, 1886)
 

cdv 33

Missing image.

Unknown
No date, no hints

  
Missing image.

BACK
Maria Sais Black
Shared slot with Man
(see matching stamp stains?)

cdv 34a

Missing image.

Maria Sais Black
California
(Identified by Matt Thompson, 2014)

cdv 34b

Missing image.

Unknown Man
Most likely a friend from California

 Missing image.

BACK
Unknown Man
Shared slot with Maria Sais Black
(see matching stamp stains?)
 

cdv 35 & 36

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  
 

cdv 37 & 38

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  
 

cdv 39 & 40

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  
 

cdv 41 & 42

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  
Missing image.

BACK
Unknown Lady
(Photographer:
Jacob Shew
315 Montgomery
San Francisco
1864-1867)

cdv 43

Missing image.

Unknown
Most likely a friend from California

cdv 44

Missing image.

“Arthur Wellington Carver
Aged 26   1885
Born 20/1/59
Mrs W Benitz
With Mrs Carvers love”
Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England
Married Katherine J. Tregarthen,
her family had an estancia
north-west of “La California”.

 Missing image.

BACK
A.W. Carver
(Photographer:
Geo. Hadley
Lincoln, 1885)
 

cdv 45 & 46

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  
 

cdv 47 & 48

Missing image.

Unknown families
No dates, no hints

  
Missing image.

BACK
Mr. Berg
(Photographer:
C. L. Cramer
San Francisco
1869-1905)

cdv 49

Missing image.

“Mr. Berg of
Lutz & Berg
Oakland, California”
(at 1058 Broadway)
ca.1874

cdv 50

Missing image.

“To his esteemed
friend W. Benitz Esq
of Fort Ross
Sonoma Co. Cal
James Behrens of Lubeck
act.suae 50
Sanfco July 27 / 74”
(A respected entomologist,
born & trained in Lübeck,
Germany; 1824 - 1898)

 Missing image.

BACK
James Behrens
(Photographer:
Edouart & Cobb
San Francisco
July 27, 1874)
 

cdv 51 & 52

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  

(Photographer:
C.L. Cramer’s California Gallery
San Francisco, 1870’s)

cdv 53 & 54

Missing image.

Unknown couple

(Photographer:
C.L. Cramer’s California Gallery
San Francisco, 1870’s)
 

cdv 55 & 56

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  

(Photographer:
Bradley & Rulofson
San Francisco
1850-1878)

cdv 57 & 58

Missing image.

L: Unknown from California
R: Quirina Villegas (very likely)
(Louis Benitz’s widow; age 40-45, ca.1873; also cdv-70)

  
 

cdv 59 & 60

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  
 

cdv 61 & 62

Missing image.

Unknown couple
No dates, no hints

  
 

cdv 63 & 64

Missing image.

Unknown couple
No dates, no hints

  

cdv 65 & 66a

Missing image.

L: Unknown family
R: Unknown mother & child
No dates, no hints

cdv 66b

Missing image.

Unknown
In slot behind cdv-66a,
Is she the child?
(Photographer:
Witcomb Fot.
Rosario then Bs.As.
1878-1970)
Missing image.

BACK
John Dürgen
(Photographer:
Bayley & Cramer
San Francisco
1865-1868)

cdv 67

Missing image.

John Dürgen
Married Quirina Villegas,
Louis Benitz’s widow.
(see cdv 58 & 70)

cdv 68

Missing image.

Unknown from Santa Fé

 Missing image.

BACK
Unknown
(Photographer:
Félix Corte
Rosario
1880-1911)

(Rendered on metal)

cdv 69

Missing image.

John J. Benitz
Lieutenant, Union Army, ca.1864
(See cdv-17)

cdv 72

Missing image.

“Yours Trully
    J. J. Benitz”
(See cdv-17)

(Photographer:
Hare & Lingo
Uniontown, PA
1866 to ca.1870)
 

cdv 70 & 71

Missing image.

L: Quirina Villegas (very likely)
(Louis Benitz’s widow; age 60±, ca.1890; also cdv-58)
R: Unknown
No dates, no hints

  
 

cdv 73 & 74

Missing image.

Unknowns
No dates, no hints

  

cdv 75

Missing image.

Engelberg’s German Bakery
416 Kearney
San Francisco

cdv 76a

Missing image.

Unknown
No dates, no hints

cdv 76b

Missing image.

Unknown
No dates, no hints
(Inserted behind cdv-76a)

© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)