Butler County: The Boston Studio Collection

Butler County: The Boston Studio Collection
by Susan McLain [978.232 McL]

This book offers a vignette of Butler County's history through the camera lens of Harvey L. Boston. He operated the Boston Studio in David City, Nebraska from 1893 to 1928. During that time Boston photographed Butler County's prominent residents as well as the common folks who toiled on farms or as laborers. Author Susan R. McLain gives us snippets of the lives of the residents. McLain is a fashion historian. Much of the insight she offers is based on the clothing that was worn. At that time a family's prosperity was reflected by their clothing. For example, McLain points out that Anna Thompson's hat was featured in the latest fashion magazines. McLain does not limit her information to clothing details. She also tells us about their lives. In another photo we meet Madge Evans. After she graduated from David City High School Madge moved to Lincoln and worked in the Lincoln City Library before moving to Beatrice where she worked as the city librarian until her retirement in 1952. This book is an excellent resource for genealogists who are looking for ancestors who resided in Butler County in the early part of the 20th Century. McLain provides tidbits of information about some of the people. Descendents of Amelia Shirk may not be aware that she spent a night in a snowdrift during the blizzard of 1888. Most of the photos are portraits but some are location shots of David City and surrounding farms. These pictures illustrate life in Butler County that can be for historians and researchers. This book is a joy for people who like photos printed from glass negatives. [Part of the Images of America series.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ official Butler County, NE web site ] | [ Butler County Gallery web site ]

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