Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack Cabinet Card Collection, circa 1871-1912

Title: Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack Cabinet Card Collection, circa 1871-1912

Dates: 1871-1912

Collection Number: GPC_b188

Creator/Collector: Lack, Elvera Keating, 1886-1989.

Extent: .5 linear foot

Repository: Los Angeles Public Library

Abstract: This collection contains cabinet cards collected by Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack (1886-1989) possibly via correspondence that took place mainly during her childhood through mid-twenties, though one card was dated before her birth in 1871. Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack was the daughter of Andrew J.W. Keating and Isabelle C. Keating, who once owned the land that would become Culver City. It appears the cabinet cards are a result of Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack’s involvement in correspondence with a wide range people mainly in the Southern California area. The cabinet cards are organized in four folders with the labels “signed” and “unsigned” referencing inscriptions on the back, often with the photographic studio names included, though a few cabinet cards are labelled as “No Studio Name.” Most of the items are portraits and some are hand-colored. Some of the items contain notes that were written on the back of the cards retrospectively.

Language of Material: English

This collection is stored on-site at the Central Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. It is open for research by appointment only.

[Identification of item]. Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack Cabinet Card Collection, circa 1871-1912. Collection Number: GPC_b188. Los Angeles Public Library

This cabinet card collection belonged to Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack (1886 - 1989) and was collected circa 1871-1912. It should be noted that one card was dated 1871 before her birth. Most of the cards seem to be acquired through what appeared to be her involvement in frequent correspondence to a range of people during her child-hood through mid-twenties. There also appears to be a portrait of her sister Isabel Keating included in the collection. Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack was born in England in August of 1886 and died in Brentwood California on July 1, 1989 at the age of 102. She was the youngest of eight siblings and the daughter of Southern California landowners Andrew J.W. Keating and Isabelle C. Keating, who at one point owned 64,000 acres of land between West Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Her father and two of her brothers died in a shipwreck in 1901 and subsequently much of the land owned by the family was sold between the years of 1911-1920, most notably the land that would become Culver City. Her family originally immigrated to America in 1896 and resided in the Ballona area of Los Angeles, California. Elvera was married twice, once at 19 to John A. Forthmann, the son of the founder of the Los Angeles, Silk Co., and later to George M. Lack, a Brawley real estate developer with whom she had two children: John Lack born 1916 and Patsy Lack born 1921. She also gained custody of her step-son J. Albert Forthmann II born in 1907.

The Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack cabinet card collection consists of 77 cabinet cards dated from 1871-1912. Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack appeared to have collected the cabinet cards based on her involvement in correspondence, though one card is dated before her birth. Some of the cards appear to be familial, specifically the portrait of her sister Isabel Keating and a potential cousin LaMoin (name illegibly written). The cards have been organized as “signed” and “unsigned” denoting if there is an inscription on the The Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack cabinet card collection consists of 77 cabinet cards dated from 1871-1912. Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack appeared to have collected the cabinet cards based on her involvement in correspondence, though one card is dated before her birth. Some of the cards appear to be familial, specifically the portrait of her sister Isabel Keating and a potential cousin LaMoin (name illegibly written). The cards have been organized as “signed” and “unsigned” denoting if there is an inscription on the The Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack cabinet card collection consists of 77 cabinet cards dated from 1871-1912. Elvera “Elvira” Keating Lack appeared to have collected the cabinet cards based on her involvement in correspondence, though one card is dated before her birth. Some of the cards appear to be familial, specifically the portrait of her sister Isabel Keating and a potential cousin LaMoin (name illegibly written). The cards have been organized as “signed” and “unsigned” denoting if there is an inscription on the back, and a few are also organized as having “No Studio Name”. The majority of the cabinet cards feature upper body portraits displaying several different styles of portrait taking photography. Other photographic portrait styles represented in the collection are full body portraits, mid-body portraits, profile portraits, and ¾ profile portraits. The majority of the photographs depicted on the cabinet cards were taken at studios in the Los Angeles/Southern California area, with a few cards representing studios in the San Bernardino and San Francisco area. Most of the cabinet cards are not in color, though some are hand painted. Though Elvera’s name uses that spelling in Census records, the photos are typically inscribed to “Elvira”. The most frequent message inscribed on the back of the card is “To Elvira, From:--, L.A”. The cards depict a range gender and ages, though many of the cards feature male and female appearing persons aged 20s-30s.