Visions of America: The Stephen White Collection

Framed display memorializing Zerelda James (1825-1911) including two cabinet card portraits, one with backmark for T. C. Martland, Fulton, MO, the other for McAdam Bros., Mt. Pleasant, IA, along with clipped cardstock pieces ink inscribed with information about Zerelda including her birth and death dates; all housed in a double-sided black and gilt painted frame.

2 silver gelatin prints featuring an elderly Zerelda James wearing a photographic brooch in each portrait. One with multiple ownership stamps on verso with warnings against unauthorized usage. -- Cabinet card portrait of Mary James Barr (1879-1935), daughter of Jesse James. Kansas City, MO: Johnson, n.d. Photographer's blindstamp on mount recto. -- Cabinet card portrait of Robert James (d. 1959), only son of Frank James. Uncredited, n.d. -- 2 tintypes of Robert James as a child, one with ink inscription, "Robert" on paper sleeve. -- Clipped signature of Robert James. -- Silver gelatin portrait of John T. Samuel (1861-1934), half brother of Frank and Jessie James. Uncredited, n.d. Samuel stands in front of a tree, holding a bowler hat in his arm. Image mounted on two layers of brown paper. With an additional CDV portrait, possibly featuring Samuel as an elderly man. Morgantown, WV: Ed. C. Protzman, n.d. Photographer's pictorial imprint on verso. -- 2 cabinet card portraits featuring Susan James (1849-1889), the sister of Jesse James, including one of her as a younger woman posed with a much older, bearded man, identified on accompanying inventory as Reuben Samuel (1828-1908), the stepfather of Frank and Jesse James. Kearney, MO: Strong, n.d. Photographer's imprint on mount recto. The other, a portrait of her family including her husband, Allen Parmer (who was also a Quantrill Raider) and 2 daughters. Wichita Falls, TX: W. A. Lloyd, n.d. Photographer's imprint on mount recto. -- 2 portraits featuring Sarah "Sallie" Samuel (b. 1858), the half sister of Frank and Jessie, including a tintype portrait of her wearing a plaid dress. Uncredited, n.d. The other, a cabinet card of her family including her husband and 3 children. Kearney, MO: Strong, n.d. Photographer's imprint on mount recto. -- A pair of CDV portraits of Mrs. L. M. James and Drury Woodson James, Frank and Jesse's aunt and uncle. San Francisco, CA: Chalmers & Wolfe, n.d. Each with photographer's backmark and ink identification on image, including inscription likely written by (Alexander) Frank James: "Mrs. L. M. James, My dearest Aunt. A. J." -- A pair of CDV portraits of Lennie T. Howard and Jinnie E. Car, both female friends, possibly romantic interests, of Frank James. San Francisco, CA: Bradley & Ruolfson, ca 1868. Each with photographer's backmark and identification on recto and/or verso. -- Silver gelatin print featuring Jesse James (1847-1882) in death. With original Lozo copyright reproduced at bottom of image. Verso with ink ownership stamps from the "Famous Rose Collection of Old Time Photographs." -- Silver gelatin reproduction enlargement of Jesse James with ink inscriptions on verso including "Copyright 1968 by R. L. Mach, Lincoln, Neb," and "This photograph of Jesse James, given to Jim Earle on 4/14/86 by Rich Mach." -- And a few news clippings featuring stories about the James brothers and their brother-in-law, Allen Parmer. -- Together, 20+ items related to Frank and Jesse James and their family.

[With:] 2pp letter to Frank James written in an unknown hand on behalf of Zerelda James (dictated). Carnie, MO, 13 April 1910. In part: "My Dear Son - Your dear and very welcome letter received...My feet are much better as they don't swell quite so bad. I can hardly wait until this fall I want to see you so bad. I am also very much pleased to hear of your good luck in your farm products...Mr. James you will have to excuse this short letter as I am having a visitor write for me and I am anxious to reply to your letter. Your Loving Mother."

Accompanied by original auction catalogues and typewritten appraisal in which some of the items appear.

Provenance: Bonham's, The Early West: The Collection of Jim and Theresa Earle, 27 August 2021, Lot 134; Majority of items purchased from Gary Hendershott, 1990s (auction notes, appraisal document).