Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: 1898

"J. E. Taylor, 16 S. 2nd St., Dillsburg, Pa." Handwritten notes on the back of this photo: "4 month old" (earlier note, in pencil). "The Baker Triplets, 'I think'" (later note, in pen). As far as I have been able to determine, this cabinet card photo shows Rebecca, Sarah, and Adalene Baker, who were born on February 5, 1898, and lived in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. A brief article that appeared in the Reading Eagle on February 10, 1933, p. 19, identified the sisters only by their married names (I added their first names in brackets): Berks Woman One of Triplet Sisters York, Feb. 10 (Special).--Mrs. Walter Cassel [Rebecca], of Fleetwood, Berks County, is one of three triplet sisters, who observed their 35th birthday anniversary at the home of their mother, Mrs. Emma Baker, this county. The others of the triplets are Mrs. Clarence Spahr [Sarah], of this city, and Mrs. Ira Kimmel [Adalene], of Dillsburg. The three sisters were feted at a dinner and family gathering on the occasion of their birthday anniversaries.

"Fairbank's Fairy Soap. Unequaled for toilet, bath, and fine laundry use. The Strobridge Lith. Co., Cin., O. Copyright 1898, the N. K. Fairbank Company, Chicago." According to Wikipedia's N. K. Fairbank article, "Nathaniel Kellogg 'N. K.' Fairbank (1829-1903) was a Chicago industrialist whose company, the N. K. Fairbank Co., manufactured soap as well as animal and baking products.... [The company's] Gold Dust Washing Powder ... was one of the most successful cleansing product lines in twentieth century North America. Another original Fairbank creation, Fairy Soap, was purchased by Procter & Gamble and remains one of the best-known European household brands." The ships on the trade card probably depict battleships used during the Spanish-American War, which began in 1898.

"Camp Geo. G. Meade, Middletown, Pa. ________ 1898. Horse Shoe Plug Tobacco is the best." Top portion of a letterhead or billhead sheet--with a flag illustration and an advertisement for Horse Shoe plug tobacco--that was evidently printed for use at Camp Meade in Middletown, Pa., during the military camp's existence between August 24 and November 17, 1898. The 45-star version of the United States flag as seen here was in use from 1896 to 1908 (see the Historical Progression of Designs section in Wikipedia's Flag of the United States entry). As Wikipedia explains, " Camp George G. Meade near Middletown, Pennsylvania was a camp established and subsequently abandoned by the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish American War. . . . Camp Meade was established August 24, 1898, and soon thereafter was occupied by the Second Army Corps of about 22,000 men, under command of Maj. Gen. William M. Graham, which had been moved from Camp Alger in an attempt to outrun the typhoid fever epidemic. Camp Meade was visited by President William McKinley on August 27, 1898. . . . Camp Meade was abandoned about November 17, 1898."