"Mrs. P. Mangold, Anna, Illinois."
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This elegant visage is thought to be a portrait of Piety Elizabeth Cox, wife of B. F. Mangold, brother to the photographer. Writing survives on the back: "Mrs. P. Mangold, Anna, Illinois." This photograph was probably made at the same time as the carte de visite portrait of her daughter Margaret.
Piety's costume isn't really as elaborate as it first appears. The
headpiece she is wearing gives the appearance of a crown, but it
is most likely one of the many dinner caps shown in Godey's &
other ladies magazines of the time. She obviously has enough
money to be able to afford the extravagance of a dinner or
carriage dress as this one
appears to be. The length is too long for practical walking
outdoors; just to and from the carriage, at formal dinners or to
receive callers at home, and the like.
Her husband, B. F. Mangold was a wealthy builder in Anna. Piety's grandniece Ethel Barnum always maintained that the Mangolds were wealthy. The census records for 1870 bear this out, showing B. F. Mangold built several homes and produced a large amount of sawn lumber.
Carte de visite on albumen paper, dating from 1 Sep 1864 by Civil War luxury tax stamp, hand cancelled by "JGM", Imprint: Mangold's Photographic Gallery, South-East cor. Main & Division. Sts., DuQuoin, Illinois. [AJB:14]
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