Photographer Kate Seston Matthews (1870-1956) was born in New Albany, Indiana, but she lived most of her life in rural Pewee Valley, Kentucky, a small community near Louisville. Matthews used this community and her friends and family as her subjects, but she is most well known today for her photographs depicting characters in the children’s book series, The Little Colonel. These stories were written by her neighbor, Annie Fellows Johnston. Matthews also loved to pose living pictures or tableaux vivants, whereby she captured on film a “water colored” view of her community and life in rural Kentucky. A patron has donated some of these original model prints depicting characters from the series to the Kentucky Library’s Photographic Archives. These materials are available for research Monday through Saturday (9-4) and may also be viewed at our online catalog, KenCAT.
Kate Matthews and “The Little Colonel”
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Obviously an accomplished kady. What makes me laugh in these photographs is how serious the ladies always look. I would not argue with any of them.
I agree with Brad here.. It’s really interesting and weird to see how serious the ladies looks in these old photos. It’s really hard to find any smile on their faces..
Btw, I can’t find your online catalog. Can you post a link please?
Hi thanks for the information its much appreciated and the quote goes view of her community and life in rural Kentucky. A patron has donated some of these original model prints depicting characters from the series to the Kentucky Library’s Photographic Archives. These materials are available for restore disks
read the numbers only the blind and deaf cant see that the economy isnt broken .. yes its the bad times and yes we are in a depression but hey.. keep spending.. the econnoby is about to crash and when i say crash… you cant spend your self out of debt.. september 2010 the econnmy will drop offf a cliff!
Despite numerous technological advancements in photography over the next several decades, Matthews used that big bellows-style camera with glass plate negatives, black hood, and tripod for the rest of her life.
Very interesting arcticle. Thank’s for posting.
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