Miss Morris, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This small photograph of Miss Morris comes from a series of actresses, printed by the American cigarette firm, William S. Kimball & Company. Made to be collected and traded, these cards offer a glimpse into the culture of celebrity and consumerism in the late 19th century. They were a kind of early advertising, capitalizing on the popularity of stage actresses to sell cigarettes. The actress is posed in what was seen as a suggestive and revealing outfit, contrasting with the more constrained, modest fashions of the time. It’s interesting to consider how this imagery challenged or reinforced the social norms around women’s roles and representation. What did it mean to put the image of a stage actress, a public figure, on a product meant for mass consumption? To answer that, we can look at social histories, fashion studies, and the archives of advertising companies to understand its original cultural context.