Clara Ellison, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is a photograph of Clara Ellison, an actress, made by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards were produced at a time when the advertising industry was booming in America. Tobacco companies were eager to promote their products and used images of popular actresses to appeal to a wide consumer base. The cards were included in cigarette packs as a collectible item, so they had to be small and attractive to encourage repeat purchases. Ellison's inclusion in this series speaks to the cultural status of actresses at the time, and their power as figures of aspiration. As historians, we can use a range of sources to understand the context of this image. These include theatre programmes, census records, and advertising ephemera. By looking at these sources, we can learn more about the social and cultural forces that shaped the production and reception of this image, and the role of art within a developing consumer culture.