H.M. Schloss, Champion Sprinter, from the Champions of Games and Sports series (N184, Type 2) issued by W.S. Kimball & Co. 1887

W.S. Kimball & Co. created this lithograph trade card, "H.M. Schloss, Champion Sprinter," as part of a series celebrating athletes and sports. These cards were a cultural phenomenon, distributed with products like cigarettes. They offer us a glimpse into the late 19th century's ideal of masculinity and athleticism. Schloss is immortalized here, adorned with medals, his image reflecting an era of burgeoning sports celebrity. But what narratives are left out? Whose stories are not being told through these idealized images of athletic prowess? Consider the laborers, many of whom were women and children, who were responsible for the mass production of these cards. These images are artifacts that reflect the cultural values and hierarchies of their time. They remind us to look beyond the surface and critically engage with the stories they tell, and, just as importantly, the stories they omit.