Lewis Baker, St. Paul Daily Globe, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small card featuring Lewis Baker, of the St. Paul Daily Globe, was part of a series of "American Editors" produced by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs, a marketing tactic reflecting the late 19th-century’s intertwined relationship between commerce and culture. These cards offer insight into the power dynamics of the period, specifically the role of media figures like Baker in shaping public opinion. Baker's stern gaze speaks to the presumed authority and respectability of white, male editors in that era. While these cards celebrated certain figures, they simultaneously excluded others, reinforcing existing social hierarchies. The commercial nature of the card invites us to reflect on how we consume images and information, and how these systems of representation impact our perceptions of ourselves and others. What stories were prioritized and whose voices were amplified through these channels? What narratives were left untold?