Miss Shea of Hartford, Connecticut
What it is:
Oval photo (3.5 x 5 inches) mounted on a cardboard frame/backing (5.25 x 7.25 inches).
What I know about it:
Photographer is The Taylor Studio of Hartford, Conn. Written on the back in pencil is Elizabeth A Shea. Below it is written what looks like 9. G Fox & Co., but this second part is scribbled out.
Comments:
Her sleeves resemble the sleeves that inspired some discussion in a previous post. I have two different copies of this photo. The other one is slightly smaller and is gray-toned rather than sepia-toned (with a gray cardboard backing to match, though without the studio info). Somehow, even though the photo is the same, the resolution or contrast or something is better in this one, so even though this copy is a little more scuffed, I’ll post it because she looks better in it (though, of course, she looks quite lovely regardless). The scribbled-out information on the back of this one reminds me to be careful about assuming anything about what is written on photos. I have photos with names that are clearly not the person pictured, or multiple names on a photo showing one person. I have photos with two different sets of handwriting contradicting each other. I even have a photo where the only information written on it is somebody’s grocery list. So I don’t know what was crossed out or why. But what the heck, for now I’ll go out on a limb and say this is Miss Shea.
Pics of Then 
She looks as if she’s wearing a cake! Such a high collar.
I’ll have to show you a picture I have of me with the performance artist Karen Finley, who really was wearing a cake!