Life of Russell Alexander Alger, from the Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People series of booklets (N79) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph was produced around 1890 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series of collectible cards inserted in Duke brand cigarettes. It depicts the life of Russell Alexander Alger, a figure who embodies the "rags to riches" ideal, so deeply embedded in the American psyche. These cards, which were part of a larger marketing strategy, were designed to appeal to consumers through narratives of ambition and success. But what’s more is that this image is an interesting intersection of commerce, celebrity, and cultural values. Alger's story, framed within the context of a consumer product, speaks volumes about the intertwining of personal identity, aspiration, and the burgeoning capitalist ethos of the late 19th century. The image normalizes a narrative of individual success but simultaneously obscures the structural inequalities that made such ascensions rare. It prompts us to think about whose stories get told and how they are used to sell not just products, but also ideologies. What version of the American dream are we consuming?