2nd Base, from the Girl Baseball Players series (N48, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1886 - 1888

Editor: This is "2nd Base, from the Girl Baseball Players series" a photography print from around 1886-1888, by Allen & Ginter. It’s a portrait of a woman baseball player that also serves as an advertisement for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. What symbols do you find particularly striking? Curator: The cigarette advertisement, of course, is a primary symbol of its time, speaking to consumer culture and gendered marketing. But I'm more drawn to the baseball itself. What does it mean to see women in this traditionally male-dominated space? Consider the cultural memory of athleticism, strength, and competition typically assigned to men. What happens when that symbolism is transferred? Editor: I guess it challenges those traditional associations. It's like the image reclaims the baseball, giving it new, empowering meanings for women. Curator: Exactly! The baseball uniform, usually seen as masculine armor, becomes a symbol of female empowerment. It speaks to changing social norms and women’s growing participation in public life. Does the positioning of the woman suggest something to you? Editor: She's posed mid-throw, in action, right? I guess she seems less passive, less decorative than the cigarette ad might imply, which is so cool! It’s about doing, competing, even taking up space! Curator: Precisely. This baseball card carries immense psychological weight, reminding us that our symbols can change and reflect evolving societal attitudes. These are important traces of cultural memory in visual form. Editor: Seeing it this way helps me grasp the layers of meaning embedded within what I initially just perceived as an old baseball card. Curator: And perhaps inspires us to be mindful of the symbols we create today, considering the legacy we will leave behind.