Evelyn Temple, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This photograph of Evelyn Temple comes from a series of promotional cards made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the United States in the late nineteenth century. The cards, inserted into packs of Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, offer an interesting glimpse into the social and cultural values of the time, particularly regarding gender and celebrity. Evelyn Temple, an actress, is depicted in a formal gown, complete with flowers and a large hat, leaning against a decorative chair. The choice of actresses as subjects for these cards speaks to the growing popularity and visibility of women in the performing arts. The image presents an ideal of feminine beauty and grace that was commonly promoted in popular culture. To understand this image fully, we might delve into theater history, advertising, and the emergent culture of celebrity. Resources like trade publications, census records, and theater ephemera could help us better grasp the social and institutional contexts that shaped this fascinating artifact.