William Shenkel, Pitcher, Milwaukee, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have an albumen print from 1888, a baseball card of William Shenkel, a pitcher for the Milwaukee team, from the "Old Judge" series. It feels almost haunting in its simplicity, capturing a moment frozen in time. What draws your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: Beyond the simple portrait of an athlete, I see layers of cultural memory embedded within this small image. The albumen print, a popular photographic process of the time, already signifies a particular era, a specific way of seeing the world. What’s captured becomes iconic through reproduction. This particular image was used as a trade card to sell tobacco products, so we need to think about its mass appeal. Does Shenkel seem posed or heroic to you? Editor: Definitely posed, there’s a stillness to him. More of a portrait than a snapshot. Curator: Exactly. The photographer seeks to capture the essence of the “player,” someone who represented something important to a public beyond this controlled image. Then think of the cigarette brand— "Old Judge". This instantly evokes notions of wisdom, authority, a past era… layered over a young athlete promising future excitement. All within a card small enough to carry in a pocket. Editor: It’s amazing how much meaning can be packed into such a small format. I hadn't considered how intertwined the imagery is with commerce and cultural values. Curator: The baseball, held almost reverently, also functions as a symbolic object. Think of it as a stand-in for American ideals: opportunity, teamwork, healthy living... all carefully packaged. Editor: This makes me rethink how something as simple as a baseball card can be so rich in cultural and symbolic information. Curator: It is through these lenses, constantly examining symbols, that we begin to understand how meaning persists, and how our collective memories are constructed through these images.