Miss Borris, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This tiny photograph of "Miss Borris" comes from a series of actresses produced in the late 19th century by the American tobacco company, Wm. S. Kimball & Co. These cards, distributed with cigarette packs, were a form of advertising, but also reveal the growing celebrity culture of the time. Actresses, like athletes, became collectible figures, their images circulating widely. Note the emphasis on Miss Borris's elegant profile and refined attire. Such details were carefully chosen to appeal to consumers and associate the brand with sophistication and glamour. But the image also prompts questions about the status of women in this period. The actress, a public figure, gains visibility, but within the confines of a male-dominated industry. To understand the full picture, one would need to delve into theatre history, advertising archives, and studies of gender roles in the Gilded Age. Only then can we fully grasp the complex social dynamics embedded in this seemingly simple image.