J. Randolph “Ralph” Mordecai, Jr. in Joan of Arc and Mustapha; Harry B. Price and Randolph “Ralph” Mordecai, Jr. in Mustapha, 1894

The Paint and Powder Club photographs consists of two boxes of containing 184 black and white photographs (some hand-tinted color), and 200 negatives. Subjects include late 19th century and early 20th century cabinet photograph portraits (some hand-tinted in color) of original amateur musical and dramatic theater productions performed to raise money for Baltimore charitable and philanthropic causes. Also included are 20th century 8x10 photograph glossies of musical and dance productions and club special events.

This collection spans three eras: 1. Early cabinet photos of late 19th century and early 20th century photos of male actors posed in women’s, exotic, or gentlemen’s costumes for shows spanning 1894 to about 1907. 2. 8x10 glossies from the club’s 47th anniversary (about 1941) showcasing portraits, costumes, a costume sketch, and group shots of the first era, plus a few of shows possibly from the 1920s and 1930s. 3. 8x10 glossy candid photographs of club shows and special events spanning 1953 through the 1970s. Overall, this photograph collection shows a campy, dramatic and humorous pictorial of a vibrant Baltimore men’s club dedicated to original musicals and dramas that entertained and raised money for local charities spanning 1894 through the 1970s.

Also included are original cabinet photographs from the first shows of 1894 and 1895 with some as yet unverified shows likely dating to 1907; two photos from a 1922 production of Runaway Girl; 8x10” glossy copies for the club’s 47th anniversary of the first and early show photographs; and other 8x10” glossy photographs (plus a folder of duplicates) of later shows and gatherings, sporadically from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Many of the first shows, years and actors were identified and, thus, verified from another collection (MS1735) containing early playbills of the Paint and Powder Club.

Names of actors and shows include:

PP195.1-2:

Todd Slone in Runaway Girl, 1922, photograph by Bachrach

PP195 3-37:

photographs by Perkins or Russell:

Harry S.M. Lehr, A. Baldwin Slone [Sloane], Ed Hough, J. Randolph “Ralph” Mordecai, Jr., Harry Price inMustapha, 1894

Harry S.M. Lehr, Roland C. West, John Morris, Harry Price, J. Randolph “Ralph” Mordecai, Jr., W.A. Merritt, Reese Cassard in Joan of Arc, 1895

David W. Jenkins in both Midas, 1895, and in Bluff King Hal, 1896;

also a photo of a costumed man labeled as: “Anne Boleyn” “96”;

and Thomas Robb, Ed Nelson, and Willie Goldsborough [1907?]

PP195.38-56:

Frank J. Taylor in Mustapha; Geo. W. Knapp in The Brigand Trust;

and Robert Hayden, John A. Tompkins, A. Roberts McLean, and Geo. G. Brooks

PP195.57-81:

Bobby (Mrs. William [?]) Dugdale, 1954; Lady Be Good, 1953;

party at Church Home/Kick-off Party; Administration Party/Bernie Lee’s Pub, Towson; at Chesapeake Cadillac/addressing and mailing session

PP195.82-115:

Christmas party and fall outing/Gibson 1st Club and Valley Country Club, 1960+

PP195.116-183:

[At the Alcazar?, 1977?]; “Circus Maximes,” and folder of duplicate photos