This fascinating image shows three couples photographed in the studio playing with children’s toys. The gentleman at far left holds the reins while in the saddle of a rocking horse; two women and a man examine a toy sailboat in background while a seated man and woman in foreground examine a toy wagon. The man at foreground may very well be the artist himself: on close inspection, a cable believed to be a camera shutter release is seen draped over his right leg and suit and continuing to floor between his feet. The grouping is further set off against a high-key background using a darkroom vignetting technique. The work may originate ca. 1915-16, when a series of candid portraits by Cairns of children with toys appeared in the April, 1916 issue of Women’s Home Companion magazine.

William Cairns was a prominent and long-time commercial photographer based in Newark, N.J. Although many biographical details are lacking as of this writing, he was well regarded professionally, being a speaker at annual photographic conventions in the first decades of the 20th Century. Interestingly, Cairns was also the long-time treasurer for his state chapter of the New Jersey Anti-Saloon League.

William J. Cairns: 1867-

From the 1930 US Census we find the artist was born in Northern Ireland around 1867 and immigrated to the US in 1872. His wife was Annie Cairns, b. 1868 and their children were: Glenaive Cairns: 1903-, David Cairns: 1905-1974, and Charlotte Catherine Cairns: 1917-1996.

Brief Timeline 

1898: Picture credited to Cairns, of Newark, N.J. published in The Illustrated American on August 12.

1901: Photographic studio for William Cairns at 89 Halsey St. in Newark, N.J. listed in Holbrook ’s Newark City Directory for year ending in May. (listed as William F. Cairns-sic) The Newark Business & Industry website shows the photographer at this location from 1901-14 & also from 1922-26. Before 1901, a blind-stamped, oversized cabinet card studio address seen below gives an address of 707 Broad Street in Newark.

1907: Cairns, of Newark, N.J., listed as member of the Professional Photographers’ Society of New York in Wilson’s Photographic Magazine for March.

1913: Cairns listed in the April issue of Photo-Era as having a complimentary exhibition of his work along with other noted artists during the Ninth Annual Convention of the Professional Photographers’ Society of New York held in February in New York City. (p. 199)

— Using his 89 Halsey St. business address, Cairns listed as Treasurer for the New Jersey Anti-Saloon League. (source: The Anti-Saloon League Year Book, 1913: p. 272) He was still listed as Treasurer in 1926 and living in South Orange, N.J. He was a member in 1929. The Saloon League’s 1922 Yearbook also showed Cairns was a member of the National Board of Directors for the organization. A prominent relative of the photographer was the Rev. Thompson Alexander Cairns, b. 1871, a member of the Christian Socialist Fellowship advocating for the cause of women’s suffrage and a staunch proponent of prohibition.

1914: In the May 2 issue of Abel’s Photographic Weekly, Cairns work mentioned as part of the third convention of the New Jersey (Photographic) Association held on April 23:  “It was a one-day meeting, but as much was accomplished in that one day as in the ordinary three day affair. President Wonfor relied on the Traveling Loan Collection and a German collection for his exhibits so had not invited the members to bring pictures, but Mr. Cairns brought some of his remarkably clever work and this was also shown.”  (p. 463)

1915: At the Indianapolis Convention, reported in the magazine Portrait for August: …”and the exhibits on CYKO by such artists as Steffens and Hutchinson of Chicago, Mercerau of Brooklyn, Cairns of Newark, N.J. and Alice Boughton of New York.” (p. 2)

1916: See Above illustration: full page of children’s studio photographs by William Cairns: “Caught—by the camera man just when we were busiest” in April issue of Women’s Home Companion magazine Picture Section. Like the adults playing with toys, they also feature in these child studio portraits and groupings. Credit: University of Michigan via Google Books.

1920: In the January issue of The Photographic Journal of America, Cairns singled out as part of The Professional Photographic Society of New York’s convention held in New York City in February. Prominent speakers included Clarence White, Lillie Selby of the Selby Sisters, Pirie MacDonald and Lejaren Hiller, among others: “Wm. Cairns, the prominent photographer of Newark, N.J., has consented to give a demonstration. He is a man of unusual talents and will have something worth while to say.” (p. 30)

1930: US Census: Proprietor: Photographer. Living at 9 Madison Ave., Maplewood township, Essex County, N.J.