Cowles, (1864-1916) operated a commercial photographic studio in Seneca Falls, New York.

The following online post provides further information on Cowles business taken from the 1897 Seneca Falls business directory:

“W. W. COWLES, photographer, 85 Fall street, Seneca Falls, desires his work should be judged on its merits. He believes in perfection in the art, and with such high aim, patrons will be likely to get of him as good pictures as can be made.”

The logo for the Kodak silver chloride contact print paper this photograph appears on at bottom:

Velvet Velox
made by
Nepera Division
Eastman Kodak Co.
Rochester, N.Y.

print recto exhibits complete “silvering” in raking light

Leo Baekeland’s Nepera Chemical Company and the Velox brand was acquired by the Eastman Kodak Company in 1899.