Things have certainly progressed for LGBTQ rights since the late 1800s, but even back then there was an appreciation for the ambiguity of gender – albeit, a small and outsider one that was considered highly deviant. Cross-dressing men could be, and were, arrested for violating anti-homosexuality laws, such as one of the most famous English cases, that of “Fanny” aka Frederick Park, 22, and “Stella” aka Ernest Boulton, 21, who were arrested on 28 April 1870 for homosexuality and several counts of “conspiracy.” They spent 4 months in jail awaiting a possible sentencing of 10 years, but were acquitted because of the weak case brought against them. The reality was that most people in London society knew of their “proclivities” and they were expected attendees at many society events. Below is a “carte de visite” album published in London sometime between 1890 and 1899 which includes pictures of the famous pair. In it are photographs of different men dressed in a variety of women’s clothing, posing as brides and as upper class women. Whether all of these men identified as transgender or gay is unknown, but they definitely embrace their roles in these photos. Check out the full album below:
-
- Victorian crossdressing. Photograph album, late 19th century
-
- Victorian album: 35 cartes de visite presented in a 19th century photograph album depicting private and theatrical cross-dressing, including photographs of Boulton and Park.
-
- Fol. 13v (left) : A man in drag poses wearing mauve attire. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 13v (right) : A man in drag is sitting down wearing a large white dress. Photograph, 189-. 185u Published: [between 1890 and 1899?]
-
- Fol. 11v (left) : A man in drag poses with leaves in his styled hair. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 11v (right) : A man in drag poses with his arms crossed, wearing a ballerina costume. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 10v (left) : Two men, one in drag, sitting next to each other. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 10v (right) : Two men in drag side by side, in front of a painted backrop. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 11r (left) : A man in drag posing side-on. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 11r (right) : A man in drag with the expression of being deep in thought. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Two men in drag side by side, in front of a painted backrop. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Two men, one in drag, sitting next to each other. Photograph, 189-.
-
- L0076694 Victorian crossdressing. Photograph album, late 19th century Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images images@wellcome.ac.uk http://wellcomeimages.org Fol. 11r (left) : A man in drag posing side-on. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 11r (right) : A man in drag with the expression of being deep in thought. Photograph, 189-. Photograph 185u Published: [between 1890 and 1899?] Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
-
- A man in drag with the expression of being deep in thought. Photograph, 189-.
-
- A man in drag posing side-on. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 10v (left) : Two men, one in drag, sitting next to each other. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 10v (right) : Two men in drag side by side, in front of a painted backrop. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 9v (right) : A man in drag, seated, wearing dark clothing and a black hat. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 10r (left) : A man in drag standing side-on. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 10r (right) : Two men in drag (?) sitting opposite each other. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 10r (left) : A man in drag standing side-on. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 10r (right) : Two men in drag (?) sitting opposite each other. Photograph, 189-.
-
- A man in drag, seated, wearing dark clothing and a black hat. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 3r (left) : A man in drag dressed as a bride, looking glum. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 3r (right) : A man in drag dressed as a distinguished-looking young woman. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 3r (left) : A man in drag dressed as a bride, looking glum. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 3r (right) : A man in drag dressed as a distinguished-looking young woman. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 13v (left) : A man in drag poses wearing mauve attire. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 13v (right) : A man in drag is sitting down wearing a large white dress. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 12v (left) : A man in drag poses with a bonnet, basket and broom. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 12v (right) : A man in drag poses wearing a large pink dress with flowers in his hair. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 13r (left) : A man in drag poses sitting down, head-on, taking a nap. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 13r (right) : A man in drag poses wearing a large pink dress. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 13r (left) : A man in drag poses sitting down, head-on, taking a nap. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 13r (right) : A man in drag poses wearing a large pink dress. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 12v (left) : A man in drag poses with a bonnet, basket and broom. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 12v (right) : A man in drag poses wearing a large pink dress with flowers in his hair. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 11v (left) : A man in drag poses with leaves in his styled hair. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 11v (right) : A man in drag poses with his arms crossed, wearing a ballerina costume. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 12r (left) : A man in drag poses wearing an elaborate dress. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 12r (right) : A man in drag poses side-on. Photograph, 189-. Photograph 185u Published: [between 1890 and 1899?]
-
- Fol. 12r (left) : A man in drag poses wearing an elaborate dress. Photograph, 189-. Fol. 12r (right) : A man in drag poses side-on.
-
- Fol. 12r (right) : A man in drag poses side-on. Photograph, 189-.
-
- Fol. 12r (left) : A man in drag poses wearing an elaborate dress. Photograph, 189-.
All photos copyright Wellcome Image Library
