This gelatin dry plate negative was taken by in the Aultman Studio (Trinidad, Colo.) by Oliver E. Aultman (1867-1953) in 1909. The Aultman Studio register identifies the individual who ordered the portrait as T. Oku. It is important to note that names that appear in the studio register may be inaccurate or misspelled. The image shows a studio portrait of a man, woman, and child. All three are dressed in formal attire. The woman wears a long skirt, frilly, white blouse with puffed sleeves, and a large ornate hat. She stands on the right side of the image. To the left of her, the toddler sits in a wooden high chair. She wears lace-up boots and a patterned dress over a white blouse. The man stands on the right side of the image. He has a mustache and wears a three-piece suit, tie, and top hat. A pocket watch chain hangs from his vest. A studio back drop hangs behind her. A patterned rug is visible at their feet.
The Aultman Studio (Trinidad, Colo.) operated out of Trinidad from 1889-2000. Oliver E. Aultman founded the studio and was its chief photographer until his son, Glenn Aultman (1904-2000), took over the business in the early 1950's. Otis Aultman (1874-1943), Oliver's younger brother, also operated at photography studio in the Trinidad area from 1892-1907. Several of his images are included in the Aultman Studio collection. While the Aultmans mostly produced studio portraits of Trinidad's residents, they also shot images of landscapes, streets scenes, mining operations, buildings, and local events. This photograph is part the Aultman Studio photograph collection (Ph.00500).