An early studio portrait of my grandfather Frank Gustaf Severin Erickson at five years old in Sundsvall, Sweden in 1897. Frank and his family later immigrated to the states in 1903 and farmed land in Regan, not far from Wilton, North Dakota.

The photograph of Frank is from a postcard image written to Frank on September 28th, 1911 by his older brother Helmer Erick Alof Erickson of Wilton. Frank was working at the time at the Malery Mill (Molly Gibson) in Nelson City, British Columbia, Canada.

One of the going styles in photography in the middle late 1800s was a "carte de visite", an image taken in a studio and printed on heavy paper card stock. By the late 1870s through the early part of the 20th century the "cabinet card" became popular in printing of a photographic image. As in this photo-postcard, tens of thousands of similar cards traveled to post offices all over the world.

There is a September 28th, 1911 postmark on the card with a one cent green Benjamin Franklin stamp affixed.

Transcribed from the postcard:

Mr. Frank Erickson
Malery Mill - Molly Gibson
Nelson City, British Columbia
September 28th, 1911

Brother Frank,
I have not written to you for a long time so I'll do so now. I suppose you know the fellow on the other side. Well I'm in business for myself now, I am photographer in Wilton. Am clearing pretty good, only I did not have money enough to start right, but I think I'll catch up soon.

Write again soon,
Your Brother
Helmer

Thanks to my cousin Mark Henninger of Bismarck, North Dakota for the transcription.