Top of page

Photo, Print, Drawing [Houdini with Ira Davenport, full-length portrait, seated]

[ b&w film copy neg. ]

About this Item

Title

  • [Houdini with Ira Davenport, full-length portrait, seated]

Created / Published

  • [ca. 1910]

Headings

  • -  Houdini, Harry,--1874-1926
  • -  Davenport, Ira Erastus,--1839-1911

Headings

  • Group portraits--1900-1920.
  • Photographic prints--1900-1920.
  • Portrait photographs--1900-1920.

Genre

  • Group portraits--1900-1920
  • Portrait photographs--1900-1920
  • Photographic prints--1900-1920

Notes

  • -  In Ira Davenport who died on July 8, 1911, Houdini recognized the medium as artist and showman. As noted by John McArdle in his "International dictionary of magitain," published in 1963, Ira Erastus and his brother William Henry Harrison Davenport "... traveled over the world presenting fake supernatural effects, and were believed to have occult powers until exposed by Maskelyne and others." Harry Kellar had been their assistant, then, having learned from masters, went on his own to become an internationally celebrated illusionist and the first Dean of American magicians. The Davenports had used a Spirit Cabinet. The quality of their work, however, evoked the standard of excellence in deception presented as follows in "Revelations of a spirit medium," published in 1891, long before the exposes of Houdini: "There is absolutely no resemblance of any kind or description, to the "seance" of the "medium," in these alleged exposes of the professional magician. They reflect great discredit on the cunning of the "medium"; for, with their ton or so of tables, chairs, cabinets, wooden skeletons, sheets, poles, and various other properties, absolutely essential to the success of their "manifestations," they do not even approach the "medium" in the variety of phenomena produced, nor the noiseless, beautiful, accurate work of one man, against from four to six. Besides, the "medium" has no apparatus, or, if he has, it cannot be found, and he gives his "seances" in strange rooms with but a few minutes for preparation."

Medium

  • 1 photographic print.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • McManus-Young Collection [Rare Book RR]

Repository

  • Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

  • cph 3b13903 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b13903

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 96520653

Reproduction Number

  • LC-USZ62-66398 (b&w film copy neg.)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  • Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-66398 (b&w film copy neg.)
  • Call Number: McManus-Young Collection <item> [Rare Book RR]
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. (Some images display only as thumbnails outside the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site.)

Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

  1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
  2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number.

    If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

  3. If there is no information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can generally purchase a quality copy through Duplication Services. Cite the Call Number listed above and include the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

Access to Originals

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.
  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Houdini with Ira Davenport, full-length portrait, seated. , ca. 1910. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/96520653/.

APA citation style:

(ca. 1910) Houdini with Ira Davenport, full-length portrait, seated. , ca. 1910. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/96520653/.

MLA citation style:

Houdini with Ira Davenport, full-length portrait, seated. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/96520653/>.