Biblical Institute of Manti, Utah (August, 1887)

A group photograph of individuals attending the Biblical Institute of Manti, Utah taken in August of 1887. The group poses in front of light colored brick structure with an open doorway. The group is in a semi-triangle formation with the point of the triangle flowing from the open doorway and spreading in a wide arraignment in front of the structure. The posers consist of men, women, and children. The men wear dark colored suit coats and light colored shirts, most with neck ties. The women are wearing dark colored dresses for the most part, while some wear light colored apparel. The few children pictured are dressed in a wide array of clothing from pants, shirts, and dresses. Many of these individuals also have some form of fashionable headwear. The black matting the photograph is fixated to bears the gold inlaid inscription of the photographer which reads, "ANDERSON, Springville, Manti, and Nephi, Utah."The photograph itself is in fair condition. The photographs most glaring flaw is the imposed image beneath the little boy located in the center of the front row. The object looks like a blanket outlined with traces of black ink. It is unknown what purpose it served, but close inspection indicates that the object was never part of the original photograph. Other blemishes and flaws include: a separated upper left hand corner; a dark stain on the upper right hand corner; a pinhole located at the top center, traces of scotch tape over each of the four corners, and the worn edges of the dark matting. On back, the photographer's inscription is printed horizontally and located vertically in the very center. It reads: "G.E. Anderson, [emblem break] Portrait and Landscape [another emblem break] Photographer Springville, Manti, & Nephi, Utah. Views made of Residences, Stock. Machinery etc. on short notice. N.B. Duplicate copies maybe had at any time, and at reduced rates [.]" The entire photographer's inscription is encircled by an embolic design. Handwritten in pencil around the photographer's inscription is the following: "T.R. Burke [;] Presbyterian Ministers and Teachers [;] Manti, Aug., 1887 [written in black ink]. Biblical Institute [.] E. N. [?] Murphy [?] Day [?] McCloure [?] Hough, Mrs. McNiece [,] Mary E. Moore [,] Marlin Gillespie [?]. The entire handwriting is written upside down of the photographer's inscription. Traces of old scotch tape can be seen lining the bottom edge of the photographs true direction