John E. McCarthy, bill poster from Kalamazoo, Michigan
Sepia mounted advertising photograph of John McCarthy sitting in wagon with two unidentified men standing nearby. Unidentified building has three round windows. Typed text on the back of the billposter reads: "Yours Truly, J. E. McCarthy, bill poster, Kalamazoo, Michigan" and identifies the photographer as E.H. Perry from Kalamazoo, Michigan. John McCarthy was a "billposter", one who posts notices, posters, or advertisements. According to his obituary in the January 22, 1923, edition of the Kalamazoo Gazette, McCarthy was in the bill posting business for 50 years and was connected with Bush Advertising Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He traveled extensively with the advance cars of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circuses. He is credited with bringing a circus to Kalamazoo in the summer of 1922.