Portrait of Police Officer Patrick J. Sheehan, Inscribed to Nora O'Donnell, 1893

Growing American urban centers spurred the creation of modern police departments in the mid-1800s. By the end of the century, most police officers wore military-type uniforms and badges to help citizens easily identify them. This cabinet card shows Patrick Sheehan decked out in his uniform. Friends and family usually exchanged cabinet cards, sometimes adding a personal greeting on the back.