Winneconne Historical Society

Tonnesen Collection

Beatrice Tonnesen was born in Winneconne on June 24, 1871

She moved with her family to Oshkosh when she was 5 years old. Leading photographer Cook Ely was hired to train Beatrice when she expressed an interest in photography. She set up her first business in Menominee, Michigan but a year later moved with her sister, Clara, to a studio on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. She was known for her portraits and for pioneering the use of live models in advertising.