Maine photographer Chansonetta Stanley Emmons traveled with her daughter Dorothy to photograph people and places in rural communities. Emmons and her daughter lived in Massachusetts, but often returned to Chansonetta's home state to photograph, specifically in the Kingfield and New Portland area, near where Chansonetta was raised.

Chansonetta self-published a book, "The Old Table Chair" in 1909. It included her poetry and five original printed photographs. Chansonetta dedicated the book, “To the Cherished Memory of dear Old folks.”

The table chair was an actual piece of furniture that, depending on the position of the top, could be used as a table or a chair. Stanley relatives in New Portland, Vila Walker and John True, owned this piece of antique furniture when Chansonetta staged it in various positions for her photographs. Chansonetta describes the table chair in stanza one of her poem.

This photograph was the first in a five part series which featured an old table-chair, a convertible piece of space-saving furniture designed for smaller spaces. Entitled "Old Table Chair #1," the table-chair appeared in its compact position.