I wasn’t certain if this family was Japanese or Chinese, so I googled the hairstyles the women are wearing. I definitely saw Japanese women with this hairstyle, so that’s where I’m leaning. This photo is hand tinted with a pencil or watercolor kit. I had one as a kid and it is an art I never perfected. There is nothing to suggest to me when the photo was taken or where.
This lovely little girl was posing for her Confirmation photo, I believe. She is really quite pretty, as is her dress. Although it is difficult to read the name, in the lower right corner the photographer has embossed his mark. I can tell it was in Manila, but beyond that, I can’t tell.
This wedding photo is of an Asian family. I’m guessing based on other photos found in the same box that they could be Filipino or Chinese. I have no way of knowing for certain though. I think the photo might be from the 1960s.
A note for readers, I have added a few enhancements to this blog. First, over there on the right hand side, I have added the names of photographers. This is a great help to me when I’m doing research and find a listing such as that on a blog, so I have added this category. Second, I added a page up at the top called Mid 19th Century Ladies Clothing Dates, which includes a very brief description of the clothing that was worn between 1860-1900. I will continue to add to it as I learn more about 19th century clothing and I welcome all input on historical fashions. The purpose of the page is to assist in dating photographs through clothing. If anyone has input on 19th century mens fashions, please leave a comment! That is one area I am severely lacking in knowledge. Finally, I have expanded the vision of the site to include 20th century photographs rather than limiting myself to 19th century ones.
As always, I thank you for your patronage. It is my goal to share old photographs to keep them from being lost to history forever. If in some way I can enhance the world through this goal it will be through making an impression on you, my reader. Onward, friends, and into the past!
Who Were They? is going to speed forward in time and look at some 20th century photos for a while. I bought the photo above because I rarely see old photos of black people. This lady wore a nice hat and wore her coat during the sitting for this photo. It was a photo postcard, with the edges cut away, so all that remains is a 2″ x 3″ section from the middle. The area for postage was removed, which would help us date the postcard better, but I will put this in the 1910s based on the hairstyle and hat.
Well folks, here we have the last photograph in the Dobb Long Book, and miracle of miracles, it has a name written on it! Unfortunately, it is a strange name that I haven’t been able to trace, ugh. Of note, the name is written in ball point pen, not fountain ink, so someone relatively recently knew who this woman was. It appears to be De Vee or De Vu Mourer Downes/Dornan/Dorner.
The photographer was Stoops in Perry, IA.
UPDATED: Iggy figured out her name is Devee Mourer Dorman. Check the comments for more information. You are the man Iggy!
Here at the end of the Dobb Long Book, after 57 cabinet cards, we don’t really know much more than we did at the beginning.
The names mentioned in the book are Nina Dobb, who has remained elusive; Miss Farmar/Farmer, who without a first name is impossible to trace; De Vee or De Vu Mourer Downes/Dornan/Dorner, the last photo in the book. The amazing Intense Guy (aka Iggy) has found several suggestions on who these people might be, but more often than not we have had more luck researching photographers. It has been an interesting journey across fashion, time and one ocean, but it appears these photographs will remain lost to history, and I will have to enjoy them for the hints of the story they could tell. The Dobb Long Book will be used at events focusing on the 1890s as a means to educate about what people wore in the later Victorian era. Thanks for all your interest in these photos.
Who Were They? 