Who Were They?

Lost and forgotten photos from the past

Le petit bebe

Mrs Marvel

1 comment

February 5, 2021

No reason for the title in French, I just thought this baby looked sweet and small. I think (but am not certain) that there may be a parent hidden under a blanket holding the baby in their lap. That was often done (called Hidden Mothers by many collectors) as a means to have the child sit still and also to calm the fears of anxious parents, I’m sure. They just couldn’t be certain their precious child wouldn’t fall out of the photographer’s chair.

The photo was made by Rank Bro’s out of Van Wert, Ohio.

Contemplative

Mrs Marvel

1 comment

February 1, 2021

This photo made by Charles A Saylor casts the subject as looking contemplative. What do you think she was considering? I love her jewelry – earrings, a necklace of multiple chains and a bar pin. She has some kind of frill, like a large bow, on her dress under the necklace & bar pin. She was young, perhaps early twenties when this photo was taken, based on the softness in her face.

Charles A Saylor must have rather prolific as I have other photographs by him. You can click on the category under Photographers over on the side. His City Gallery was located in Reading, PA.

3/4 portrait

Mrs Marvel

no comments

January 29, 2021

This type of pose is called a 3/4 bust or portrait, because it shows about 3/4 of the person’s face. I like this particular image because the young woman looks pensive without being too gloomy. Perhaps this was a graduation or pre-wedding portrait.

The photo was made by D. C. Burnite in Harrisburg, PA.

According to The Evening News, October 23, 1939:

At first I assumed he had lived into the 20th century because of the date of the newspaper, but they must have been doing retrospective stories on town fathers as it reveals he died in 1886 at the age of 53. Note that he was born 106 years almost to the day before the story was published. Perhaps they were celebrating a notable citizen’s birthday?

 

PS Happy birthday to site reader Auntie Kat!

Looks shifty to me

Mrs Marvel

1 comment

January 25, 2021

This CDV features a gentleman who looks a little shifty to me. Just look, his eyes are glancing away to the side as though he doesn’t want to meet the viewer’s eye, his thin mustache reminds me a bit of Snidely Whiplash, his hair is oiled and slicked, very polished to make an impression. While these are all my own observations, another person might see him a completely different way.

Mr Shifty here sat for his portrait with Dinmore of Carlisle, PA.

Thoughtful

Mrs Marvel

2 comments

January 22, 2021

Today’s photograph features a young person with a thoughtful expression. I’m honestly unsure if this is a young man or young woman. I’m leaning toward a female because the giant bow seems like an exaggerated version of the young boy’s fashion for Little Lord Fauntleroy. Also, the hair is rather poufy, which could be a lady’s style. The face is rather homogenous and could be either male or female depending on the age of the person. What do you think?

The photo was made by A. W. Phipps in New Castle, PA.

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