Need help with this photo.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Laressa Northrup on October 26, 2009 at 10:46am

Jo Ann,

I looked at some books I have. The hairstyle is typical of the early 1870's as is the collar. The sleeves were common all throught the 1870's. Also, it looks like she maybe has an overskirt as there seems to be scrunching on her lap. If this is so, overskirts were generally in the early 1870's or late 1880s when the bustle was in fashion as the overskirt in the front went anywere from the thighs to the knees in front and then was scrunched in the back to form the bustle. So I would date this picture anywhere from 1869 to 1875.

Sincerely,

Laressa Northrup
cltaxson@tds.net

Permalink Reply by Jo Ann Clark on October 26, 2009 at 12:54pm

What do think her age might be? Do you think this is the type of dress that might be found in Coffee County, Tennessee in the date range you've identified? I noticed she had a lot of jewelery: pierced ear-rings, ring on right hand, bracelet on left wrist and elaborate necklace and hair piece. Do these items tell you anything? What about her hair style? Her age?

Thanks so much for your help,
Jo Ann Clark Caldwell
snoopygram@sbcglobal.net

Permalink Reply by Laressa Northrup on October 27, 2009 at 12:39pm

She looks fairly young to me. I have similar pictures of ancestors who lived in rural parts of Michigan. A lot of the jewelry may have been the photographers. They kept earrings, rings, braclets and necklaces on hand for their customers to wear. If you can belive it, the fashion in Godey's Ladies Book was even more intricate and even women in rural area received this catalog. The silhouette was the same however. The hair style during this period was the top part of the hair was pulled back with a ribbon or fancy comb holding it back and the back hair hung down in braids, ringlets or crimped which is what it appears this woman tried to do. This is also makes me think she is on the young side as the younger she was the more likely she was to wear her hair down. Is it possible she is an older sister or sister-in-law of your grandmother who was born in 1865?

Sincerely,

Laressa Northrup
cltaxson@tds.net

Permalink Reply by Jo Ann Clark on October 27, 2009 at 6:18pm

As far as being a sister or sister-in-law, it certainly is possible. However at this time, I don't have much information on sisters and none on sisters-in-law. Thank you so much for your information - I wasn't aware of photograpers providing jewelery. Looking through Godey's must have been exciting if you lived on a farm and a long distance from town. I guess I'm going to have to "go back to the drawing board".
Frankly, I have no idea who this lady could be, other than she was important to my grandmother.

Thank you again, I may be back.
Jo Ann Caldwell