The children featured in this sweet RPPC (real photo postcard) were easy to identify once I located the recipients of the letter, Orland H. Blake and his wife, Gertrude, of Yarmouth, Maine. The sender was Orland’s sister Mrs. Grace Allen. The little nieces were Emily Louise, Clara Mildred, Ruth, Isabelle, and baby Ernestine. Sadly, Ernestine … More Little Nieces
Thomas Freiberger and Anna (nee Brockmann) on their wedding day, May 18, 1921, in Casco, Missouri. Luckily, this was found among photos which provided a general location that the identifying writing did not. It appears Thomas has scarring on his face and hands which might have been the result of serious burns. However, I wasn’t … More The Freibergers
This photo was a sweet gift from Heather of _wherethewillowsgrow_ . It appears to be a photo that would have been mounted on a sturdy cabinet photo board. The youngest child of Abia and Curlila (Bowers) Carr, Helen was born in Ohio in 1901 and lost her father when she was only five years old. … More Helen Carr
This cabinet card was found among others featuring students from Ohio Wesleyan University. Charles BoDurtha operated his photography studio in the university town of Delaware. The young woman is identified on the reverse as Clara Wright of Tinney, Ohio. Clara Finette Wright was born about 1874. Census records tell us that Clara and her parents, … More Clara Wright
Another wonderful image from Heather of _wherethewillowsgrow_ . The young woman in this carte de visite sat for her portrait in Grand Rapids, Iowa. Based on the small bit of fashion visible in the photo her image was captured in the 1870s. Miss Florence Condit, the name penned on the reverse, lived in Centralia, Illinois, … More Florence Condit
The polka dot dress! The swiss waist belt! I swooned when I saw this lovely CDV photograph. Written at the bottom is “Yours Truly Fannie I. Champlin.” Frances “Fannie” was born in Montville, Connecticut in 1850. She was the daughter of Frances Elizabeth (Smith) and Captain Frederick W. Champlin, a seaman. By the time this … More Fannie Champlin
I picked up this identified CDV from Heather on Instagram. If you love old photos you should visit her account _wherethewillowsgrow_ . Writing on the reverse reads “Mrs. Carolyn Bradley.” Click on the above image to view full size Based on the scratches (or what are often referred to as wipes) in the portrait I … More Disembodied Hand
This young man is identified as Ed Davison. The photographer, Henry James Stevenson, opened his first photo gallery about 1895 in El Reno, Oklahoma Territory. If you’d like to learn more about Oklahoma before it became a state, check out what the Oklahoma Historical Society has to say. Disappointingly, I didn’t find any records or … More Deserted
“J.H. Staton Alices Gorman Staton baby born Jan 18-1907 – 66 yrs old now His mother is back of chair holding him” I was saddened to learn that Alice didn’t get to raise her son, James Harvey. Alice died of a pelvic abscess soon after this photo was taken. James was raised by his paternal … More J.H. Staton
Without a location, it was impossible to identify the sitter in this tintype, who according to the writing above her head was Alma Sargent. Based on her tight-fitting bodice lined with buttons, Alma sat for this portrait in the mid to late 1880s. Sources: 19th Century Card Photos Kwik Guide by Gary W. Clark
the rescued photo 