The headlines read She Stole Babies! Even more alarming was that Hazel Oden wasn’t your usual kidnapper. She was an eight-year-old little girl. In 1927, Hazel was living at 2706 Wabash Avenue in Los Angeles, California with her parents and 12 siblings. Her modus operandi was to wheel a buggy around the neighborhood until she … More She Stole Babies
These carte de visites of John Clement and Olivia (Brown) Clifford and their children were taken in June of 1864. This seemingly happy little family didn’t remain little for long. And when it came to happy…I’ll let you decide. Before we get into the Clifford’s life story let’s take a moment to appreciate this tattered … More Whiskey and Beer
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
Elizabeth Lee Bealer Click to view Find a Grave memorial (1862-1953)
William Kalter Click to view Find a Grave memorial (1851-1925)
I was brimming with excitement when I picked up this early portrait of Emily Theresa Boone of Bryantown, Maryland at a local antique mall. I believe it’s considered a chalk or pastel piece. The artist likely completed it based on an earlier daguerreotype or ambrotype photograph. Emily appears to be around thirteen years old which … More A Simple Act of Common Humanity
This is the third and final post based on a cabinet card identified as Inez Swartz “Adrian Home girl” which was a term used to reference residents living at the Adrian Industrial School for Girls. If you’d like to read my earlier posts, they are Adrian Home Girl and As If Their Little Hearts Would … More Tales of Terrible Cruelty
This is the second post based on a cabinet card I found in a shop in Allen, Michigan. The photo was identified as Inez Swartz “Adrian Home girl,” which was a term used for residents of the Adrian Industrial School for Girls. If you’d like to see the complete cabinet card image and read my … More As If Their Little Hearts Would Break
The young woman who sat for this photograph is identified on the reverse as Inez Swartz. The photographers Genevieve Dey & Grace Hayden, worked together in Hillsdale, Michigan, from 1899 to no later than 1904, which helps to date this image. The words “Adrian Home girl” penned below the name was in reference to the … More Adrian Home Girl
the rescued photo 