Archives for Maureen A. Taylor
Little Boys in Military Dress in Old Photos
Patsy Ellinger's picture of 3-year-old Paul Robert Engemann and his older brother Karl Engemann, age 5, is a charming portrayal of two little boys playing dress up. It was taken circa 1902. Both boys wear miniature military uniforms, copying those likely worn by soldiers in Silesia, Prussia. This...
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Wedding Wear, 1855
Lumber merchant Peter Whitmer (born 1828) and his bride Lucy Jane McDonald (born 1837) had the means to pose for two portraits when they wed in February 1855. In the first, the couple posed alone. Peter sits with top hat in one hand and his other gloved hand rests on...
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Clues to Identify Old Family Photos: Dentist’s Office Premium
Finding clues in an old storefront photo of a dentist's office.
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A Timeline of Portraits
Candace LaPrade send in several images of one of her ancestors. She's very lucky to have more than one picture of this man! When you have multiple pictures of the same person, try to put them in chronological order using their attire and age as a guide. Peter...
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Twentieth-Century Mustache Mania
From the White House to Hollywood, mustaches of the 20th century were iconic and considered manly. The underlying message was that strong men wore facial hair. Teddy Roosevelt to Clark Gable and beyond, the presence of a mustache conveyed a sense of strength in personality and actions. Each of these...
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The True Story of Abraham Lincoln’s Beard
Abraham Lincoln was the first President to have a beard. Learn the brief history of why he grew one.
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Beards and Mustaches: Identifying Facial Hair Styles in Old Photos
Here is a quick overview of the history of facial hairstyles in the United States. From frontier beards to waxed mustaches, here’s what you need to know to identify key clues in your ancestors' facial hair.
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Halloween in Old Photos: Three Clues to Spot
This weekend ghouls, goblins and princesses will ring my doorbell looking for treats. There will also be some movie characters as well such as Darth Vader given the interest in the new film. The choice of costumes at every Halloween reflects what figures are popular at the cinema, on television...
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Teasing the Clues Out of An Old Photo
Larry Calhoun thinks this is a gathering of either the Benfield or the Calhoun family in western North Carolina. Last week, I discussed how Annie Oakley influenced frontier dress for women. This week, let's study the other clues in the same image and see if they help Larry figure out...
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Annie Oakley and Your Old Photos
What does Annie Oakley have to do with your family photos? More than you think. Larry Calhoun sent a group portrait he thinks was taken in western North Carolina. It could be members of the Calhoun or Benfield family. I took one look and said, "Whoa, that woman...
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