As a family historian, you’re probably thrilled to find photos that have captions—better still if they’re in your ancestors’ handwriting. But they’re not always accurate. Let’s see how clues within the photos can lend to correcting the record using an example from reader Karen Harrison.
Karen received this reproduction of a photo around 1975, and the original is missing. The back of Karen’s copy reads “Chaux du Fonds, Switzerland” and identifies the subject as Lucy LeRoy Simair/Somaire. Karen disagrees; she’s identified Lucy in a different photo, and this woman isn’t a visual match.
A Look at the Clues
Hair and clothing: With braided hair and layered pleats in her skirt, this woman is the epitome of mid-1870s fashion. Heavy-looking clothing like this was common in that period, with lots of trim, a long bodice, and a ruffle at the neck. Stripes often appear on clothing in that decade, and a fan was popular accessory.
Furniture: The rolled-back chair made its debut in the 1870s. Young women often leaned on it in photos to show off their bustles. The woman in this photo sits on her bustle instead; you can see a bit of fabric next to her.
Photograph: Cabinet cards like this were the dominant format in the mid-1870s. They were usually 4.25×6.5 inches, but also available in larger sizes.
Compare with a timeline
In the mid-1870s, Lucy (Lucie) would have been in her 20s. The timeline could overlap with her marriage to Jean Baptiste Theodore Simair, which Karen believes occurred between 1870 to 1874. Indeed, the clothing suggests the photo was taken for a special occasion.
Another possibility is the subject is Theodore’s second wife, Emma, who married him in 1890 and also would have been in her 20s at the time the photo was taken.
Karen’s cousin sent her two pictures of unidentified women who resemble this subject; searching for photos from other descendants could confirm an identity.
Have a photo mystery you’d like Maureen to investigate? Email FamilyTree@Yankeepub. com with your photo, any details you know about it, and Photo Detective in the subject line, and your question may be selected for a future issue.
A version of this article was published in the March/April 2023 issue of Family Tree Magazine. Last updated: July 2026
