Retelling the story of your ancestor’s life? Look at your old photos again. They are riddled with information which, when complemented by a few facts, will help you tell a more in-depth story.
I Thought He Was Well Off
I loved this photo of my teen grandfather from the moment I saw it. He stands straight, wears a nice jacket and handsome shoes. I assumed that he was well off as a child. Then, I started to research my family and found that his father was a shoemaker and his uncle, a tailor. That’s why he is so well dressed.
I can tell that he is in his early teens because he is wearing knickers. (Trousers were worn by men.) which lets me estimate the date of this photo to about 1906 as I know his birthdate. The cabinet card shows the studio address is on Light Street in Baltimore. Even if I did not have more information, I would take this as a hint that he lived downtown.
When you don’t know an ancestor’s birth date, there are hints in the photo about the timeframe:
Type of photo - It is a cabinet card
When style of photo popular - determine dates that cabinet cards were popular
The photographer studio at that address - determine using directories from the estimated time frame. If the studio were at this address only between 1902 and 1910, you are even closer to dating your photo correctly.
Style of clothing - I found an industry rag showing the exact style detachable color as worn in the photo dated 1904.
I Didn’t Know He Was An Enlisted Man
I asked my mother if her grandfather went to war and she knew nothing of it. The photographic studio operated in downtown Baltimore in the 1890s which is consistent with where he lived confirming that he was not traveling with his regiment at that time. Yet, I still wondered if John E Little fought in the Spanish-American War.
I found experts in a Facebook group who quickly set me straight; this was a Maryland 5th Militia uniform. John was a meat cutter and a clerk at this time making the 5th a part time gig. Was the 5th ever deployed during his enlistment? Was it a paid position? Did the assignment carry a certain prestige with it? Did it look great on his resume?
The uniform is the hint which leads me to the Maryland Army National Guard where I will learn the history of the Maryland 5th, research their records and get to know John better.
I Didn’t Know if He Could Read
My grandfather’s father - the shoemaker - died young. A census might tell me if he were literate but I do not have access to any. So, imagine my delight when I saw the back of a photograph of his wife, Annie E. Roth. It reads, “My dear wife 20 years old Annie E Nicklas” The writing has been written over so it did not fade completely yet I can still make out some of the original handwriting, especially that stylized M in My. If I find letters, notes or a bill of sale, I can match the handwriting to this sample.
I have learned something about three of my ancestors. What have you learned from a photo?
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