The oldest photo my family have is from 1892 -ish of my great grandfather as a baby with his (we are assuming) mother and grandmother. It is at my mom's place so I can't post it here. What about you?
Oscraps
What's the oldest photo you have?
- Thread starter Jam-on-toast
- Start date
I think it's this one of my Dad's family. Trouble is, it's saved in my files as 'don't know who anyone is?' LOL
I haven't dated it exactly but it would be late 1800s. What amazes me /reminds me how old I am ;-) is how few generations separate me from this lot.
Pretty sure I know where it is (outside my Dad's great-grandfather's farmhouse). His grandfather was a bit of a black sheep and ended up not having much to do with the family, and working down the mines. On paper, this side of my family are descended from the Plantagenet kings ... but a long line of youngest sons of youngest sons saw us slide so far down the social ladder that we literally ended up underground
I haven't dated it exactly but it would be late 1800s. What amazes me /reminds me how old I am ;-) is how few generations separate me from this lot.
Pretty sure I know where it is (outside my Dad's great-grandfather's farmhouse). His grandfather was a bit of a black sheep and ended up not having much to do with the family, and working down the mines. On paper, this side of my family are descended from the Plantagenet kings ... but a long line of youngest sons of youngest sons saw us slide so far down the social ladder that we literally ended up underground
This is one of a few that I have taken in the 1800's This is my Great, Great Uncle Thomas Heaslip taken during the 1885 Rebellion with Louis Riel.
What a treasure, Lynn! Is there any chance you might be able to sharpen it a bit or try some filters that might show the details in the women's clothing? The men's fashions wouldn't have changed much, but the women's might offer some really good clues. Is this in England? Where? My roots are in Lincolnshire and there are some dated photos about that are very similar to this. The fashions tend to make me think 1880-1890. These styles of women's hats were popular around 1880.I think it's this one of my Dad's family. Trouble is, it's saved in my files as 'don't know who anyone is?' LOL
I haven't dated it exactly but it would be late 1800s. What amazes me /reminds me how old I am ;-) is how few generations separate me from this lot.
Pretty sure I know where it is (outside my Dad's great-grandfather's farmhouse). His grandfather was a bit of a black sheep and ended up not having much to do with the family, and working down the mines. On paper, this side of my family are descended from the Plantagenet kings ... but a long line of youngest sons of youngest sons saw us slide so far down the social ladder that we literally ended up underground
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The Plantagenets, eh? Fascinating history there. You know, it would be fun for each of us to post a thread specific to the lines we are researching and see where that takes us. I bet some of us are cousins and don't realize it!
You are probably right on the timing Trudy. Her hairstyle suggests the time of Harrison Fisher and Charles Dana Gibson.
If it helps, this is a Gibson Girl
And this is a Fisher Girl
Very cool!
It will be!
Mine weren't either, Sylvia, but you'd be surprised. They would scrape together the money for one photo shoot every now and again and once amateur photography began, they even invested in cameras. Mine never cease to maze me!
Ah, but these are some really fun ones. We at least have movies from this time frame to help us date them.
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janedee
Well-Known Member
I forgot to add the info I have for these photos. The top photo is likely my 4x great grandmother, probably taken in the 1860s or 1870s.
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The lower photo is one of my 2x great grandfather's sisters (granddaughter of the lady above). I have photos of four of them dressed very similarly. This girl is the youngest. Strangely, as far as I know he only had three sisters, so I'm not sure who is the odd one out.
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The lower photo is one of my 2x great grandfather's sisters (granddaughter of the lady above). I have photos of four of them dressed very similarly. This girl is the youngest. Strangely, as far as I know he only had three sisters, so I'm not sure who is the odd one out.
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The oldest I have that I am confident of authenticity and date is this one of my great grandfather Thomas Jefferson WOOD and his first wife (that I am positive of, he may have had only 2, but perhaps as many as 4 that gave him 21 children) Mary Jane "Janie" LOVE. We call him TJW because we have so many Thomases. TJW was born in 1851 in then Ouachita County, Arkansas. He died in Lindsey, Garvin County, Oklahoma in 1936. Janie was born about 1856 in probably Clark County, Arkansas and died in 1892 near Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas. While I can't find a marriage record for then - yet! - they were married sometime in 1870 or 1871, before Nevada County was incorporated (20 Mar 1871). Their first child, Mary Catherine "Mollie" Wood was born 14 Oct 1871 near Sayre, Ouachita County, Arkansas. The county lines were adjusted several times so the couple may not have moved. The county may have moved around them.
This photo is what is called a crayon portrait. The photographer shot the photo which was printed on "crayon paper" rather than photographic stock. Then the photographer or some other artist would draw over it with pastels, charcoal, and crayons to make it look like a painting or drawing. It could be expensive. Thomas was fairly well off until the Great Depression, but this is the only known image of them. The style of it suggests this was their wedding picture which dates it to after 27 August 1870 or early 1871. When you look closely at this image, you can see the photo underneath it in the eyes and the mouths. It's not very well executed! We believe Janie was Chickasaw - but can't prove it - and you can she she is clearly ruddier than TJW in the photo.
This photo is what is called a crayon portrait. The photographer shot the photo which was printed on "crayon paper" rather than photographic stock. Then the photographer or some other artist would draw over it with pastels, charcoal, and crayons to make it look like a painting or drawing. It could be expensive. Thomas was fairly well off until the Great Depression, but this is the only known image of them. The style of it suggests this was their wedding picture which dates it to after 27 August 1870 or early 1871. When you look closely at this image, you can see the photo underneath it in the eyes and the mouths. It's not very well executed! We believe Janie was Chickasaw - but can't prove it - and you can she she is clearly ruddier than TJW in the photo.
These are wonderful, Jane!
LSlycord
Well-Known Member
Ok...this may not be my oldest but it is definitely close. I had forgotten about even having this one. This is my great grandmother and my great-great uncle as children. I was fortunate enough to know both of them as a child.
Uncle Bill was born in 1878 and Grandma Blanche was born in 1883, so I would definitely date this photo as pre-1890. Guessing their ages might have been 4 and 9 making the date around 1887.
Uncle Bill was born in 1878 and Grandma Blanche was born in 1883, so I would definitely date this photo as pre-1890. Guessing their ages might have been 4 and 9 making the date around 1887.
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What a sweet photo, Linda! I have deep roots in Iowa and my cousin has some cabinet cards with this same cover so she researched the photographer. William C. Edinger was in Plymouth County, Iowa (county seat Sioux City) clear across the state to the northwest on the 1885 Iowa State Census and first shows up in directories in Des Moines from 1888 on. He died in 1904. Your timing is spot on. I love your great grandmother's little dress. So precious!
LSlycord
Well-Known Member
Love the confirmation of the timing on my photo!
Spotted this one that had been in my mother's collection of photos... some that she had from her mother.
This one is mother's father's parents -Simeon Augustus Carman and wife Mary Francis Tooley -taken around 1880. I know he lived to be 93 years old and died around 1917.
This one is mother's father's parents -Simeon Augustus Carman and wife Mary Francis Tooley -taken around 1880. I know he lived to be 93 years old and died around 1917.
What a great photo. It's interesting that he is standing and she is seated. You don't see that very often, it's usually the other way around. Neat!
mcurtt
Well-Known Member
How interesting and what a treasure!
LSlycord
Well-Known Member
What a great photo!
Fabulous picture! Truly a gem in your collection. What sweet faces! Is this a cabinet card? Are you fortunate enough to have the cover? Some of them are as beautiful and wonderful as the photos themselves.
mcurtt
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, I don't have the original. That resides with my 95 year old mother-in-law. I recall it being on a board, but I believe it was larger than a cabinet card. I scanned the original around 15 years ago, and I don't recall.
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tanteva
Mistress of Mayhem
Yay Sweden! What a precious photo!