Portraits from the first 100 years of photography
The back of this postcard has a note: "Connie Richards, friend of Aurore (Chaillé) Marotte." Aurore is easy to find in Census records, but Connie eluded me. In 1920 Aurore B. Marotte (age 25) was living with her husband, Adelard, and her siblings in the home of her father, Azaire Chaillé, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. ... Continue Reading →
The title of this post is a little presumptuous, but the elegant dress worn by the young woman in this portrait reminds me of snowflakes on a deep winter's night in New England. She's also wearing an engagement ring, but the focus isn't clear enough to see it in detail. Northampton is home to Smith... Continue Reading →
This cabinet card was made by Benjamin F. Popkins (1822-1905), the first photographer to set up a professional studio in Greenfield. The sitters aren't identified. The photo was accompanied by two additional cabinet cards by Popkins, showing one of the women from different angles. All three portraits may have belonged to her, or the three... Continue Reading →
An oar appears for the second time on this blog in this cabinet card from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Printing at the bottom indicates it was made at the O'Neil photography studio in the Hastings' Building. The girls are all wearing the same Classical costume, with one holding the oar in her hand, suggesting it was... Continue Reading →
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