Smile for the camera- Crowning Glory
Unknown Polish ancestors Enlarged picture of head pieceCopy of scanned photofrom M. SteadmanA few years ago, a cousin of mine and I reconnected via the internet. Her husband has been working on our family history and had several pictures of my ancestors that he scanned and sent to me. This is the one picture that has really fascinated me. No one in the family that I have been in contact with so far knows for sure if the people in the picture are from my Sawicki ancestors, Wozniak ancestors, Wieczorek ancestors, or possibly the Ziolkowski ancestors. We do however, believe they are family members and not strangers! I do know they are not my Hoosier ancestors!
The picture was taken here in Chicago, Illinois. The photographer was Kersting. I do not own the original, I believe my cousin or possibly my aunt own the original, however, they too, do not know which side of our family tree these relatives come from. I know that Henry Kersting, the photographer lived here in Chicago from at least 1880, per the census records. By 1910 he and his family lived in Baldwin, Alabama.
I also do not know if this picture is a wedding picture or another special event. It is a neat picture though. I love her head piece! I just have to keep searching and digging to find out who they are!
The Family
The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck
Genealogy Pox, author unknown
WARNING: GENEALOGY POX IS VERY CONTAGIOUS!
SYMPTOMS: Continual complaint as to need for names, dates and places. Patient has a blank expressions, sometimes deaf to spouse and children. Has no taste for work of any kind, except feverishly looking through records at libraries and courthouses.
Has a compulsion to write letters. Swears at mailman when he doesn't leave mail. Frequents strange places such as cemeteries, ruins, and remote desolate country areas. Makes secret night calls and hides phone bills from spouse. Mumbles to self. Has strange, faraway look in eyes.
NO KNOWN CURE!
TREATMENT: Medication is useless. This disease is not fatal, but gets progressively worse. Patient should attend genealogy workshops, subscribe to genealogical magazines and be given a quiet corner in the house where he/she can be alone.
REMARKS: The unusual nature of this disease is that the sicker the patient gets, the more he or she enjoys it!
7 comments:
Impressive headgear. I wonder what the occasion was.
What a gorgeous headpiece! I wonder what happened to it?
I enjoy reading your blog... and have "tagged" you with the "I Heart Your Blog" award. You can find the details on my kinexxions blog.
That's quite a headdress! Thanks for sharing it with us :)
Thanks for your great photograph, Pam, very interesting from a cultural aspect. From the style of the dress the woman is wearing and the design of the cabinet card mount, I believe this portrait was probably taken in the late 1880s or very early 1890s. Hope that helps a bit with your research.
Regards, Brett
http://photo-sleuth.blogspot.com/
Thank you Brett for your comments, that will certainly help me, that time line will eliminate a number of ancestors! I may be getting closer to an identification. I appreciate your help!
You have had me intrigued with this photo, so I did a little searching and found a small bit of info on the period of this photo.
"Up until the death of Queen Victoria in 1907, the traditional color for a wedding gown was often black, not white. Only the wealthiest could afford a white gown that they would probably never wear again. Of course, whenever you had your photo taken, the photographer would say "Don't smile. Look serious." You would have to hold the pose for as long as the camera lens was uncovered, which could vary from several seconds to half a minute."
Also the way the groom has his coat buttoned at the top dates this as about 1890 as was the fashion for that time.
The quote is from:
http://www.bridalcolumbus.com/vintage.html
they also have other photos from this time period.
It is a beautiful photo heirloom. I hope you do find you answer as to which family member this is for you. Good luck on your search.
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