The theme for this month's Smile For The Camera carnival is the mystery photograph - a family photo or one you found in a secondhand store, with no clues about his/her/its identity - "instant ancestors," if you like. This charming woman is one of my instant ancestors - and I have no idea who she might be.Her dress suggests a rough date of 1875-85. In the late 1870s and 1880s, skirts became tighter and corsets longer. In the first half of the 1870s, the closer-fitting skirt still echoed of the previous decade's wide crinoline. By the mid-1880s the bustle was more pronounced at the back and more squared-off in shape. The 1876 fashion illustration at the right shows dresses similar to the one this lady is wearing.
Barnes and Glenney, the photographers, worked in New Haven, Connecticut.
I was not able to find out much about Barnes and Glenney. Stephen Wheeler Glenney was born about 1838-40 in Connecticut, and was not listed as a photographer in the 1860 census [Stephen Wheeler household, 1860 US Census, New Haven Ward 5, New Haven, CT; p. 743, #1162/993, Series M653, Roll 87].
Women's fashion illustration from an 1876 Godey's Lady's Book from the NYPL Digital Gallery.
7 comments:
I loved the dresses with the large rear ends. ;) I always thought it would give me a little more umph. Oh well. I just strive to find a good pair of jeans. haha
I have a copy of the Godey's print, oh yeah, and also a bunch of unidentified photos.
Sandi - A good pair of jeans is hard to find, as Flannery O'Connor would have said, if she was writing now.
Sharkbytes - I love the Godey's pictures! I have 2 Godey's somewhere in storage, I really want to find them.
Gosh, can you imagine hoisting around a get-up like that all day?
She must have been relieved to slip into her nightie at bedtime. That dress looks quite uncomfortable.
p.s. I love Flannery O'Connor! A View of the Woods and The Enduring Chill. And the one about Mrs. Turpin & the Ugly Girl at the doctor's office!
Bill - The ugly girl and Mrs. Turpin story is one of my favorites too, I adore Flannery O'Connor, her letters as well. And "A Temple of the Holy Ghost," what an incredible writer she was. I ought to revise my Blogger profile, I forgot her, how could I?
LOVE that dress! Sure am glad we don't have to wear that type of clothing now.
Judith - Oh, so am I!:)
Post a Comment