Wednesday, March 8, 2017

AN OLD FAMILY PHOTO

We only recently came across this wonderful old photo.  They crop up on Gregg's Facebook page, sent by various family members, for which we are always grateful.  Each is like a gift, especially as now we are more and more interested in our genealogy.  The photo is of Gregg's grandmother his father's mother, with several of her siblings.  She is the little girl standing in the middle behind one of her brothers.



50 comments:

  1. Hi Denise, you are so lucky to keep finding these old photos, everyone is always very serious but wonderful to see. All the best, John

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    1. We do feel very lucky John. I can just imagine what it was like for their mother to get them ready to have their photo taken. Quite a challenge I'm thinking.

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  2. This is totally wonderful, a real treasure! I found out why no one smiles much in these old photos. Seems they had to stand very still for a very long time, and you cannot hold a smile that long. It got very uncomfortable. People who did not have much money could not afford to have heir pictures taken.

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    1. Fascinating when I think about that side of things Ginny.

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  3. What a treasure.
    And don't they look 'overdressed' by our standards. I doubt those clothes were comfortable either.

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    1. Yes EC, by today's standards and all that stiff starched clothing.

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  4. I have the old photos too. It is a treasure

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    1. Probably wondering when they can go home and get out of those clothes :)

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  6. aww what a lovely picture. Looks like a wonderful family
    Janice

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  7. This is wonderful, Denise, I love how they dressed the children and posed the, taking it all very seriously because cameras meant something back then. And the old photos keep so well.
    Amalia
    xo

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  8. Old photos makes us to go back the time. Always gives a wonderful feeling...

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  9. I like to see old photographs. They weren't just snaps like the ones we take now, but real studio jobs. Thanks for sharing, Denise.

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    1. Me too Valerie. I like to take in every detail and enjoy the clothing they wore back in the day.

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  10. Que encantadora fotografia. Que irmãos tão parecidos uns com os outro. Se não fosse a diferença de tamanhos, pareciam todos gémeos.
    Estas fotos de antigos familiares fazem-me pensar: Depois das fotos como foram as suas vidas? O que deu a vida a cada um? É uma foto carregada de nostalgia.
    Obrigado Denise por partilhar connosco.

    Manuel

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    1. Thank you Manuel, the brothers do look very alike, as you say, almost like twins. I wonder these things too, what their lives were like. It is a very evocative photo.

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  11. Such a precious photo to love and cherish.

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    1. Thank you Mildred, these old photos certainly are precious, to be treasured.

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  12. I love it. and I wonder what the world will think of all the selfies people are taking in say 60 years from now

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    1. Thank you Sandra, and that's a good point. What will they think?

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  13. What a beautiful treasure, Denise! Since I have found my cousins, I, too, have been seeing photos of my father that I had never seen before, and this is the kind of gift that keeps on giving! I love this old photo, thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. Hi Linda, thank you and how lovely you connected with your cousins.

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  14. No smiles anywhere...my great-Aunt told me that it was up to the man behind the camera to tell the folks to be very still but if it was a good camera man, he would tell them just before taking pics to smile. When we see a lot of NO SMILE PHOTOS, we can blame the camera man. :)

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    1. I can't imagine having to wait for half an hour to get one photo taken :)

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  15. Very nice family photo.

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  16. Just fantastic Denise. That a single old black and white picture can say so much. Those children are quite terrified of that new fangled machine. They are in awe of the person standing there saying "Hold still. Don't dare move for the next 30 seconds. They desperately want to smile, laugh or cry but are not allowed to do any of those things. When it's all over they say "Never again" but they do because they have to.

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    1. Thank you Phil :) I enjoyed reading your interpretation of this photo. There are subsequent photos to see as adults.

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  17. Love old photos, great find. Diane

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  18. Marvelous!!!!

    Poor people back then. The had to stay still, and keep a straight face, for so long.

    I wonder... How could they not blink? So.... Are some of the "eyes" we see, actually painted in, later? They did that, back when a custom was, to prop up the dead, and take pictures of them... Sometimes with the remaining members of the family around. Really!!!!!! Do a search on this.

    Of course they had to paint in the eyes, of the dead person.

    Now, have I taken your appetite away????? -gigggles-

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    1. Thank you LC, I have heard of such photographs but have never actually seen one.

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  19. Old family photo's like this are to be treasured.
    I have a few from times past, and they are so very special.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Hi Jan, one of the greatest old treasures are our photos. All the best, Denise :)

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  20. I think we all get more interested in our family trees as we get older ourselves. Posting these pictures to FB is a good idea. I've thought often about creating a family blog with pictures and stories. FB would be easier.

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    1. Isn't that the truth Sallie? Facebook is a great way of keeping in touch. I am thinking of being more active there again.

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  21. What intense looks! Love this old photo.

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  22. What a wonderful treasure...people don't realize how much these photos mean to the coming generations.

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    1. Very true Rose, with age comes wisdom about such things.

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  23. vintage, beautiful clothes but no smiles!!!

    many thanks for the very kind comment about my cowl!!!

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    1. Indeed, all very serious :) and I love your cowl Debbie and look forward to more of your knitting creations.

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  24. I love this fine vintage photo. I am researching along with my sister and it's fun finding photos like the one of your family. People had to be very still for photos at one time. One tiny move and it's all a blur. I can see why like many of mine , there are no smiles. I love it.
    betsy

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    1. It is a fun adventure genealogy. It must have been quite a strain on active little kids to get their photo taken back in the day, no wonder there were no smiles.

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  25. What a treasure, Denise. I love old photos of people - imagine what they were thinking when the shot was taken, what was going on in their world, what they sounded like, even smelt like...and whether they had happy lives. Fascinating! A story in every face.

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    1. Thank you Mike, nowadays we know all that with this amazing technology that is only the tip of the iceberg. I am sure we will be able to smell too, right out of our computer screen.

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