Figure 1.--In this portrait taken about 1905, James Farmer wears a sailor tunic, one of the most popular outfits for younger boys at the time. Click on the image to see him in his winter coat. In both portraits he has ringlet curls. Image courtesy of the RG coolection. Click on the image to see the second portrait.

We have no biographical information on James Farber other than that he was an American boy. We do not even know where he lived in America, but from his coat I would guess a northern state. We do have two family portraits. They are undated, but look to have been taken about 1905. James looks to be 3-4 years of age. In one portrait he wears a winter coat. In the other a Russian blouse tunic, one of the most popular outfits for younger boys at the time. In both portraits James has perfectly done thick ringlet curls.

Identity

We have no biographical information on James Farber other than that he was an American boy. We do not even know where he lived in America, but from his coat I would guess a northern state. We do have two family portraits, but there is no inscriptions on the back other than the boy's name. While the portraits are undated, they look to have been taken about 1905. This is strongly syggested by his outfit. James looks to be 3-4 years of age. The fashionable clothes and carefully done hair suggests that he came from an affluent family.

Clothing

In one portrait he wears a winter coat. It is a double breastede reefer-style coat. He wears his coat with a sailor tam that has an embroidered star. James looks younger in this portrait than the other one, but may be wearing the same tinic under his coat. In the other a Russian blouse tunic, one of the most popular outfits for younger boys at the time. Although the tunic is done in the Russian blouse rather than sailor style, there are two decorative anchors on his tunic. I'm not sure what color it was, but the anchors suggest it may havde been light blue. There is white trim at the high collar and ciffs as well as a crossed white belt. It looks rather large oin him so it was probably bought relatively recently and is meant to be worn for another years or two.

Hair

In both portraits James has perfectly done thick ringlet curls. His hair is, however, not done in straight across bangs or parted in the middle, the two most common way of doing the forehead with ringlet curls. Rather his hair is combed side ways in a partial bang. This informal approach contrasts with the very formally done ringlets.

Created: August 20, 2003
Last edited: August 20, 2003