** biographies Carl Gulick Fritz Gulick








Biographies: Carl and Fritz Gulick (United States, 1880s?)


Figure 1.--Here we have two twin boys from Lincoln, Nebraska. The boys had their portrait taken when they were 7 years old. Unfortunately the portrait is not dates. We would guess that the portrait was taken in the 1880s. The twins are identically dressed in what looks to be a bib-front pinafores over dresses. Image courtesy of the RG collection.

Here we have two twin boys from Lincoln, Nebraska. The boys, Carl and Fritz Gulick, had their portrait taken when they were 7 years old. Unfortunately the portrait is not dated. We would guess that the portrait was taken in the 1880s. Nebraska is a farm state, but it is the capital and thus these are probably city boys. It is of course possible that the boys were brought to the city for the portrait, but we believe it is more likely that they actually lived in the city. We also note that along with the boys' names, Lincoln in written on the back, strongly suggesting that the boys lived in Lincoln. Both boys have identical hair styles and clothes. Their hair is long, but not obviously curled. A reader tells us, however, that the boys hair in the back is done in ringlet curls. Overall the hair seems much more casually done than we have seen in many formal portraits of children. The boys wear bib-front garments that might be called pinafores over dresses with lace collars. We are not sure how the boy's outfit would have veen described at the time. The pinafore is done in a checked material and seems very utilitarian. Gulick seems to be a German name. We wonder if this was a German-inluenced style. It is very long, completely covering the dress. We are unsure how common such garments were. The boys dress is very plain. We are unsure just what color it may have been. There is no detailing and it is back buttoning. The only decorative elements are a lace collar which is repeated on the wrist cuffs.

The Boys

Here we have two twin boys from Lincoln, Nebraska. The boys, Carl and Fritz Gulick, had their portrait taken when they were 7 years old.

Chronology

Unfortunately the portrait is not dated. We would guess that the portrait was taken in the 1880s.

Location

Nebraska is a farm state, but it is the capital and thus these are probably city boys. It is of course possible that the boys were brought to the city for the portrait, but we believe it is more likely that they actually lived in the city. We also note that along with the boys' names, Lincoln in written on the back, strongly suggesting that the boys lived in Lincoln.

Nationality

The boys are American boys. We thought that bGulick might be a German name, but a German reader tells us that it is not a German sounding name, although Germany and Austria included many Poles and other easyern Europeans. Perhaps a HBC reader will know more about the natioinality of the name. Germans came to America in the 18th century, but most came in the 19th century, especially after 1848. Poles and Eastern Europeans mostly came later, primarily after the Civil War (1861-65). It is thus likely that these boys are second generation Americans. We wonder if the bib-front pinafores were a European-inluenced style.

Hair Styles

Both boys have identical hair styles and clothes. Their hair is long, but not obviously curled. A reader tells us, however, that the boys hair in the back is done in ringlet curls. Overall the hair seems much more casually done than we have seen in many formal portraits of children.

Clothing

The boys wear bib-front garments that might be called pinafores over dresses with lace collars. We are not sure how the boy's outfit would have veen described at the time. The pinafore is done in a checked material and seems very utilitarian. It is very long, completely covering the dress. We are unsure how common such garments were. The boys dress is very plain. We are unsure just what color it may have been. There is no detailing and it is back buttoning. The only decorative elements are a lace collar which is repeated on the wrist cuffs.







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Created: 6:09 PM 1/21/2005
Last updated: 6:09 PM 1/21/2005