|
Here a wondeful scene fron turn-of-the-20th century New York. They look to be a well established family. We see the father, the mother and their two sons. The boys are Harold and Alfred Wallgren. The older boy looks to be around 5 years old. He wears a sailor tunic with white long stockings and button shoes. The tunic suits are white with colored trim. Notice the matching colored belt. We are guessing that the trim is blue. (Red tended to show up much darker in these old portraits because of the film characteristics.) Both boys have longish hair. One has hair done in bangs the other in curls. The younger boy is about 3 years old. It is less clear what the younger boy wears. It could be a dress, but looks to me like a differently styled tunic suit. The portrait was taken in a famous New York studio--the Scherer Studio. They had three studios including one in Brooklyn. We have two shots taken at the same time. The body language suggests the boys were very close. In fact the body language of the whole family shows a wonderfully close family. The father looks serious and successful. The mother looks tender, but not fawning,
Harold's and Alfred's parents were Alfred John Wallgren (1878 - 1953) and Mayme Keller Wallgren (1884 - 1962). Alfred John was the son of a tailor, and took up the same trade.
Here a wondeful scene fron turn-of-the-20th century New York. They look to be a well established family. We see the father, the mother and their two sons. The body language suggests the boys were very close. In fact the body language of the whole family shows a wonderfully close family. The father looks serious and successful. The mother looks tender, but not fawning,
The boys are Harold (1907-89) and Alfred Wallgren (1905-56), both born in New York City. The older boy looks to be around 5 years old. He wears a sailor tunic with white long stockings and button shoes. The tunic suits are white with colored trim. Notice the matching colored belt. We are guessing that the trim is blue. (Red tended to show up much darker in these old portraits because of the film characteristics.) Both boys have longish hair. One has hair done in bangs the other in curls. The younger boy is about 3 years old. It is less clear what the younger boy wears. It could be a dress, but looks to me like a differently styled tunic suit. Harold's son tell us, "Uncle Al was born with a heart condition, and his mother told Harold that he needed to stick up for his older brother if he ever got into a fight. Uncle Al would never back down from a fight, so Harold had his hands full." [Wallgren]
The portrait was taken in a famous New York studio--the Scherer Studio. They had three studios including one in Brooklyn. We have two shots taken at the same time.
Around 1924, the family moved from New York City to Philadelphia, Pennsyvania. When Alfred John retired, he and Mayme operated a variety store in southwest Philadelphia until 1950, at which time Alfred John fell ill and subsequently died 3 years later.
Harold and Alfred and moved with the family to Philadelphia around 1924. Harold's son tells us, "Dad went to work at the Philadelphia National Bank as a messenger and rose to Senior Vice-President and Cashier (Chief of Operations). He retired from the bank in 1972 and wrote the text book 'Principles of Bank Operations' in 1975. I don't know much about Uncle Al because he died suddenly when I was 11 years old. I do remember that he was a gregarious guy and loved to laugh. He also built a terrific train set in the basement of his house. Uncle Al worked for the Post Office." [Wallgren]
Wallgren, Barry. EMail message (August 23, 2017).
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main ordinary biographies]
[Return to the U.S. 1900s families]
[About Us]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Essays]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
