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We have found two family portraits from the Boivin, Couture, and Benoit families during the early 1940s. The portrait was taken in the same room. They are not identified as French, but the individuals are named and the names could not be more French. Now I supose they could be Belgian or Swiss, but French is much more likely. And they are wearing is a goof reflection of early-1940s styles. The boys in the 1940 portrait all wear similar polo-style shirts, longish dress short pants, knee socks, and leather shoes. The girls wear dresses, white socks, and strap shoes. The adults and older chilren ear formal suits and dresses. A much larger group is shown in 1942, but with many of the same people. Some of the boys in the 42 portrain ar wearin more grown-up long pants suits One boys wears suspender shorts. He and the girls wear long stockings becuse the portrait was taken in Decemnber. Long stockings were common in Germany at the time, but not in France, except in the north. So we have an idea of where the portaits were taken. Notably noth portaits were taken during the German World War II occupation of France, The first immediuately after the fall of France. The second well into the occupation. I see no impact of this in the images.
A French reader has helped locate the family to Canada. They are a French Canadian family. Our French reader tells us, "Larocque-Couture is a French Canada family. The family names are common old French names.
The children are, however,dessed in styles that look American to me. In France 1940s boys didn't worn knee pants, but short ou long pants and very rarely a tee shirt. In winter French boys and girsl wore knee socks and never long stockings which were praticly unknow for children in France. French children fashions were the same averywhere, here in metropole and our colonies, such as Tunisia, Algeria, Marocco, Guyana, Africa, Oceanie, South Asia ect. anada was, however, different. After the war with Britin (18th century), the French Cnadian popultion was cit off from France. The only remaining ties were the Catholic Church and some French religious orders. And the fashions hereareaood example. On these beautifull French-Canada family portaits, the girls are wearing nice American strap sheos. Their dresses could be the same as we seen in French style, called " Robe anglaise" . About the baby, one can't see very well his garment. In France 1940s, baby boy was dressed in rompers and his legs were never coved, except if it was very cold."
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