< Figure 1.--Here we see a Polish family, I believe from Olmütz. I'm not sure if this was in the Polish area under Prussian or Austrian administration. The caption here reads "Rudolf Weigl (siedzi) z matka i rodzenstwem: siostra Lili (z prawej) i bratem Fryderykiem (z lewej)." I think that means,"Rudolf Weigl (sitting) with mother and siblings: sister Lili (on the right) and brother Fryderyk (on the left)." The "iem" at the end of "Fryderykiem" puts "Fryderyk" into the instrumental case (required by "z" (= "with")). We do not know Polish, but are drawing on analogy with Russian. Lili was a a girl and the other two boys. I believe that the portrait was taken about 1891.

Family images are very useful because they put boys clothes into the context of what the parents and sisters were wearing at the time. These images arranged chronologically provide fascintating glimes as to how family clothing changed over time. These also provide interesting insights into family relationships.

The 19th Century

Weigl Family (1891)

Here we see a Polish family about 1891, although the name sounds German. They lived in Olmütz which was in the Austrian or Prussian area. The young mother wears a black dress, perhaps she is in morning. She has three children, two boys and a girl. The girl wears a short-sleeved white dress. The boys wear a curious outfit. It looks raher like a tunic suit made to look like a jacket with large buttons. With it they wear kneepants and long black stockings. Their two-tone shoes are rather destinctive. While the boys and girls are dressed diffeerently, they wear the same long stockings and shoes. Note the bows on the shoes. All of the chikldren have long hair. The boy in the middle has the longest hair. It looks to have been done in a wave, but is not done into ringlets.

The 20th Century

Unidentified Family (1914)

Here we see an unidentified Polish family. We do not know where the portrait was taken. We guess it was probably in Russian Poland. We do know that it was taken in Summer 1914. This would have been just before World War I broke out. The boys have Dutch boy bobs and wear sailor-styled square-neck shirts and white knee pants. Their sister wears a white dress with embridered trim at the hem. All three children are barefoot.

Szlifersztein Family (1916)

We see a photograph of the the Szliferszteins with family on vacation in 1916. This was during World War I, but you can't tell by the photograph. The family looks rather prosperous. They are at Ahlbeck, a beach resprt on the island of Uznam during 1916. From left: Julia Szlifersztein her daughters Halinka and Zosia, Julia's nephew Janek, sister Apolonia Gurcman with Marysia Szlifersztein in her arms, Julia's husband Jakub. We assume that they are aJewish fmily. Poland did not yet exist as a country. This photograph was taken during Wotld Sar I. Poland was a major battlefield of the War in 1914 and 15. The Germans by 1916 has conquered most of Poland. I am not sure if Uznam was in German hands at the beginning of the War, but it would have been in 1916 when this photograph was taken.

Chciuk Family (1921)

Here we see the Chciuk family in Drohobycz (Drohobych) in the early 1920s, probably 1921. It is hard to imagine a more land-locked area of Europe, but the boys all wear matching sailor tunics with long short pants. They were probably habd sewed by mother. One might guess the stripes were blue. Note the close-cropped hair cuts. Their sister wears a white dress with ruffles. Her hair is cit in bangs. All the children are barefoot. I think that was quite common at the time. I'm not sure how to assess the family's social status, but the fact that the boys are wear fashionable matching outfits, we suspect that they might have been reasonably comfortable.

Unidentified Family (1953)

This Polish family is unidentified. We do not know where they lived in Poland. All we know for sure is that the portrait was taken in 1953. They look to be an affluent urban family. Poland was devestated by the war and economic conditions were still very difficult in 1953. We are guessing that the father might be a Communist or Governmnt official. There are two children in the family. They look to be about 5-7 years old. The boy has somewhat longer hair than we have seen in most period photographs. In fact the children have their hair done very similarly with bangs. He wears an open-collar shirt and sleeveless shirt. The girl has a large hair bow and wears what looks like velvet dress with a Peter Pan collar.

Unidentified Family (1966)

Here we see four children, presumably brothers and sisters, in 1966. The family is unidentified. They look to be in their backyard. The children looks to be about 3-8 yeats old. The scene seems to come from a small tpwm. The irises tell us that the photograph was probably taken in May. It still seems to be chilly. The younger children their older sister is hilding wear snow suits. The little girl wears a large white hair bowwhite dress, and white kneesocks. The older boy wears a sweater, shirt with string tie, short pants, kneesocks and sandals.

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Created: March 28, 2004
Last updated: 6:51 PM 9/17/2007