Figure 1.--We note a cabinet card which depicts a Victorian era American family. The wife is wearing an outfit with a blouse of very beautiful heavy dark material. Her hair done is diifferent than we have noted on most ladies in the 1890s. The sons are wearing dark kneepants suits. One boy's suit has a jacket with vertical pleats. The boys both have large white collars.

We note a cabinet card which depicts a Victorian era American family. The wife is wearing an outfit with a blouse of very beautiful heavy dark material. Her hair done is diifferent than we have noted on most ladies in the 1890s. The sons are wearing dark kneepants suits. One boy's suit has a jacket with vertical pleats. The boys both have large white collars. One is an Eton collar the other is a ruffled collar. Such differences were often employed in age grading, but these boys are very close in age. Note both boys have matching sleeve cuffs. Both also have large bows. The boy in front clearly needs a new suit. Dad’s looking a tad harried. This photo was taken at Mater Art Studio, located in Chanute, Kansas. One source suggests the portrait was taken in 1891, but I believe that is only an estimte. The estimate is based on, "several years of study--but it is an estimate. Fashion during the 1890s changed in an incredibly specific way year to year and I estimated 1891 for the following reasons based on thousands of other photos and my own experience: Dad's tie and the pin on it, Dad's hair, Dad's moustache, the boys' cuffs and collars, the boys' hair, Mom's hair and particularly the neckline on Mom's dress and the design and poofiness of Mom's sleeves. HBC does not diagree with this estimate, except for the suggestion that fashion changes in New York and other cities were immeditely picked up on in small towns throughout the country. This may be a farm family, but we are not sure.

Created: February 21, 2004
Last updated: February 21, 2004