Figure 1.--This is Mrs. William Fuqua with six of her young children. I'm not sure what etnicity is involved here. The Scotts-Irish were important in settling this area of Virginia and North Carolina. The photograph was taken June 1911 in South Boston, Virginia. South Boston is located in south central Virginia on the Dan River close to the North Carolina line. We know nothing about the Fuqua family except that there were quite a few children. It is unclear if hey owned their farm or were sharecroppers. It is likely that they grew tobacco. The children all look healthy and wll fed, but poor. They are dressed very palinly. They are all barefoot which would have been common at the time throughout rural Virginia. One little boys wears a dress. This fashion was going out of style at the time, but still seen among poor rural families. We suspect that economics and convenince were factors. Notice that the older boy does not wear overalls, a garment that was at the time becoming standard in rural America. Source: Library of Congress LC-DIG-nclc-02178.

This is Mrs. William Fuqua with six of her young children. I'm not sure what etnicity is involved here. The Scotts-Irish were important in settling this area of Virginia and North Carolina. The photograph was taken June 1911 in South Boston, Virginia. South Boston is located in south central Virginia on the Dan River close to the North Carolina line. The Dan played a major role in the Revolutinay War Southern Camapaign. The critical Battle of Guilford Court House was fought just south of the Dan crossings. South Boston after the Revolution became a market town in tobacco growing country. We know nothing about the Fuqua family except that there were quite a few children. The seem to age fro infancy to about 10 years of age. It is unclear if they owned their farm or were sharecroppers. It is likely that they grew tobacco. The children all look healthy and well fed, but poor. They are dressed very palinly. They are all barefoot which would have been common at the time throughout rural Virginia. One little boys wears a dress. This fashion was going out of style at the time, but still seen anong poor rural families. We suspect that economics and convenince were factors. Notice that the older boy does not wear overalls, a garment that was at the time becoming standard in rural America. With his straw hat, he fits into the iconic image of rural boyhood, all you have to do is add a fishing pole.

Created: 6:47 PM 3/7/2014
Last edited: 6:47 PM 3/7/2014