Rhode Island Family (about 1890)


Figure 1.--These unidentified American children were from Westerly, Rhode Island. The portrait is undated and we are not quite sure how to date it. Two of the children wear dresses. The older child is obviously a girl. The younger child sitting down looks to us more like a boy, although there is no sure way of knowing.

These unidentified American children were from Westerly, Rhode Island. The portrait is undated and we are not quite sure how to date it. We believe it was probanly taken about 1890. Two of the children wear dresses. The older child is obviously a girl. The younger child sitting down looks to us more like a boy, although there is no sure way of knowing.

Identity

These American children are unidentified. There is no writing on the back of the cabinent card. The children look to us to be about 6/7-11 years of age. They almost certainly are siblings. Two of the children wear dresses. The older child is obviously a girl. The younger child sitting down looks to us more like a boy, although there is no sure way of knowing. Not all readers agree. One German reader writes, "I think this is a girl. It looks too girlish. The dresses are very similar. And the girl on the left has also short hair. The sitting child has a necklace." This is all true, but it has to be remembered that boys did wear dresses like their sisters and boys also wore necklasses. We think here that the differences in the hair style and the plaid material are important factors. Another reader writes, "I think the middle child is probably a girl. The hair does look like a boy. The pose sitting in a chair with hands primly folded in the lap, however, seems more like a girl would be posed to me."

Location

The only thing we know for sure about this cabinent card portrait is that it was taken in Westerly, Rhode Island. The photographer was the Shiefield Brothers on Main street.

Chronology

The portrait is undated and we are not quite sure how to date it. We believe it was probanly taken about 1890. We do not think it was taken in the 1870s. There are several reasons here. Thereare no braces for the children, often needed with slow 1870s films. Also the boy's kneepants suit soes not look right for the 1870s, especially the length of the kneepants. The relatively short length of the girl's dress hem also does not look right for the 1870s. The portrait was more likely taken about 1890. It could have well been taken in the 1880s. We do not think it was taken in the late 1890s. The early 90s is more likely. The cabinent card had a guilded edge. We are not sure if that can be used to date the card.

Clothing Styles

While two of the children wear dresses, each of them wear outfits with destinctive features. The boy to the right wears a standard kneepants suit with a collar rather than lapels. Not the watch fob. The kneepants fall somewhat below the knees. He wears long stockings. Were unsure about the color of the suit or stockings. The other two children wear dresses with large white scalloped collars. The collars appear to be tied on and not part of the dress. The dresses are both plain. One is a solid color and the other plaid. They both wear long stockings. The older one wears black long stockings and the other wears what look to be dark colored long stockings.

Hair Styles

The boy to the right has a short hair cut with a left part. The two childrenn wearing dresses have similar front bangs. There are, however, differences. The child at the left has bangs that are slightly concave. R=There is also hair around the ears at the side and at the back. The youngest child has bangs cut straight across the forehead. The hair is cut away from the ears at the side and there is no hair t the back.








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Created: 5:04 AM 1/4/2005
Last updated: 5:04 AM 1/4/2005