Figure 1.--Here we have what must be two brothers from New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This is a small town located north of Pittsburg in the western part of the state. The population peaked at about 1,600 people in 1910, about when this portrait was taken. The boys look to be about 5-7 years old. Boys of similar age photographed together are almost always usually brothers. Notice the brimless capas. he boys are wearing blouse suits. The studio was Layers.

Here we have what must be two brothers from New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This is a small town located north of Pittsburg in the western part of the state. The population peaked at about 1,600 people in 1910, about when this portrait was taken. The boys look to be about 5-7 years old. Boys of similar age photographed together are almost always usually brothers, especially if they are holding hands. What we find a litle confusing is the inscripion on the back of the cabinet card, probably meant to be a little humerous. "Helen Snyders dad and a [Bunk house?] boy." We will attach a scan of the back in case readers want to try to make it out better than us. But we take it the boy's last name must be Snyder. Their first names unfortunaely are lost to hstory. The cabinet card portrait is undated, but the mount style and the boys' outfits help us to date it to the late-1900s decade, perhaps about 1910. It is a new style mount done in a greenish grey, a popular color in the 1900s decade. The boys seem to have some kind of brimless caps, a style we have not noted very commonly. Flat caps became standard in the 1910s, but there was sill xonsiderable diverity in headwar during thev1900s decade. They both wear blouses with prominent Eton collars. The blouses are different styles. Interestngly mom has done their neckwear differently giving the boys a different look. The older boy wears a large floppy bow, something that was declining in popularity by the 1900s. His younger brother's neckwear is done differently. It is contained by two blouse tabs--something we have not seen before and not fied in a bow. Note that these are blouse suits with the blouses matching the pants. The boys have different pants. The older boy has knee pants. Hus younger brother wears he new knicker style. We beleve what is captured here is the startelling transition from knee pants to knickers which for some reason occurred suddenly about 1908-09. They both have black long stockings and high-top lace-up shoes.

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Created: 11:06 AM 11/22/2024
Last edited: 1:56 AM 11/23/2024