Figure 1.-- Thechildren here are unidenified, but becuse of the side hair parts are probably brothers. THey look to be about 2-4 years. They are both wearing dresseswith smocking and velvet trim. The older boys has a dress with a skirt at calf level, the most common length for children's dresses. We would guess that the potrait was taken in the late-1870s, perhaps the early-80s. The studio was J.F. Wentz in Ridgeville, Indiana.

Many dresses were done at mid-lengths, about calf level. Here there were variations. Some were at mid calf. Others were somewhere between mid-calf and more toward the ankle. So we have to use a degree of judgement as to which were calf and which were ankle length. We see fewer dresses that were done above mid-calf. And of course, there are difference from when mother purchased or sewed the dress and how the boy grew while wearing it. One would think that mother surly had some growth in mind with the boy on the previous page. We notice quite a few dresses with mid-lenghh hems, but have just begun to archive them here.

Created: 7:42 AM 1/28/2025
Last updated: 7:42 AM 1/28/2025