Friday, November 26, 2010

Photo Number 382

Tracy Panna, Ill.
This is a CdV or a Cartes d’ visite that Laurisa shared with me.  The Photographer is Tracy of Pana, Ill.
This ladies head covering has been driving me nuts..at first I thought it was a bonnet. Then I decided that it may be a one of a kind design..after I searched hundreds of images trying to find something similar. As far as I can tell it has some feathers? and a head band of sorts and the whole thing has a huge tie that she so beautifully ties under her chin. 
Her dress is unremarkable..plain and simple is all we see.  Her ears stick out and they are not covered..so that leads me to think that this photo is not from the early 1860’s but it possibly could be from the later 1860’s. Some younger women began to uncover their ears in 1865 and 1866. Perhaps someone else has an opinion on this one!  Since the photographer wasn't born until 1857 it seems that this photo was probably taken in the 1890's. 

Thank you Laurisa for sharing your wonderful photographs!  Tomorrow we will begin looking at some interesting photographs that Joan emailed me. 

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)
Update from Norkio : 
Well, the shoulder seams are the first clue on dating a dress as being from the 1860s or not. In this case, the seams are up near the natural shoulder so this dress is not from the 60s, as the style that dominated was the dropped shoulder seam. I don't think I've seen an example of a dress from that era that has any other type of shoulder seam, honestly.

The hat is the type that sits sort of atop the hairstyle. It may have a small brim or even a folded brim in the back to accommodate hair. One clue for you is when the hats are small the skirts are big and vice versa. So, I'd conclude this photo is of the time when skirts were full, such as either bustle period or Belle Epoch 1890s.


Update from Iggy: 
I can't determine when he was active as a photographer. But the 1900 US Census shows C B Tracy (Photographer) born in Aug-1857 married in 1883 to Carrie A. Tracy born in Feb-1860.

It seems that many of Laurisa's photos were from the 1885-1895s and this one would date to the same time period.

12 comments:

  1. What a great old photo - she looks quite stern. It is an intersting headpiece -
    I am sure she was quite proud of it!

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  2. Pana is situated at the intersection of the Illinois Central with the Terre Haute, Alton, and St. Louis Railroads, 220 miles southeast of Chicago,and 95 miles northeast of St. Louis. It is basically the middle of the state. The village of Pana was incorporated in 1857.

    C. (Cassius) B. Tracy, Photographer, 22 Locust St., Pana, Illinois - the only dated photo of his that I've been able to find was dated 1890.

    I can't determine when he was active as a photographer. But the 1900 US Census shows C B Tracy (Photographer) born in Aug-1857 married in 1883 to Carrie A. Tracy born in Feb-1860.

    It seems that many of Laurisa's photos were from the 1885-1895s and this one would date to the same time period.

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  3. I did notice her ears right away. I also noticed what a perfect bow her "bonnet" is tied in. Another very interesting photo.

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    ReplyDelete
  5. Well, the shoulder seams are the first clue on dating a dress as being from the 1860s or not. In this case, the seams are up near the natural shoulder so this dress is not from the 60s, as the style that dominated was the dropped shoulder seam. I don't think I've seen an example of a dress from that era that has any other type of shoulder seam, honestly.

    The hat is the type that sits sort of atop the hairstyle. It may have a small brim or even a folded brim in the back to accommodate hair. One clue for you is when the hats are small the skirts are big and vice versa. So, I'd conclude this photo is of the time when skirts were full, such as either bustle period or Belle Epoch 1890s.

    Norkio

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  6. Thanks Norkio and Iggy for your input! :)

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  7. What's really interesting to me in this face is that I can almost mentally hear her counting as she wait for exposure to be taken. Her eyes focused across the studio. I believe there's a sweetness hidden behind those eyes that came forth as soon as the photographer said "Okay, breath." A woman of simple means who loved her Sunday go-to-church hat. Did she have a fine box to keep it in or was it wrapped and kept within a bureau drawer. There's a whole story there we'll never know.

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  8. I wonder if this is the same as the younger person in 379, perhaps a few years older?

    I find the comment "go-to-church hat" interesting - because there were a lot of itinerant ministers back in the day with a lot of daughters.

    I would like to find a picture of Emma Jerusha Dexter - the wife of Hardin Wallace Masters and mother of Edgar Lee Masters to compare to this woman...

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  9. It is interesing how one old photo can have much information...

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  10. Oh, wow! That's really cool how you can tell so much from a photo, all I could tell is that it is, well, old.

    Good job, the things here on your blog are really interesting to know~ :)

    +Follow&Support(^^♪

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  11. Thanks Alice, I appreciate the thought but I don't get involved with such things here:)

    ReplyDelete

Hi, Thanks for the comments, your input on these old photos is appreciated! English only please! All comments will be moderated! Connie