In one of the city photography galleries the proprietor had a show case in which
he exhibited pictures which the sitters failed to call for, he labeled it,
"Shades Of The Departed."
~ Abraham Bogardus, 1895 ~
The Story of Today's Shades Old Photo On Twitter
THE OVERSTUFFED BABY
Dorothy Margaret Gray
Today's Twitter #ShadesOP is an interesting orphan photograph with several clues. I purchased the photograph in an antique store in Missoula, Montana. The staff had lovingly nicknamed the photograph "overstuffed baby," and you can see why.
While I don't specifically collect photographs of babies, I was drawn to this particular baby, because of her eyes. They are beautiful and looking at them you must wonder just what color were they.
While the photograph has been identified on the verso, a good detective will never assume that the information is correct. The information must be investigated. That is what follows with the analysis of "the overstuffed baby."
What We Know From The Photograph:
(1) The card mount measures 5 in. X 7 in. and is 1.30mm thick. The photograph measures approximately 3 in. by 4 in. The corners of the card are rounded, the edges are beveled. The card stock is black morie silk, there is a raised embossed oval around the photograph. The back of the mount is a dark gray color with no photographic imprint.
It is an exceptionally well done trim of the oval. The photograph is clear with excellent contrast and is perfectly centered. The photograph appears to be of very good quality.
(2) The photographer's imprint on the front (recto) of the photograph lists the photographer as O. L. Dowe, Artistic Fotografer. There is no address.
(3) The back of the mount reads Dorothy Margaret Gray, Goldfield, Nev., October 13, 1907. There is no photographers imprint.
Card Analysis:
The card is consistent with mounts of the 1900s in both size, thickness, board, bevel, and color.
Photographer and Imprint Analysis:
O. L. Dowe was Oscar L. Dowe. Dowe was active in Lovelock, Nevada, in 1891, 1901, 1904 and operated the Big tent below the Catholic Church" in Silver City, Nevada.
From 1879-80 Dowe was a retoucher with Davidson Brothers in Portland, Oregon. Dowe operated as an itinerate photographer in California, Idaho, Nevada from 1890 - 1919. No fixed address is listed; several of the time periods list his studio as a tent.
The Biographies of Western Photographers lists Dowe as Oscar S. The census and this imprint list Dowe as Oscar L.
The problem with this information is that we can not determine the exact location where the photograph was taken. While the back of the card indicates Goldfield, Nevada, biographies for Dowe do not indicated that he operated in Goldfield. During this period of time, 1907, Dowe is listed as operating his studio in a tent in and around Silver City, Nevada.
Dorothy Margaret Gray Analysis:
The 1910 Census lists William Gray and his wife Emma living on East Elliott Street in Goldfield, Nevada with their two children, Dorothy age 2, and a son Gordon age 3 months. William works as a bookkeeper for a mining company.
Gold was discovered at Goldfield in 1902, the year of the town's inception. By 1904 the Goldfield district produced about 800 tons of ore, valued at $2,300,000, 30% of the Nevada's production that year. This remarkable production caused Goldfield to grow rapidly, and it soon became the largest town in Nevada.Goldfield reached a peak population of about 30,000 people in 1906. In 1907 Goldfield became the county seat.
In 1920 we find William Gordon Gray, his wife Mary Emma, and twelve year old daughter Dorothy living on University Street in Nye County Nevada in the Township of Tonapa . William is working as a pay teller in a bank. Missing from the Gray home is baby Gordon. Too young to have already left home since the last census, it can be assumed that baby Gordon has died sometime between the 1910 and 1920 census.
On 18 and 19 April 1910, Dorothy is listed in the census as being two years old. That would make her date of birth between 18 and 19 April 1907 and 18 and 19 April 1908. The baby in the photograph only looks as if it is a few months old. The birth date of 13 October 1907 would be consistent with the baby being approximately 6 months old at the time of the photograph.
Clothing Analysis:
The satin and lace trim on the bonnet and cape, the embroidered shoes indicated that this was clothing for a special occassion, not clothing purchased for a studio portrait. The clothing would be consistent with christening outfits of the early 1900s.
It has been determined that Dowe operated his photography business in numerous locations in California, Idaho, and Nevada from 1890 until 1919 as a traveling photographer. Although his biography does not indicate he had a studio in Goldfield in 1907, Goldfield was a Nevada boom town beginnng in 1906 and Dowe could have easily traveled there to take advantage of the newly rich miners, mine operators, their employees and their families. Therefore, the photograph could have been taken during 1907 or later, and the photograph could have been taken in Goldfield.
In the alternative, we know that studio portraits were taken to mark a passage in the portrait sitter's life. Although the date listed on the back of the photograph is October 13, 1907, it may be the date of Dorothy's birth rather than the date the photograph was taken. As such this may be a photograph of Dorothy's christening and the date would be around 13 April 1908. The clothing is consistent with christening outfits of the early 1900s.
Both William and Mary Emma are of Irish descent. If their religion is Catholic, they might have traveled to Silver City to the Catholic Church to have Dorothy christened. Just down from the church in Silver City was Dowe's tent. The Grays may have gone directly from church to the tent for a photograph to commenorate the event.
This is far too much supposition and too little proof, but does show the process of analysis.
Darrah, William C. Cartes de Visite in 19th Century Photography. Gettysburg: Darrah, 1981.
MacPhail, Anna. The Well Dressed Child. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer, 1999.
McCulloch, Lou W. Card Photographs, A Guide To Their History and Value. Exton, Pennsylvania: Schiffer 1981.
Mace, O. Henry. Collector's Guide To Early Photographs.Iola, Wisconsin: Krause, 1999.
Mautz, Carl. Biographies of Western Photographers. Nevada City, California: Carl Mautz Publishing, 1997.
Nickell, Joe. Camera Clues. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 1994.
Palmquist, Peter. Pioneer Photographers Of The Far West A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1865. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2000.
Severa, Joan. Dressed For The Photographer. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1995.
Census:
1900 U.S. census, Inyo County, California, population schedule, 1-Twp, p. 2, dwelling 48, family 48, O. L. Dowe (Head); digital images. Heritage Quest (http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/ : retrieved 2 May 2008); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 87. Occupation - photographer.
1910 U.S. census, Esmeralda County, Nevada, population schedule, Goldfield, p. 82, dwelling 99, family 100, William Gray (Head); digital images. Heritage Quest (http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/ : retrieved 2 May 2008); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 858.
1920 U.S. census, Nye County, Nevada, population schedule, Tonopah, p. 84, dwelling 369 , family 374, William Gordon Gray (Head); digital images. Heritage Quest (http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/ : retrieved 2 May 2008); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 1005.
Photograph:
Dorothy Margaret Gray. Photograph. 13 October 1907. Digital image. Privately held by the footnoteMaven, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Preston, Washington. 2007
Scanning and Restoring Photos
I am a fan of Janine Smith, owner of Landailyn Research & Restoration, a Texas-based company whose services include family history research and photo restoration. Janine is a professional digital restorationist and is poised to increase her fan base by thousands having become one of the excellent instructors at Lynda.com.
Never been to Lynda.com? You're really missing something. Go there! It's the spot for learning to master and apply digital tools and techniques.
Here is a sample of the Photoshop Elements 9: Scanning and Restoring Photos course that Janine presents.
Using Levels
Photoshop Elements 9: Scanning and Restoring Photos | by Janine Smith
View this entire Photoshop Elements course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.
Here is the course description:
In Photoshop Elements 9: Scanning and Restoring Photos, professional photo restorer Janine Smith shows how to bring new life to old photos. The course begins with a look at the types of photos that may require restoration, including slides, negatives, prints, and newspaper photos, and options for scanning them. She discusses the types of scanners that are available, from flatbed to film, and the best settings to use for originals. The course then delves into Photoshop Elements tools and techniques to help restore clarity to faded photos and fix problems such as dust, scratches, and tears. Exercise files are included with the course.
Determining equipment needs
Scanning negatives, slides, and film
Importing photos in Photoshop Elements
Adding captions, keywords, and Smart Tags
Adjusting contrast
Fixing fading with Threshold
Making automatic fixes with guided edit
Removing dust, spots, and texture with the healing tools
Repairing rips and tears
Sharing restored images
The cost of the course varies depending on the subscription option you select. It starts at $25 per month with no long term commitment. Give it a try and tell them Shades sent you.
Good luck Janine! We loved you when!
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At Shades Of The Departed?
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In This Issue Of Shades
Cops & Robbers Issue
Shades Magazine Out Friday, May 23, 2014 - A Cops ...
Shades The Magazine - The Toy Issue
A Birthday Surprise Revisited PennyD!
Free Vintage 1915 July 4th Images
Twice Told Tuesday - Posing
Many Things Thursday - The Black Cat
Twice Told Tuesday - Old Photographs & The Histori...
Doppelganger - Clare Bowen, ABC Television Series...
The Last Picture Show - Cadwallader & Fearnaught
I Think She's Dead Series
I Think She's Dead (Part I)
I Still Think She's Dead and Here's Why (Part II)
Medicine Bottles Postmortem(Part III)
I Still Think She's Dead – But . . . (Part IV)
Shades Of The Departed
footnoteMaven ~ blog
The footnoteMaven
Twice Told Tuesday
The Baffled Photographer
Photographing Children
Fashion Dos and Don'ts
Photographs In Courts Of Law
Photographic Survey
Were Abnormally Vain
Web Wandering Wednesday
The Photo Detective Adds A Chapeau
Inventive Productions
Modern Tintypes
POTW Photographer Responses
Many Things Thursday
Dating A Baby Carriage
A Carnival Of Images
Friday From The Collectors
A Moment In Time - Becky Wiseman
A Monumental Task - Terry Thornton
Two Dear Friends - L.H. Crawley
Oscar Wilde, Sonny Bono, and The Naked Orphans - Craig Manson
Why Digital Photo Restoration Is Important - George Geder
Documenting Today For Tomorrow's History - Nikki-ann
Community History On The Run - Chery Kinnick
The Gift Of The Photograph - Lisa
Digital ScrapBooking - Jasia
Eliciting Stories From Your Photo Albums - Susan Kitchens
Volunteer Genealogical Photography - Miriam Midkiff
Reading Women's History - Denise Levenick
For The Love Of Photos - Cathi Basler
Collectors Of CDVs - Lorine McGinnis Schulze
Generation Maps - Janet Hovorka
Accidental Collections - Sally Jacobs
Don't Purge - Get Creative Thomas MacEntee
I Do Collect Photos - Maureen Taylor
Becky Wiseman - kinexxions
Terry Thornton - Hill Country
L.H. Crawley - The Virtual Dime Museum
Craig Manson - geneablogie
George Geder - Photography-Restoration
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About Shades Of The Departed
I have been collecting photographs for over twenty years. This blog will discuss that collection, the types of categories I've developed for that collection, and the types of photographs I collect. I will also share with you what I've learned or am learning about scanning, creating a database, analyzing and dating my collection, and anything else that strikes my fancy related to photography and my collection.
About The Collector
I am fascinated by the clues left in the photographs I collect. Every picture is a miniature mystery and I love a mystery.
My grandfather was a photographer who traveled with the famous Burton Holmes. I am fortunate to have original photographs by both men.
When I was ten my grandfather gave me a camera as a birthday gift. It was evident that I did not inherit the "photographer gene." I have taken only one photograph in my entire life that I liked, but I know a good one when I see it.
I am a great appreciator.
Fortunately, I don't take myself too seriously. I know enough about collecting photographs to know I don't know everything, but I am learning.
My Other Digital Publications
footnoteMaven
Posts of note from the footnoteMaven
WW-GraveYard Rabbit
An Epitaph A Day - Keeps Death's Spectre Away
G&FH Alumni Web Site
The University of Washington Genealogy and Family History Certificate Program Alumni
Nearby History - Writer Friends
A group of Nearby History participants who get together to encourage writing
Travelers With Burton Holmes
The men and women who traveled with Burton Holmes and helped build his empire
I Blog The COG - Do You?
Carnivals Of Interest
Carnival of Genealogy
Central and Eastern European Genealogy
History Carnival
Irish Heritage & Culture